Joe and Alex are joined by Greg Sargent of The Washington Post, author of "An Uncivil War" and the Plum Line blog. Greg joins for a somber conversation about the state of the GOP, including how low the bar has gotten in the Senate for Republicans to do the right thing. What does compromise look like in a world where pro-democracy Republicans are purged from the party? How do we hold the liars accountable while reaching out to those who were lied to?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com...
May 25, 2021•35 min
Joe and Alex have had it with today's GOP, which refuses to investigate the attack on themselves Jan. 6, while continuing audits in states around the country, insisting the election was stolen. It's quite a statement when the most serious politician we discuss on today's show may be Matthew McConaughey. Then, a new poll shows Trump leading all '24 candidates by a huge margin -- but he's only getting 48% of Republican support. Joe wonders why a former president getting less than 50% of his own pa...
May 21, 2021•30 min
Democracy Docket founder Marc Elias has been fighting GOP-led voter suppression efforts for years. In the process, he may be single-handedly saving our republic. He tells Joe and Alex the status of the fight for voter rights, the GOP's dangerous motivation to continue voter suppression, and how we can all help. How will the GOP's right to fritter away the right to vote play out, and can it actually work? Then, Joe and Alex break down Liz Cheney's ouster (and how Donald Trump called a Cheney a "M...
May 14, 2021•37 min
First, Joe and Alex break down a race that just took place in the El Paso area, where the Democrats squandered a chance to compete in a district Trump only won by 3 points. While that seat was not one Democrats needed to count on, it was an opportunity, and Joe is worried about Democrats losing focus. Speaking of losing focus, Democrats are already getting excited about Charlie Crist running against Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis, and Conor Lamb potentially running for Senate in '22. Joe is excited abou...
May 07, 2021•32 min
Pres. Biden made history this week, addressing Congress for the first time with two women behind him. Joe and Alex break down the president's first address, plus the shift in conversation towards economic recovery, China and the end of trickle-down economics. Then, Joe and Alex touch on the redistricting news, and why some of it has a silver lining -- and some of it is devastating (89 NY'ers missing the Census costing a reliably blue state an electoral vote!) Plus, could Liz Cheney be a real con...
Apr 30, 2021•28 min
Joe and Alex are joined by Katherine Stewart, author of Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism. (Buy it here) We're all wondering how evangelicals can back Donald Trump, who embodies traits so antithetical to Christian values, and there's no one better to discuss that than Katherine Stewart. She talks about the role of fear in motivating Christian Nationalists, the increasing divide between secular liberals and the Christian right, why the evangelicals are such an ...
Apr 23, 2021•41 min
This week we're talking to James Fletcher, director of the documentary "The Accidental President," which chronicled the 2016 election. His central question was: "How did we all miss it?" While we're mercifully past the Trump presidency, the film helps us understand just how dangerous a period we are in as 2022 approaches. We also discuss whether there's a chance the people will see Trump or someone in his mold win the 2024 election and whether Joe Biden might be the most difficult president in h...
Apr 16, 2021•39 min
First, Joe Biden is pushing for another massive bill, this time to improve infrastructure in the country -- and it's overwhelmingly popular. Joe digs into some data that shows the Republicans are fighting an uphill battle against effective governance. Joe explains some of the under-discussed benefits of the infrastructure bill, and then why the GOP's constant obstructionism of any effort to govern may finally backfire. Then, we talk about Matt Gaetz and if the GOP voters will care about his alle...
Apr 09, 2021•31 min
Joe and Alex are joined by longtime friend Nicco Mele, who was the webmaster on the Dean 2004 campaign, and now is a thought leader in the digital political space. Nicco and Joe talk about how close the 2020 election truly was, and how close we came to a Trump validation and Senate/House sweep of the GOP. In reality, we were only a few thousand votes from catastrophe. They also touch on how Joe predicted Biden's ascent (much to Nicco's chagrin), the push for minority rule via voting restrictions...
Apr 02, 2021•44 min
First, Joe and Alex talk about presidential approval rating, and how it's a key metric that can indicate what will happen in 2022, and whether the Democrats can actually implement the agenda they want. Thanks to Perry Bacon from 538 for inspiring us on this topic (see article link below). Then, the GOP is in serious danger of its constituency being replaced through demographic changes. Articles referenced in this episode: @perrybaconjr on approval rating: https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/why...
