The Christie Tracker

Latest Episodes:

Christie’s State of the State: “I Will Never Stop Fighting for the People Who Elected Me” Jan 13, 2016

Show notes

He's fighting an uphill presidential campaign and still losing popularity at home, but Governor Christie reminded the state house – and a national audience – of his considerable gifts as a politician.

In his annual State of the State speech, he brazenly took credit for saving New Jersey’s economy and railed against Democrats in Trenton for moving ahead with a plan to constitutionally mandate payments into the state pension system. He announced he would dedicate $100 million to help fight substance abuse. He worked the camera like a pro. And when he delivered lines like “our best days lie ahead” it was hard to tell if he was talking to New Jersey or voters in the early primary states.

But for all of the skills on display, NJPR's Matt Katz says the performance may not have generated more than “a harrumph from the back row of Assembly chambers.”

Matt joins us this week to “audio-tweet” the speech. He's the author of the new book, American Governor: Chris Christie’s Bridge to Redemption. Along with Host David Furst, Matt highlights what Christie said – and what he didn’t say – in 2016’s State of the State.

Check out the WNYC Data News App: The Christie Tracker.

Christie: Just Dropping In to See What State My State is In Jan 06, 2016

Show notes

261.

That’s how many days Governor Christie spent out of New Jersey in 2015.

And according to New Jersey Public Radio’s Matt Katz, “There’s not much really happening in terms of the governance of New Jersey.” As state matters are squeezed between the governor's campaign stops and TV appearances, Matt says Trenton has “basically ground to a halt.”

But next week, Christie will take a break from campaigning to appear in Trenton for his annual state of the state speech. As the governor reacquaints himself with the Garden State, Matt joins host David Furst to talk about the criticism the absentee governor is facing on the trail – and takes a look at what his presidential campaign is costing New Jersey taxpayers.

Also:

Governor Christie often talks about his time “prosecuting terrorists” as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey. One of his most celebrated convictions is back in the news this week, with three of the men who were convicted of plotting a terrorist attack on Fort Dix back in a New Jersey courtroom. We examine a case that Christie talks about as one of the highlights of his career with Murtaza Hussain. He has written extensively about the “Fort Dix Five” for The Intercept, and says the case deserves more scrutiny.

Bonus:

For further listening on Christie's track record of prosecuting terrorists in the years following 9/11 - here's our discussion on the conviction of Hemant Lakhani.

Check out the WNYC Data News App: The Christie Tracker.

Christie's Head Fakes Dec 23, 2015

Show notes

In basketball, the head fake can be used to trick a defender. Essentially, you pretend like you're gonna go one way... and then you do something else.

It can work in politics too. Like when Governor Christie said he was going to direct the New Jersey Department of Human Services not to participate in the settlement of Syrian refugees.

And then? Well, nothing.

NJPR's Matt Katz says Christie is a pro at the political head fake. This week, he tells host David Furst about those times when he indicated to a conservative audience he was going to do something to make them happy but then actually does nothing at all.

But was Matt ready for the ultimate FAKE head fake?

Also:

The Garden State met the Granite State when Gov. Christie bused a bunch of NJ residents up to New Hampshire to assist with campaigning. One of the travelers was none other than Christie superfan, Angel Cordero.

It's unlikely you’ll ever meet a more enthusiastic supporter than this Camden resident. And New Hampshire may never be the same.

Check out the WNYC Data News App: The Christie Tracker.

Governor Christie’s Debate Performance: In 140 Characters Dec 16, 2015

Show notes

GOP debate #5 is a wrap.

Governor Christie was back on the main stage and needed to make the most of this moment. With less than two months to go before the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, it’s getting to be do-or-die time for all candidates not named Trump.

Ted Cruz is surging in the polls and Governor Christie may have jumped to second place in New Hampshire, but the brightest glare of the spotlight still shines on orange hair.

So how did Christie do?

New Jersey Public Radio’s Matt Katz and WNYC’s Andrea Bernstein were hard at work fact-checking and live-tweeting during the fifth debate. Today, they join us to AUDIO-tweet Christie’s performance ... in real time.

Check out the WNYC Data News App: The Christie Tracker.

Chris Christie's New Suitor and the 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' Debate Dec 09, 2015

Show notes

The Star-Ledger’s Tom Moran has been locked in a war of words with Grant Bosse, Editorial Page Editor of New Hampshire’s Union Leader, over the paper’s endorsement of Christie. Moran says the Leader didn’t do its homework. Bosse calls The Star-Ledger Christie’s “crazy ex-girlfriend.” We bring the editors together to debate endorsements and the vetting process.

Also:

It’s tough to be perfect out there. With dozens of town hall events and TV appearances running back-to-back during this primary, there has been plenty of opportunity for Governor Christie to say something, shall we say, not entirely true.

Matt Katz joins host David Furst to discuss his list of the top-ten times Christie didn’t tell the whole truth on the campaign trail. We'll break down those moments that go by so quickly in town hall discussions - when Christie manipulates statistics to accentuate his conservative cred... or just gets stuff wrong.

