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National Journal Radio

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A deep dive on the most important policy, political, and campaign story of the week, powered by National Journal’s expert correspondents. New episodes every Monday.

Episodes

Episode 24: The Mod Squad

Jim Kessler, executive director of Third Way, dishes on the state that will decide the 2020 Democratic nominee, the possible consequence of Democrats moving too far left, and what Amy Klobuchar has in common with kale.

Mar 07, 201951 minSeason 1Ep. 24

Episode 23: Checkpoint Charlie

Charlie Sykes, the editor-in-chief of the newly-launched conservative anti-Trump publication The Bulwark , joins Politics Editor Josh Kraushaar to discuss why he and Paul Ryan are "seeing other people," Joe Biden's chances in 2020, and why some people say he's declaring a "fatwa."

Feb 28, 201954 minSeason 1Ep. 23

Episode 22: On the Mark

Democratic pollster Mark Mellman addresses Rep. Ilhan Omar's (D-MN 05) anti-semitic remarks, Joe Biden's chances in 2020, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's possible future as a party leader.

Feb 21, 201950 minSeason 1Ep. 22

Episode 21: All About the Base

Republican pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson interprets the numbers as they pertain to Trump's approval and reelection chances, the Green New Deal, and how an independent candidate would fare in 2020.

Feb 14, 201945 minSeason 1Ep. 21

Episode 20: The Non-Electables

Wrapping up a busy week of political news—Virginia chaos, Trump’s second State of the Union address, and Elizabeth Warren’s latest apology—we’ve got two of the sharpest Democratic political strategists to break things down. Doug Thornell and Adrienne Elrod co-host the brand new podcast “The Electables” and offer their lively insights on a volatile week for Democrats.

Feb 08, 201947 minSeason 1Ep. 20

Episode 19: Data Download

GOP strategist and CNN contributor Mike Shields discusses the racism found in both parties, whether the Republicans should allow primaries against President Trump, and the immigration deal that should be made.

Jan 31, 201952 minSeason 1Ep. 19

Episode 18: Poll Position

Democratic pollster Margie Omero sits down with Politics Editor Josh Kraushaar to dish on the shutdown, Trump's crossover appeal, and what the word "liberal" will mean to voters in 2020.

Jan 24, 201939 minSeason 1Ep. 18

Episode 17: The Republican Civil War

Following the release of Henry Olsen's buzzy op-ed calling Mitt Romney "wildly out of touch," the Ethics and Public Policy Center senior fellow sits down to tackle Trump, Pelosi, and all those 2020 hopefuls.

Jan 10, 201942 minSeason 1Ep. 17

Episode 16: Master of the House

Host Josh Kraushaar and the Cook Political Report's Dave Wasserman broke down the midterm House elections, including the drama unfolding in races still uncalled a month later, President Trump's shadow over the GOP losses and in the new Congress, and the diversity of the incoming freshmen who won Democrats the majority.

Dec 05, 201856 minSeason 1Ep. 16

Against the Grain Episode 15: Trendspotting

Bruce Mehlman, one of the sharpest political watchers and trendspotters in Washington, goes over the Midterm's trends, the 2020 Democratic field, and predictions for 2019.

Nov 29, 201838 minSeason 1Ep. 15

Episode 14: Breaking Down the Midterms

Colin Reed, senior vice president at Definers Public Affairs, been a campaign adviser to some of the most successful blue-state Republicans, including Mitt Romney, Chris Christie, and John McCain.After a wild election night, he shares his midterm takeaways, thoughts on the possible 2020 Democratic presidential field, and how opposition research is evolving with the changing political times.

Nov 08, 201838 minSeason 1Ep. 14

Episode 13: Opposition Research

Is the Trump era the golden age of opposition research? Has the #MeToo movement changed how it works? What do "trackers" do? Shripal Shah, Vice President of the pro-Democrat opposition research firm American Bridge, breaks it all down on this week's episode of Against the Grain.

Nov 01, 201844 minSeason 1Ep. 13

Episode 12: The Great Revolt

Republican consultant Brad Todd literally wrote the book on the reshaping of American politics. As he works on some of the most-competitive Senate races in the country, including Republican Josh Hawley’s big fight against Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in Missouri, Todd shares race rundowns, Trump's two worst moments as president, and the issues voters actually care about.

