Journalist and historian Chris Whipple , author of the new book “ Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History ,” talks about how the Democratic Party, the Biden campaign and the candidate himself decided to ignore the reality of Biden’s mental acuity and insist on running against Trump until it was too late — and handing the White House to the Republican in the process. PLUS: The latest on Godzilla vs. King Kong. And if you think only Biden had the co...
Jun 09, 2025•42 min•Ep. 424
Chicago Tribune political correspondent Rick Pearson sums up the career of Dick Durbin, the Illinois Democrat who is retiring after five terms in the Senate. PLUS: George Santos can continue to lie, only this time in prison … Remembering Donald Trump’s tirades against Barack Obama for his executive orders and golf playing … A farewell to our old friend Alan Simpson … and looking back at the final days of U.S. involvement in Vietnam, now 50 years after the evacuation. Music in this Episode: Dear ...
May 10, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 423
Joe Gerth , columnist for the Louisville Courier-Journal , takes us through the long Senate career of Mitch McConnell, the Republican from Kentucky, who announced he will not seek an eighth term. PLUS: The stunning shouting match between President Trump, cheered on by Vice President Vance, and Ukrainian President Zelensky. The post Episode #422: How Mitch McConnell Enabled The Party Takeover By Donald appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie ....
Mar 03, 2025•44 min•Ep. 422
Jeff Greenfield remembers how Presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush consoled the nation during crisis and trauma, and compares their actions to those of Donald Trump, whose response to a deadly plane crash was one of blame and nastiness. Rick Pluta of Michigan Public Radio discusses the retirement of Sen. Gary Peters (D) and the battle in 2026 to succeed him — a battle that could include Pete Buttigieg. And Kathie Obradovich of Iowa Capital Dispatch talks of the pressures bac...
Feb 06, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 421
Donald Trump’s election opened up two Senate seats — in Ohio, where JD Vance was elected vice president, and in Florida, where Marco Rubio joined the Trump Cabinet as Secretary of State. Jeremy Pelzer , a political reporter with Cleveland.com and the Cleveland Plain Dealer , talks about new Sen. Jon Husted, who had been Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s lieutenant governor. And Susan MacManus , a leading Florida political analyst, tells us everything we need to know about Ashley Moody, the state’s former ...
Jan 25, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 420
Republican strategist Terry Holt explains what happened on November 5th and dissects some of Donald Trump’s more controversial Cabinet picks. Aubrey Jewett of the University of Central Florida handicaps who will succeed Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio in the Senate. Former Congresswoman Jill Long Thompson (D-IN) has a new book filled with essays from Democrats and Republicans alike making the case that bipartisanship really works … and must work. And former Oklahoma TV anchor Scott Thom...
Dec 05, 2024•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 419
Holly Michels of the Montana State News Bureau for Lee Newspapers reports on the tough re-election battle facing Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat seeking a fourth term in an overwhelmingly Republican state … and this time, with the very popular Donald Trump on the ballot. And Rob Schofield of NC Newsline is covering the race for governor in North Carolina, where we have learned that the Republican nominee, Lt. Governor Mark Robinson — heartily endorsed by Trump — has in the past posted racist and mis...
Oct 04, 2024•Ep. 418
Dan Morain , a journalist who spent decades at the Los Angeles Times and the Sacramento Bee , and who is the author of “Kamala’s Way,” the first biography of Vice President Kamala Harris, talks about her rise in California politics that has led her to the doorsteps of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. PLUS : A look back at the Harris-Trump debate, the intrusion of Taylor Swift into the political battle, and how the inclusion of Laura Loomer into Trump’s inner circle has shaken up the Republican Party. M...
Sep 16, 2024•50 min•Ep. 417
Anti-Trump Republican strategist Mike Murphy tries to sum up a surreal month of politics, starting with Joe Biden’s debate from hell and ending with the president’s withdrawal and the likely anointment of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president. On her VP selection, Murphy offers a prediction … and a preference. And Matt Arco , a political reporter for the Star Ledger and NJ.com, reports on the conviction and upcoming resignation of New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez, a...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Alan Schroeder , author of the definitive book on presidential debates, takes us on a tour of memorable debates over the years and tries to assess how next week’s “bash” (CNN pun intended) between President Biden and former President Trump may affect the November vote — if at all. NPR’s Ron Elving adds up the pros and cons of Trump’s many potential running mates and, when pressed, announces his prediction. Ken Rudin agrees with him. And Republican strategist Frank Donatelli recounts his career o...
Jun 20, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 415
Republican strategist Mike Murphy, a leading anti-Trump voice in the party, discusses the state of politics and a new look at the presidential race in the aftermath of the guilty verdict. The post Episode #414: Trump Law, Meet Murphy’s Law appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie .
Jun 06, 2024•Ep. 414
Democrats are experiencing an increasingly bitter battle for a Maryland Senate seat that suddenly seems competitive. Plus, Kristi Noem destroys her own VP hopes. And a farewell to Pete McCloskey. The post Episode #413: Maryland Has A Thriller, Farewell To Pete, And A Ruff Ending For Kristi appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie ....
