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
Even though the Founding Fathers were anti-king, there was one king-ly power they really liked: the pardon. Thus the presidential pardon was born. Traditionally, presidents have waited patiently for their lame duck period to pardon controversial people. But president Trump isn't waiting. He's been pardoning the controversial from the beginning. In this episode of the Nerdcast, Scott is joined by presidential historian Jeffrey Engel and Politico senior reporter Darren Samuelsohn in an attempt to ...
Nov 21, 2018•30 min•Ep. 145
Everything seemed fine in the White House during midterms, but now there's the churn and burn. Big staff turnover is expected, and no one is sure who will make the cut. Plus, what's going on with the midterm election races that have yet to be called and how Sinema flipped a long-held Arizona senate seat blue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 16, 2018•25 min•Ep. 144
It’s time for a new episode of Nerdcast, POLITICO’s podcast on the White House and politics. Tune in each week to geek out with us as we dive deep into the political landscape and the latest numbers that matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 09, 2018•25 min•Ep. 143
POLITICO's senior politics editor, Charlie Mahtesian, and campaign reporters Elena Schneider and Steve Shepard explain how Democrats won so much in the House but lost so much in the Senate. Tune in each week to geek out with us as we dive deep into the political landscape and the latest numbers that matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 07, 2018•20 min•Ep. 142
'Twas the week before midterms and all through the House everyone was stirring and totally freaking out!! This is the week before midterms edition of the Nerdcast. Find out what's happening in congressional districts all across the country as things get down to the wire, who might come out in top in gubernatorial races and if the blue wave is really coming. Plus: Which candidate for U.S. Senate "exudes New Jersey." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Nov 02, 2018•29 min•Ep. 141
POLITICO senior politics editor Charlie Mahtesian and White House reporters Nancy Cook and Chris Cadelago discuss President Donald Trump's phantom tax plan. Plus, POLITICO campaign reporter Zach Montellaro has been watching hundreds of political ads — and lived to tell the tale. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 26, 2018•30 min•Ep. 140
It’s time for a new episode of Nerdcast, POLITICO’s podcast on the White House and politics. This week, we're live from POLITICON in Los Angeles. Tune in each week to geek out with us as we dive deep into the political landscape and the latest numbers that matter. Subscribe and rate the Nerdcast on Apple Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Oct 21, 2018•36 min•Ep. 139
This week is all about the money money money mooooney! First, POLITICO's Elena Schneider explains the bananas amount of money that Democratic candidates have raised compared to Republican incumbents. It's bonkers. Then, White House reporter Andrew Restuccia talks about Donald Trump, insult comic, who is living in a safe space of his own creation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 19, 2018•37 min•Ep. 138
This week on Nerdcast: The future of senators Murkowski and Collins after they cast controversial Kavanaugh votes, and a Race Ratings and midterm check-in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 12, 2018•35 min•Ep. 137
White House staffers have been using an.... interesting nickname for President Trump. Maybe a reference to his love for skyscrapers? Who can say? White House reporter Nancy Cook spills. Then reporter Rachael Bade shares some behind the scenes tape that shows the different sides of vulnerable House republicans. Who they are depends on who is listening. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 05, 2018•29 min•Ep. 136
The partisan display at Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court confirmation hearing is likely to change the way future nominees are vetted -- and whether people are willing to submit themselves to such scrutiny. Plus, are the coming midterms just one big national election? We parse the map. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 28, 2018•32 min•Ep. 135
Brett Kavanaugh's hearing was on track.... then off..... then on.... and now maybe off track again? We break down what's happening between Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who has accused him of sexual assault in the 80s. TLDR: It's a mess for everybody. Then, in our second segment we talk about the midterm races shaping up to be real nail biters. Will Texas go blue for Beto? Charlie's all "nah." Can Steve change his mind? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...
Sep 21, 2018•35 min•Ep. 134
On this week’s Nerdcast, POLITICO’s podcast on the White House and politics: As Hurricane Florence arrives, Donald Trump can’t resist firing his feud with Puerto Rico back up over how the administration handled Hurricane Maria there last year. Plus, find out what people who want to run for president in 2020 learned from the primaries in 2018. Tune in each week to geek out with us as we dive deep into the political landscape and the latest numbers that matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...
Sep 14, 2018•35 min•Ep. 133
A primary Tuesday means a primary Friday on Nerdcast — a primary analysis, that is. We break down what happened in the last big multi-state primary before the midterms and talk about the White House, Trump's promises and what happens when he doesn't keep them and the exit of McGahn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 31, 2018•31 min•Ep. 131
A guilty verdict, a guilty plea, and an indictment. What a week in national politics. POLITICO reporting referenced in this segment: Inside the Trump bubble, 'Sympathy for the Devil' but no talk of Cohen By Lorraine Woellert Trump paints his own reality amid legal fallout By Andrew Restuccia and Nancy Cook ‘A new cherry put on top of the story of corruption’: Trump scandal fallout hangs over midterms By Natasha Korecki and James Arkin Trump’s new rallying cry: Mollie Tibbetts By Natasha Korecki ...
Aug 24, 2018•34 min•Ep. 130
President Trump loves a controversial pardon. Following his disgraced former campaign chairman Paul Manafort being found guilty, it's looking like we might be entering a fall filled with the will-he-or-won't-he energy of a president faced with the power to pardon and a loyal former campaign chair caught in a, shall we say, legal snafu. Plus, we talk about the implications of Michael Cohen's, uh, implication. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Aug 22, 2018•14 min
What do democratic voters want? A candidate that will win! How will they try to get it? By moving more to the center, probably! High voter turnout in the primaries among Democrats is showing that there is promise in backing centrist candidates at the top of the ballot. We break down what happened during the primaries on Tuesday night, and what we're expecting to see in the midterms and beyond. Plus: The heartland's version of Costco and just a lil bit of Omarosa to top it off. Learn more about y...
Aug 17, 2018•28 min•Ep. 128
Primaries, nerds! *cue emoji clapping hands and confetti* We're in our happy place. First, we're talking campaigns, what Bernie Sanders might be getting at when he backs underdog candidates and what we can expect in the midterm elections. Then, we get into the scandal of the week: Rep. Chris Collins and alleged insider trading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 10, 2018•34 min•Ep. 127
Ahhh Midterm season is (still) in the air. With president Trump back on the road, we've been hearing him drop some midterm hopefuls' names on the rally trail. When he's not dropping names out front, his 2020 re-election campaign is behind the scenes dropping dolla dolla bills, ya'll. We talk about who Trump wants to come out on top and what that's going to take. Then, we break down how ch-ch-changes to the electoral map will impact the outcome of 2020. PLUS: a mini-Mahtesian on mic! Learn more a...
Aug 03, 2018•33 min•Ep. 126
The White House has decreased press briefings and announced that they'll no longer be sharing summaries of Trump's call's with foreign heads of state. Plus, they pentagon is not talking to reporters, leaving them in the dark when it comes to military issues. We also talk about the trade war's impact on farmers and how the White House is handling it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 27, 2018•28 min•Ep. 125
