The California senator came prepared to prosecute a case against the front-runner. We analyze an important moment from Thursday night's Democratic debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 28, 2019•8 min•Ep. 177
Sen. Warren seemed to make her fullest embrace of Bernie Sanders’s healthcare plan, but did she leave herself room to change her mind. We analyze an important moment from Wednesday’s night Democratic debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 27, 2019•9 min•Ep. 176
This week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: It’s debate night in America! Well, it will be next week, and we’re giving you a preview! Two Politico reporters who are debate experts at this point join the show. Then, centrists who used to fear Warren was the end of the party are starting to levitate towards her. We've got two reporters who just attended an event aimed at centrists coming on to break down how Warren has become a palatable candidate for a group that once eviscerated her in an o...
Jun 21, 2019•28 min•Ep. 175
This week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: The president isn't so sure that he would call the FBI if he was approached with information about his competitors from foreign actors. Or maybe he would. A White House reporter explains the president's bizarre statement. Then, a 2020 reporter breaks down why Senator Sanders is doubling down on socialism. Plus, Mitch McConnell may have benefited from his wife Elaine Chao's position as the secretary of transportation. And he's proud of it! The repo...
Jun 14, 2019•33 min•Ep. 174
This week on the Nerdcast with guest-host Charlie Mahtesian: the minds of POLITICO's White House and trade team to help you understand what’s happening with a looming trade war with Mexico. Also: The president scored surprising wins in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan in 2016. He’s shooting for New Hampshire, New Mexico and Nevada in 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 07, 2019•28 min•Ep. 173
This week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: A deep dive into Elizabeth Warren’s campaign strategy with a politico reporter who was on the trail with her and the new qualifying rules for the second set of democratic debates are out. And the candidates hate them! We've got some of POLITICO's campaigns reporters coming in to explain what's going on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 31, 2019•32 min•Ep. 172
This week on the Nerdcast with host Scott Bland: a surprising figure has come forward in the impeach trump movement…and no one seems happy about it! Correspondant Tim Alberta joins Scott to talk about it. Plus Scott sits down with some of POLITICO’s national political reporters to talk about 2020 campaign strategies. They’re all over the place. They explain the thinking behind the candidates' decisions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 24, 2019•25 min•Ep. 171
It's time for a new episode of the Nerdcast, with host Scott Bland. This week on the show: Joe Biden has been touting a new plan on the trail this week that pundits have absolutely trashed. But voters might actually love it… we’ll talk about the what the plan is and the why people are loving it (and hating it) with POLITICO reporter Marc Caputo. Plus, Scott sits down with some of POLITICO’s health care reporters to talk about the major anti-abortion bills that are passing in state legislatures a...
May 17, 2019•26 min•Ep. 170
On the show this week, a packed democratic presidential field makes getting a spot on the debate stage a challenge for candidates, so some of them have completely changed their campaign strategies in hopes of securing a spot. POLITICO national political reporter Elena Schneider joins the show to talk about the requirements for getting onto the stage, and how democratic candidates have reacted. Then, national political reporter Chris Cadelago joins the show to talk about Kamala Harris, who had a ...
May 10, 2019•33 min•Ep. 169
On the show this week, a roundup from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with White House reporters Nancy Cook and Andrew Restuccia. Plus, a look into the relationship between evangelical voters and Trump's inner circle. Then, congressional campaigns reporter James Arkin joins the Nerdcast to talk about a problem for democrats: finding people willing to run for senate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 03, 2019•27 min•Ep. 168
First, Scott and POLITICO reporter Marc Caputo talk all things Joe Biden. The former vice president finally announced that he's running for president, becoming the 20th democrat to enter the race. Does Biden stand a chance? Maybe. He could even be a front-runner. Then, Anita Kumar and Sarah Ferris join Scott to talk about a fight between the White House and 12 House committees. Basically, the White House is refusing to give up documents requested by these House committees. It seems like a big de...
Apr 26, 2019•29 min•Ep. 167
It's an all Mueller edition of the Nerdcast show, with host Scott Bland and reporters Kyle Cheney and Melanie Zanona. The crew unpacks some of the fundamental questions from Thursday’s release of the redacted Mueller report and figures out what’s next -- how will Congress act on this report? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 19, 2019•15 min•Ep. 166
Immigration hard-liners are ascendant at the White House. What does it mean for people trying to enter the U.S., and for the president politically? Plus, POLITICO Playbook authors Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman join the Nerdcast to talk about their new book about congress in the Trump era, "The Hill To Die On." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 12, 2019•32 min•Ep. 165
What might have been seen as normal behavior in the past is not welcome in the present. How will Biden handle the change? Plus, how much money do you really need to raise to become president? We discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 05, 2019•22 min•Ep. 164
How have things changed at the White House since the report came out? We go behind the scenes at the White House and on the Hill post-Mueller report. Plus, only three days remain until the end of the weekend, the end of the month, and the end of the first quarter. It matters because that’s when candidates for president have to report to the federal government just how much money they’ve raised so far this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 29, 2019•22 min•Ep. 163
Beto O'Rourke raised $6.1 million in the first 24 hours of his presidential candidacy. That's a huge number. It indicates how the Democrats running for president have already built big national followings before campaign season has really even fully started. We break it down. Plus, 17 House Committees are currently attempting to investigate the Trump White House. Are they going to get anywhere? We talk about why the White House is largely ignoring the requests from those committees. Learn more a...