Mar 26, 2021•26 min
Good news: we're back. Insane news: 2022 campaign season is underway. We'll be looking ahead to key races, starting today with one of 2022's most intriguing Senate races: Ohio. Rob Portman is retiring, and Joe thinks there may be an opportunity in Ohio for the Democrats while Republicans fight over the direction of the party. Then, Joe updates us about his new project targeting the GOP representatives who voted against the certification of the 2020 election. See the bottom of the show notes for ...
Mar 19, 2021•31 min
Fans of the show will remember how long Joe and Alex have discussed the issues the Democratic Party has had with winning critical statewide elections. There's no one better to talk about what we need to do to improve than Nicole Hobbs, co-founder of Every District. Nicole talks about three key improvements Every District is trying to make at the grassroots level, and Joe apologizes for inventing the "sky-is-falling" fundraising email in the Dean campaign. Plus, some fairly dire projections for t...
Feb 12, 2021•35 min
First up this week, President Biden took a meeting with GOP Senators who want to compromise on the COVID relief package, but he seems to want to press forward with or without them. Who wins in the battle to look bipartisan — and is that what voters want? Then, Marjorie Taylor Greene takes over our show as she has almost everything else, as Joe and Alex dig into the strategy behind the Republicans’ decision on whether to keep the freshman Congresswoman on the Education Committee. (We taped before...
Feb 05, 2021•26 min
What better way to kick off Joe Biden's presidency than to have Republicans abandon their consciences before impeaching Donald Trump a second time! What's the fallout of the Republicans being forced to cling to Trump even after his loss? Then, the GOP has a massive advantage for the next decade due to their control over state legislatures. How we got here, and what we do about it. Finally, there aren't many people more equipped to discuss the democratization of the flow of money online than Joe ...
Jan 29, 2021•34 min
We made it! Joe Biden is president. Joe and Alex talk about our 46th president's inaugural speech, and if "unity" is possible -- and why Joe Biden is the man to bring us closer to a healthier brand of politics than what we're accustomed to. (ie, one where the Republicans don't announce Articles of Impeachment on Day One. Then, how do the Democrats handle the power struggle in the Senate as the Republicans fight to hold on to some influence, and is it possible they could *gain* in 2022 instead of...
Jan 22, 2021•32 min
What a ridiculous month. Joe and Alex are here to help you make sense of it all. First, the House has impeached the president for a second time, but the trial likely won't begin until Pres. Biden (that looks nice) is in office. What are the endgames for McConnell and the Republicans, and how does Biden want this to go? Then, Joe has said for years Trump would never truly go away. Well... what about now? This time next week, he'll be a disgraced former president without the ability to tweet. How ...
Jan 15, 2021•30 min
A lot has happened since Joe and Alex last convened. First, we address the violence incited by the president yesterday at the US Capitol, and how members of both parties responded -- and what it means from here. Could the GOP turn towards a new, less destructive agenda? Then, a reminder that the Democrats won BOTH runoffs in Georgia and the Senate Majority. What are the lessons from this stunning victory, and how does a Democratic Senate potentially guide Joe Biden's choices of where to start pu...
Jan 08, 2021•44 min
Joe and Alex quickly give us an update on early returns from GA -- almost 1 million votes are in! -- and what the early voting patterns mean (if anything). Nate Cohn's Twitter thread is linked here. Next, Mitch McConnell said it was time for the GOP to "turn the page" and accept President-Elect Biden as, well, President-Elect. Why now? How much weight does the relationship between Biden and McConnell play into this decision? Plus, what does it mean for actual governance -- and for 2022 Senate ra...
Dec 18, 2020•38 min•Ep. 27
Another week closer to the Senate runoffs -- another week where the Republicans are fighting each other, even after Trump went down to rally the faithful for the two candidates. What was the fallout? What is the likelihood one of the candidates on either side could run ahead of the other? And could Perdue take a hit for choosing to let Ossoff debate an empty podium? Next, the Electoral College will formally make Joe Biden the next president on Dec. 14 (Monday). Could that finally put a nail in t...
Dec 11, 2020•31 min•Ep. 26
Joe and Alex are back to break down the wild weekend ahead in Georgia, where the president plans to hold rallies for the Republican Senate candidates — all while decrying the electoral process. Then, is it true Trump may be planning an announcement for a campaign in 2024? What’s the future of every other GOP politician of note given that possibility? Finally, what does Joe make of the Biden Cabinet thus far, and what do the announcements signal about the incoming administration?Support this podc...
Dec 04, 2020•39 min
First, a listener question so good we did it off the top -- where should the party (and donors) put their resources moving forward? Then, an update on the GA Senate races. Taking all polls with a grain of salt, what is Joe seeing from the early data? What is Trump's role in the race? What would he advise Trump to do? Next, the transition to Joe Biden's presidency is being stonewalled by an angry Trump administration. What should Biden be doing? Is there anything he should be doing differently, p...