And:

In the immortal words of Ron Burgundy, “Boy. That escalated quickly.”

We have the latest on the burgeoning battle between Christie and Donald Trump. Among other instantly infamous remarks, the front-runner claimed this week that the Gov “totally knew about” Bridgegate.

Check out the WNYC Data News App: The Christie Tracker.

Christie: 'Our World War Is Happening Right Now' Dec 02, 2015

Show notes

For months, pundits have been saying that Governor Christie’s presidential aspirations were dead in the water. But lately, whispers about a potential Christie comeback have increased in volume. The argument goes like this: after the terrorist attacks in Paris, everything changed. And Christie, who has long positioned himself as the law-and-order national-security guy, is the candidate primary voters will run to in a time of uncertainty and fear.

It still hasn’t really shown up in any polls. But this week, the Gov picked up a key endorsement from New Hampshire’s biggest paper. A nod from the Union Leader has traditionally meant an 11-percentage-point bump in the polls. And in a sure sign of renewed status, Donald Trump has started attacking him via Twitter.

NJPR’s Matt Katz and Tom Moran, editorial page editor for the Star-Ledger, join us from the Granite State. They discuss with host David Furst how Christie’s town hall events have changed over the last month.

We’ll also discuss two brewing feuds. One, naturally, with Trump. The other with New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association President, Pat Colligan. The name calling has become, well, piggish.

Check out the WNYC Data News App: The Christie Tracker.

Christie's Bold Defense of Muslim-Americans (Four Years Ago) Nov 25, 2015

Show notes

From Governor Christie’s comments about Syrian orphans to Donald Trump’s assertion that he saw thousands cheering in Jersey City on 9/11, New Jersey has become a central part of the national discussion on refugees and terrorism in the aftermath of the Paris attacks.

In his response to Trump’s claims about Jersey City, Governor Christie was accused of going easy on the front runner. Instead of issuing a blunt denial that the widely discredited rumor was fiction, Christie said simply, “I do not remember that. It’s not something that was part of my recollection. I think if it had happened, I would remember it. But, you know, there could be things I forget too.”

To help us make sense of the refugee rhetoric, we're joined by dueling Matts: Matt Katz who covers Governor Christie for NJPR and Matt Rooney, who runs the conservative Save Jersey blog.

Matt Rooney says Chris Christie shouldn't have to answer for everything Trump says. Rooney poses the question, “How much should we go at Donald Trump and try to correct him... in so doing, are we actually building him up?”

But Matt Katz says, “Trump was slandering residents of Christie’s home state,” and the governor's tepid response doesn’t cut it.

This week, we turn back the clock to recall a side of Christie that has remained submerged through much of the primary – as we remember the times when the governor let loose with bold support for a Muslim-American judge.

Also:

Patrick Colligan, President of the New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association tells host David Furst why he’s been warning officers across the country against supporting Christie’s presidential bid.

Check out the WNYC Data News App: The Christie Tracker.

Christie Closes Door to Syrian Refugees Nov 18, 2015

Show notes

In the days following the terrorist attacks in Paris, shock and sorrow quickly shifted to outrage and blame on the Republican campaign trail. From Donald Trump saying he would consider closing mosques to calls for religious tests for refugees, candidates seemed to be in a race to out-hawk each other.

And Chris Christie was not to be outdone.

He sent a letter to President Obama saying he would no longer accept Syrian refugees in New Jersey and told radio host Hugh Hewitt he wouldn’t even allow orphaned refugees under the age of five in the country. It was a quick flip from two months ago when he said America should play a compassionate role and take in refugees.

Obama responded to the refugee ruckus while speaking in the Philippines. "When candidates say, 'we won't admit 3-year-old orphans,' that's political posturing."

This week on the podcast, NJPR’s Matt Katz and Tom Moran, Editorial Page Editor for The Star-Ledger, join us to talk about the governor’s hardening position and his strategy moving forward.

Also:

The lawyers for former Christie staffer Bridget Anne Kelly and former Port Authority Deputy Executive Director Bill Baroni filed defense motions in federal court last week. And yes, that means Bridgegate is back in the news. WNYC’s Senior Editor for Politics and Policy, Andrea Bernstein joins host David Furst to discuss what she learned from the filings.

Check out the WNYC Data News App: The Christie Tracker.

Christie the Big Kid at the Table Nov 11, 2015

Show notes

It’s been a bumpy month on the Christie Campaign Express.

At first, things were looking up. There was a good response to his 3rd debate performance, a bump in the polls in New Hampshire, and then a video of him talking compassionately about drug addiction went viral. It seemed like the moment his campaign had been waiting for.

Then, the sudden jolt: when he was booted off the main stage for the 4th debate due to low national poll numbers.

New Jersey Public Radio's Matt Katz discusses whether Christie made lemonade out of lemons with host David Furst.

Also this week: weighing Christie's words in that viral video against his actions when it comes to supporting drug treatment programs. Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Amy Rosenberg looks at Christie's record and the threatened closure of the only treatment center in south Jersey.

Check out the WNYC Data News App: The Christie Tracker.

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