In this bonus episode, Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado is joined by Hotline senior political correspondent James A. Downs, Erin Covey of The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter , and Jacob Rubashkin of Inside Elections to discuss how the renewed redistricting fights will impact the midterms and beyond. Subscribe to Hotline for more expert analysis: https://hub.nationaljournal.com/hotline-subscribe...
May 15, 2026•59 min•Season 1Ep. 159
In this bonus episode, Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado and Cook Political Report with Amy Walter founder Charlie Cook discuss the latest developments in redistricting for Virginia, the Senate battleground, and President Trump's sway over the Republican party. Subscribe to Hotline here: https://hub.nationaljournal.com/hotline-subscribe
May 11, 2026•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 158
In our new monthly webinar series, "Hotline Live," Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado talks to National Journal editor-in-chief Jeff Dufour about campaigning in the age of alternative media, exploring how podcasters, live streamers, and AI-candidates will dominate 2026. To sign up for Hotline Wake Up Call: https://hub.nationaljournal.com/-hotline-wuc-subscribe To learn more about the MAHA Project: https://hub.nationaljournal.com/maha-project To sign up for the Listening Station: https://hub.nationaljou...
Apr 20, 2026•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 157
In our new monthly webinar series, "Hotline Live," Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado and Senate correspondent Nicholas Anastácio talk to Natalie Jackson, vice president at CQR and National Journal "Leading Indicators" columnist, about the evolving world of polling and predictions, and how to forecast elections like a pro. To sign up for Hotline Wake Up Call: https://hub.nationaljournal.com/-hotline-wuc-subscribe To learn more about the MAHA Project: https://hub.nationaljournal.com/maha-project...
Mar 19, 2026•56 min•Season 1Ep. 156
In this bonus episode, Hotline Editor Kirk A. Bado and Cook Political Report with Amy Walter founder Charlie Cook discuss the lack of political fallout from Republicans over the war in Iran, who could lead the MAGA movement in the future, the Texas Senate primary results and more trending topics.
Mar 16, 2026•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 155
In our new monthly webinar series, "Hotline Live," Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado talks to senior political correspondent James A. Downs and Cook Political Report with Amy Walter House editor Erin Covey on how the unprecedented wave of mid-cycle redistricting has broader implications for the electoral landscape.
Feb 23, 2026•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 154
In this bonus episode, Editor-in-chief Jeff Dufour and Cook Political Report with Amy Walter founder Charlie Cook discuss Democrats' Senate battleground strategy and Republicans' panic over losing the majority, the latest in national polling, and the latest headlines.
Feb 09, 2026•58 min•Season 1Ep. 153
In our new monthly webinar series, "Hotline Live," Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado talks to senior political correspondent James A. Downs, national correspondent Erika Filter, states correspondent Abby Turner, and Senate campaigns correspondent Nicholas Anastácio. In this roundtable discussion, they lay out predictions for another pivotal election year.
Jan 26, 2026•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 152
As part of the Trump 2.0: From Platform to Policy webinar series last year, National Journal editor-in-chief Jeff Dufour talked to Dean Ball, Senior Fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation and former Senior Policy Advisor on AI and Emerging Technology at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. They discuss the topic of reshaping federal AI strategy and the Trump administration's AI plan.
Jan 12, 2026•59 min•Season 1Ep. 151
In this bonus episode, Hotline Editor Kirk A. Bado and Cook Political Report with Amy Walter founder Charlie Cook discuss the changing of the guard within the Republican party, the after effects of congressional retirements, and President Trump's sinking approval.
Dec 08, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 1Ep. 150
The new Hotline 2026 Midterm Preview special report provides a comprehensive overview of the races, trends, and campaigns that will dominate the road to the midterms. In this webinar, Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado is joined by national correspondent Erika Filter, Senate campaign correspondent Nicholas Anastácio, House race correspondent James A. Downs, and states correspondent Abby Turner. They discuss races, trends, and storylines shaping the 2026 midterm elections. Download the 2026 Midterm Prev...
Nov 13, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 149
Hotline Editor Kirk A. Bado brings on national political correspondent Erika Filter to discuss President Trump's role or lack thereof on the midterm campaign trail, the political dynamics between Republican candidates and Trump, and the Democratic hopefuls on the campaign trail instead.
Nov 03, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 148
With the gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia getting closer to Election Day, Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado brings on states correspondent Abby Turner to discuss the campaign trail for Republican and Democratic candidates, which issues have become important to voters, and more on the political dynamics.
Oct 27, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 147
In this bonus episode, Hotline Editor Kirk A. Bado and Cook Political Report with Amy Walter founder Charlie Cook discuss the battles on the Senate map, the gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia, and the changing political dynamics this midterm cycle. Read Gary Jacobson's article here: https://www.psqonline.org/article.cfm?IDArticle=20715 Watch the Midterm Election Preview on C-SPAN here: https://www.c-span.org/program/campaign-2026/midterm-election-preview/667195...
Oct 20, 2025•59 min•Season 1Ep. 146
Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado and NJ Daily managing editor Ledyard King jump on the podcast to discuss where things stand on Day 6 of the government shutdown. They detail the positions of Democrats and Republicans, which party voters find more responsible, and what role the White House could play to resolve the standoff.