Nov 20, 2020•38 min•Ep. 24
Joe starts off by explaining exactly why the Republicans and Mitch McConnell continue to stand by Donald Trump, even after he got blown out in the presidential election. (How good does that feel to read?) Then, what the hell do we make of any polling leading up to these Georgia Senate runoffs? What do the lessons of Doug Jones' special election win suggest about how Democrats can win those seats? Without Donald Trump on the ballot, who will show up? Finally, revisiting the fight among progressiv...
Nov 13, 2020•34 min•Ep. 23
Joe predicted 95 days ago that this election would look like 1980, where Jimmy Carter and the Democrats were wiped out behind an unpopular incumbent. Tonight, we'll see if he was right. First, given the chance, will Joe walk his prediction back? Will Election Day turnout really be dominated by Republicans? What states is Joe looking at now that the polls are locked in? Next, Axios reported Trump will declare victory if he looks to be ahead at any point. Joe explains why he's not worried about th...
Nov 03, 2020•34 min•Ep. 21
First, Joe and Alex take a look at the latest polls and talk about where the race stands this late in the game. What does Biden's latest big lead illustrate about who's drifting from one side to the other? What is Joe's map -- more importantly, what surprise swing state is Joe putting in the Dem column? Next, what do the candidates' travel schedules this week show about how they're viewing the race? Is Biden taking an unnecessary risk going to Georgia and Iowa instead of Michigan and Pennsylvani...
Oct 30, 2020•37 min•Ep. 20
Today, we're joined by one of the Hacks on Tap, Mike Murphy! He's the strategic advisor to Republicans Voting Against Trump, a group working hard to turn out the swing voters who could make a huge impact in this election. Mike joins Joe and Alex to talk about the early vote returns, the huge turnout in Texas, the future of the GOP, and whether civility will return to politics. He also has a suggestion for neurotic return-watchers that we could all probably use. Plus, intel from RNC spies from Ai...
Oct 27, 2020•36 min•Ep. 19
Joe and Alex first recap the debate, which was a remarkably less terrible experience than the previous one. Who watches these final debates? Did any of Trump's meandering conspiracy theories land? Did Biden - or Trump - land any convincing blows? Next, what to make of Biden campaign manager Jen O'Malley Dillon cautioning campaign staff and supporters that the race is still neck and neck in battleground states? Is that true? A Biden senior advisor told Politico what states they think they need to...
Oct 23, 2020•38 min•Ep. 18
Joe and Alex are joined by Paul Maslin, the veteran pollster who conducted the poll that had Doug Jones ahead by a point last week. How did he determine that number, and are national Democrats overlooking the Jones race? What are the trends in AL that could speak to national trends? Paul lives in Wisconsin, and shares some insight about the state of the race there, including a potential swing county and a prediction for what will happen in the state Nov. 3. Then, a broader look at the whole race...
Oct 20, 2020•20 min•Ep. 17
First, Joe and Alex recap the weird Trump Town Hall and the delightfully normal Biden Town Hall, but then explore more troubling realization of how divided our country is. Plus, a heads up to our listeners to tune into Pod Save America today, Oct. 16, for some breaking news. Please check it out and leave in the reviews that we sent you! Along with that, a look at several key Senate races. What does Mitch McConnell's PAC spending reveal about the state of Senate races in North Carolina, Maine, Te...
Oct 16, 2020•34 min•Ep. 16
Good news: From now till Election Day, you'll get two episodes a week! Today, Joe and Alex quickly touch on: The Biden campaign has sent surrogates to Texas and Biden himself is in Ohio. What does this mean? What do we make of the dueling messages out of the SCOTUS hearings that started Monday? Should Democrats be nervous that the Republicans may be on the verge of a surprise Senate pickup in Michigan? Subscribe, rate and review -- and don't forget to leave a question on the iTunes store or via ...
Oct 13, 2020•21 min•Ep. 15
First, the VP debate was almost quaint in how civil it was. What do we make of Kamala's performance, plus what happens next with Trump's mixed messages on whether he'll show up for future debates, virtual or otherwise? Second, Trump's positive test for COVID-19 upended the entire country, and of course the wild presidential race. What happens now? And what does McConnell pushing forward on the SCOTUS nomination say about the prospects of the race? Next, polls continue to predict a Biden landslid...
Oct 09, 2020•30 min•Ep. 14