Oct 25, 201847 minSeason 1Ep. 12

Episode 11: When They Go Heye

Republican strategist and CNN contributor Doug Heye joins National Journal's Politics Editor Josh Kraushaar to weigh in on the "Never Trump" movement, how the party has evolved since its inception, and what the party is doing to prepare for the midterms.

Oct 17, 201838 minSeason 1Ep. 11

Episode 10: The Right Unites

Ben Domenech, publisher of The Federalist , joins National Journal 's Politics Editor Josh Kraushaar for a candid conversation on the cultural phenomenon of Donald Trump, and his surprising assessment of Paul Ryan and Mike Pence. Domenech, who is married to Meghan McCain, also shares his thoughts about the late Sen. John McCain's legacy and inside details on McCain's conflict with the president.

Oct 11, 201845 minSeason 1Ep. 10

Episode 9: Supreme Uncertainty

To know what the progressive movement is thinking, look to Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress. Sitting down with Politics Editor Josh Kraushaar, she shares her thoughts on Brett Kavanaugh, what it means for the midterms and beyond, and whether Joe Biden will run.

Oct 03, 201851 minSeason 1Ep. 9

Episode 8: Split-Screen Politics

There are few Democratic guests with more expertise about the legal and political storms President Trump is facing than Matt Miller. A longtime adviser to former Attorney General Eric Holder and top political aide to Sen. Chuck Schumer, Miller offers his perspective on everything from Trump's legal predicament, Judge Kavanaugh's Supreme Court prospects, and addresses whether Holder will be running for president in 2020.

Sep 06, 201835 minSeason 1Ep. 8

Episode 7: McConnell's Man

There are few staffers that have been as close to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as Josh Holmes, the senator's former chief of staff and campaign manager for his 2004 Senate race. Now the partner and founder of Cavalry, a consulting firm that offers strategic advice to the top Fortune 500 companies as well as some leading Republican Senate campaigns, Holmes sits down to share his thoughts on Harry Reid and Steve Bannon, the race in North Dakota, and how the RGA should've learned f...

Aug 23, 201845 minSeason 1Ep. 7

Episode 6: A Pox Upon Both Houses

Should Democrats veer left to excite their base or move to the middle to win over moderates? Lanae Erickson Hatalsky, vice president for social policy and politics at the centrist Democratic think tank Third Way, sits down with Josh Kraushaar to find the common cause across traditional ideological divides.

Aug 15, 201841 minSeason 1Ep. 6

Episode 5: House Talk

Bipartisan duo Ali Lapp and Liesl Hickey join Josh Kraushaar to geek out on the battle for the House—in a year that's what everyone in Washington is focused on.

Aug 09, 201851 minSeason 1Ep. 8

Episode 4: Red Alert for Republicans

Veteran GOP pollster Glen Bolger joins the podcast and offers some sobering news to Republicans about their prospects in the 2018 elections. Bolger discusses the dramatic political shift of independent voters over the last year, the power of Trump's endorsements in GOP primaries, and the possibility Democrats retake both the House and Senate next year.

Aug 02, 201846 minSeason 1Ep. 4

Episode 3: The Man With the Message

Mark Putnam, one of the most talented political admakers in the business, sits down with Josh Kraushaar to talk that infamous Jason Kander ad, messaging in the Trump era, and how he's propelled some of his underdog Democratic clients out of obscurity.

Jul 26, 201842 minSeason 1Ep. 3

Episode 2: Keeping the Faith

Michael Wear, who engineered President Obama's outreach to faith communities, joins the podcast and offers some candid criticism about the Democratic party's unwillingness to support pro-life voices within the party. He also discusses whether there's room for religion in today's increasingly coarse political culture, identifies the most faith-friendly presidential prospects for 2020, and talks about his experiences working in the Obama White House.

Jul 19, 201840 minSeason 1Ep. 2

Episode 1: Jury's Still Out

Rep. Ryan Costello (R-PA 06) talks about the Trump-Putin summit, whether he believes there was collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, the challenge of being a Republican in suburbia and, of course, Philly sports.

Jul 16, 201846 minSeason 1Ep. 1

Welcome to Against the Grain

National Journal Politics Editor Josh Kraushaar's weekly " Against the Grain " column challenges the conventional wisdom in Washington. Now Kraushaar's no-BS approach to political reporting is becoming the newest addition to the podcast world. Every week, Kraushaar will be interviewing some of the most interesting people in the world of politics—members of Congress, aspiring candidates, political strategists and veterans of campaigns past—and get their candid views of what's really happening in ...

May 31, 20181 minSeason 1Ep. 1
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