May 12, 2024•46 min•Ep. 413
How the Ronna McDaniel hiring turned NBC News into knots and revived the question about the advisability of hiring partisan voices on network news. And we rerun a wonderful 2017 interview with Joe Lieberman, who died last week. The post Episode #412: Old McDaniel Told A Lie appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie .
Apr 04, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 412
A review of the Arizona Senate race following the departure of incumbent Kyrsten Sinema. And a look at the key results from Super Tuesday. Plus, a review of a most unusual State of the Union address. The post Episode #411: A Sense Of Yuma After Sinema’s Departure appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie .
Mar 12, 2024•53 min•Ep. 411
A look ahead towards Tuesday's primary to fill the Senate seat long held by the late Dianne Feinstein. Plus: Age and Biden, Sanity and Trump, and a Farewell by McConnell The post Episode #410: California Girls (And Guys) appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie .
Mar 01, 2024•39 min•Ep. 410
Rumors that Taylor Swift might endorse Joe Biden has led conservatives to lose their minds. And a look at Tuesday's congressional race on New York's Long Island to replace the irreplaceable George Santos. The post Episode #409: Swift Paranoia Taylor-Made For MAGA appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie .
Feb 09, 2024•46 min•Ep. 409
The latest in the Republican and Democratic contests in New Hampshire. The post Episode #408: New Hampshire, Where Trump Came, Saw and Concord? appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie .
Jan 20, 2024•51 min•Ep. 408
It's a review of 2023 and a look ahead to 2024 with NPR's Ron Elving. The post Episode #407: Farewell To 2023, Bracing For 2024 appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie .
Jan 12, 2024•47 min•Ep. 407
We hear from the biographers of two trailblazers who have left us, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. And we hear about an investigative podcast about Ohio's greatest political scandal in history. The post Episode #406: Farewell To The Trailblazers appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie ....
Dec 06, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 406
Election Day is on Tuesday, and we look at the race for governor in Kentucky and the battle for the state legislature in Virginia. Plus, Mike Pence is out, and Tommy Tuberville loses friends. The post Episode #405: Pence Is Out; Is Choice In? appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie .
Nov 04, 2023•40 min•Ep. 405
The ousting of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and replacing him, finally, with Mike Johnson, sets up two conversations this week: One, with a former California GOP lawmaker who bolted his party to vote for a Democratic House Speaker, only to be recalled for his efforts; and Two, a visit to the 1995 archives and a talk with a former Republican House leader analyzes the forced resignation of House Speaker John Boehner. The post Episode #404: Master Of The House (For Now) appeared first on Ken Rudin'...
Oct 26, 2023•48 min•Ep. 404
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), the longest serving woman in the history of the Senate and a trailblazer for women, has died at the age of 90. And Kevin McCarthy becomes the first House speaker in history to be ousted in a vote amongst his colleagues. The post Episode #403: Goodbye To DiFi … And Kevin Too appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie ....
Oct 06, 2023•30 min•Ep. 403
GOP strategist Mike Murphy on Mitt Romney, Nikki Haley and this week's second Republican debate. We explore what's behind the Impeach Biden effort. And Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has been indicted. The post Episode #402: Murphy’s Law — On Romney, Haley And The Debates appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie .
Sep 26, 2023•44 min•Ep. 402
Interviews with two political guests who died last week, Democrat Bill Richardson and Republican Gerald Carmen, are repeated in this episode. The post Episode #401: From The Archives, Gone, But Not Forgotten appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie .
Sep 10, 2023•37 min•Ep. 401
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan talks about Donald Trump, the GOP debate, his future plans, and memories of his father, who courageously supported Nixon's impeachment in 1974. The post Episode #400: Larry Hogan’s Heroes appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie .
Aug 25, 2023•38 min•Ep. 400
Looking at the health -- and the political jockeying -- regarding Senators Mitch McConnell and Dianne Feinstein. Plus: Another Trump indictment and the first GOP debate on the way. The post Episode #399: Senate Health and Politics appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie .
Aug 17, 2023•29 min•Ep. 399
A look at Kevin McCarthy's victory to be Speaker of the House, which took 15 ballots -- the most since before the Civil War. We set up this month's election at the RNC to determine whether incumbent chair Ronna McDaniel can keep her job. A prominent New Hampshire Democrat is saddened by President Biden and the DNC's decision to replace his state as the nation's first presidential primary. And a look at the 2024 Senate race in California, where candidates are already running. The post Episode #39...
Jan 13, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 398
A look at the decision by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) to leave her party and become an independent, and a look at other Senate party switches. Plus, Kevin McCarthy battles his right flank to become the next speaker of the House. The post Episode #397: Sinema Vérité appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie .
Dec 16, 2022•40 min•Ep. 397
A look ahead to next week's Senate runoff in Georgia. Plus, thoughts about Trump's dinner with two anti-semites. The post Episode #396: 51 Or 50, And Fight appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie .
Nov 30, 2022•25 min•Ep. 396
Donald Trump is running but the Justice Department may not let him get far. Nancy Pelosi is stepping down, but she's not going far. And what to make of the 2022 midterms. The post Episode #395: Trump’s Problems, Pelosi’s Decision And A 2022 Wrap appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie .
Nov 23, 2022•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 395