Oct 06, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 145
Editor-in-Chief Jeff Dufour and Cook Political Report with Amy Walter founder Charlie Cook discuss the latest news on redistricting, the impending government shutdown, and how thermostatic politics could affect the dynamics of the midterm elections.
Sep 29, 2025•48 min•Season 1Ep. 144
Red states like Texas and Missouri have yielded to the White House's calls and redrawn their congressional maps to get more GOP-friendly seats. In response, Democratic states have also considered redraws to counteract their Republican counterparts. But with differences among state legislatures and complications in the redistricting process, it could be easier said than done. Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado talks to House races correspondent James A. Downs on the tense arms race between red states an...
Sep 22, 2025•35 min•Season 1Ep. 143
In this bonus episode, National Journal Editor in Chief Jeff Dufour talks to Max Stier, President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service in the third installment of the Trump 2.0 From Platform to Policy webinar series. They unpack the Trump administration's proposed and enacted changes to the federal workforce and how that could affect policy in return. You can follow along with the presentation they discuss in the episode here . You can also look at this one-pager recap of the webinar he...
Sep 15, 2025•51 min•Season 1Ep. 142
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has shaken up the department, from his anti-vaccine stances to his firing of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez. National Journal Daily Managing Editor Ledyard King brings on congressional-policy reporter Nancy Vu to go in-depth on the backlash toward RFK Jr. from Democrats and Republicans at his recent congressional hearing.
Sep 08, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 141
Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado sits down with the authors of the Almanac of American Politics, Louis Jacobson and Richard E. Cohen, as the Almanac's 2026 edition is released. Listen as they discuss the process for writing this edition, keeping up with the rapid political environment before the publishing deadline, and why the Almanac still matters after 53 years. Buy the 2026 edition here: https://www.thealmanacofamericanpolitics.com/index.aspx...
Sep 02, 2025•38 min•Season 1Ep. 140
In this bonus episode, National Journal Editor in Chief Jeff Dufour, NJ Daily Managing Editor Ledyard King, Hotline Editor Kirk Bado, and congressional policy reporter Nancy Vu are gathered in a virtual roundtable discussion to discuss a hectic August recess. They'll discuss what's going on in Washington in the weeks ahead, the state of the 2026 midterms, and how congressional retirements are impacting ideological composition in both parties.
Aug 18, 2025•52 min•Season 1Ep. 139
Being an appropriator isn't what it used to be. Senior congressional reporter Casey Wooten breaks down the Trump administration's efforts bucking against Congress' ability to spend money. He brings on Molly Reynolds, a senior fellow of governance studies at the Brookings Institution, to discuss what these battles between the executive and legislative branches mean for the political landscape.
Aug 11, 2025•24 min•Season 1Ep. 138
Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado brings on Senate races correspondent Nicholas Anastácio and House races correspondent James A. Downs to give the big picture on the House and Senate battlefield this midterm season. They discuss the recently-published Hotline Power Rankings on which House and Senate seats are most likely to flip. Check out the House Power Rankings and the Senate Power Rankings ....
Aug 04, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 137
Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma joins National Journal Radio for the first time, where he sits down with Senate correspondent Savannah Behrmann. He discusses his liaison role during the process of passing the Big Beautiful Bill, his response to criticism over the bill, and his position on the Epstein files.
Jul 28, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 136
Hotline House campaign correspondent James A. Downs talks to Cook Political Report with Amy Walter founder Charlie Cook about the latest updates in redistricting efforts in Texas, who could retire next from the Senate, and the political fallout facing President Trump over information on sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Jul 21, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 135
President Trump's actions in the U.S. continue to resonate around the world, from his tariffs impacting European stakeholders to his controversial decision to send arms shipments to Ukraine. NJ Daily managing editor Ledyard King brings on foreign policy and defense reporter Cristina Maza to share her reporting on Trump's recent foreign policy actions and entanglements.
Jul 14, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 134
House and Senate GOP leaders walked a careful tightrope in trying to get the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' approved. NJ Daily managing editor Ledyard King brings on senior congressional correspondent Casey Wooten, Senate correspondent Savannah Behrmann and congressional policy reporter Nancy Vu to break down the drama and recap behind the scenes of the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' on the Hill.
Jul 07, 2025•32 min•Season 1Ep. 133
The next Senate midterm cycle looks to be varied with Democrats looking at rare pickup opportunities, messy primaries and swing state retirements. Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado brings on Senate races reporter Nicholas Anastácio to give the current scope and dynamics of the Senate battlefield.
Jun 30, 2025•33 min•Season 1Ep. 82
Editor-in-Chief Jeff Dufour and Cook Political Report with Amy Walter founder Charlie Cook discuss President Trump's polling numbers after a busy news week with threats of war with Iran, infighting in the West Wing, and Dems in disarray. Plus, a guest appearance from Hotline House races reporter James A. Downs.
Jun 20, 2025•59 min•Season 1Ep. 131
Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado brings on new national correspondent Erika Filter to discuss Democrats' struggles with messaging in the Trump 2.0 era, the White House's new communication strategy, and more.
Jun 16, 2025•26 min•Season 1Ep. 130