Mar 22, 2019•23 min•Ep. 162
No one has successfully gone from U.S. representative to president since James Garfield. Beto O'Rourke thinks he can. Plus, the mishandling of a sexual harassment case that is haunting Kirsten Gillibrand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 15, 2019•27 min•Ep. 161
White House reporter Nancy Cook and congressional reporter Burgess Everett join the Nerdcast to discuss the tension between President Trump.... and some republicans. Plus, campaign reporter Holly Otterbein joins to explain what's different for presidential hopeful Senator Sanders this time around, and why some former Clinton campaign staffers just can't stand the guy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 08, 2019•27 min•Ep. 160
President Trump's former fixer spent hours fixating the American public. Did his testimony reveal anything new? Plus, Iowa proves to be twice as nice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 01, 2019•28 min•Ep. 159
Guess who's back (back back)!? back again (again again)!? Bernie's back (back back) AND..... he's already gotten a ton of donations and is pretty popular so you probably don't need to tell a friend because they probably already know.... We're breaking down Bernie 2020 and a similar candidate from a state very close to Vermont... who will get the progressive vote? Plus, Trump 2020 is looking pretty corporate! A POLITICO national political reporter joins to talk about Rosslyn's hottest campaign he...
Feb 22, 2019•23 min•Ep. 158
With the field of Democrats running for president growing more crowded each week, the Trump re-election effort has started to zero in on three of them. But Joe Biden -- who's yet to decide whether he'll join the field -- is thought to be the candidate the campaign is most worried about in a general election contest. Plus, the unfolding drama over the budget, the president's plan for a wall on the border with Mexico, and a looming shutdown gives us plenty of clues about what to expect in the era ...
Feb 15, 2019•30 min•Ep. 157
The three top Democrats in Virginia are facing scandals, and it's a story that just keeps getting worse. Campaigns reporter Zach Montellaro joins the Nerdcast to explain. Plus, We've got another two presidential announcements coming up this weekend. Elizabeth Warren will presumably announce that her exploratory committee has ended and she will officially become a presidential candidate, and Amy Klobuchar, the democratic senator from Minnesota will likely announce her run at an event scheduled in...
Feb 08, 2019•24 min•Ep. 156
Trump might not be the only billionaire running for president in 2020. Looks like there’s two other ultra-rich contenders considering a campaign. Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks and Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York, have indicated interest in running. It begs the question: Has Donald Trump set the standard rather than the exception as a wealthy presidential candidate? Plus, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 01, 2019•24 min•Ep. 155
The White House hasn't been able to strike a deal with Congress to end the shutdown. It may come down to Mitch McConnell getting involved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 25, 2019•29 min•Ep. 154
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Trump should reschedule the speech if the government is still shut down come January 29. White House reporter Nancy Cook, congressional reporter Sarah Ferris and senior politics editor Charlie Mahtesian join to explain how the move might be less about security concerns and more of a sign of acrimony between president Trump and the democrats. Plus national political reporter Natasha Korecki, who spent some time following Elizabeth Warren around Iowa, joins the Nerd...
Jan 18, 2019•26 min•Ep. 153
There's ways the president could get his wall without congressional approval. But it won't be pretty. POLITICO White House reporter Nancy Cook joins the podcast to give an update on what's happening in the White House during the shut down as federal employees miss their first paychecks. Last week she told us not much was going on, but this week everything has gone into hyper drive. Then POLITICO reporters Elena Schneider and David Siders join to talk about the democrats with big donation possibi...
Jan 11, 2019•29 min•Ep. 152
The president and democrats haven't been able to come to an agreement, and with the new congress sworn in it doesn't look like things are going to get any easier. White House reporter Nancy Cook joins the Nerdcast to discuss if there is an end in sight for the government shutdown. Plus, senior politics editor Charlie Mahtesian breaks down Warren's potential presidential run and politics reporter Alex Isenstadt explains what's going on with Mitt Romney, who, as you may remember, he went on a hike...
Jan 04, 2019•28 min•Ep. 151
The government is shutdown…and everyone seems pretty mellow about it. Why aren’t more people freaking out? We’ll dive into what’s going on now that the new Congress is about to take over with POLITICO congress reporters Rachael Bade and Burgess Everett. Dan Diamond guest hosts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 28, 2018•18 min•Ep. 150
The president has been able to get once resistant GOP party leaders to fall in line — but how? Plus, how southern democrats manage to exist in a party moving further left with each passing day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 20, 2018•28 min•Ep. 149
With Avenatti and Patrick taking a pass on running in 2020, the field is narrowing before the chaos of a long election season even begins. Hear how things that used to happen in private have taken on a new, very public forum. Then, a House race in North Carolina is still undecided, and could lead to a whole special election. Elena joins to explain what's going on in her home state. Plus, Charlie breaks down the last time something like this happened. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megap...
Dec 07, 2018•26 min•Ep. 147