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The NPR Politics Podcast

Get Ready To Be Badgered: Wisconsin Is A Presidential Battleground

Aug 25, 2023
In this engaging discussion, Tom Bowman, NPR's Pentagon correspondent, shares a gripping narrative of an Afghan family's perilous quest for safety in the U.S. Their journey from Afghanistan to Mexico and across the U.S. border reveals the harrowing challenges faced by refugees and the intricacies of immigration policy. The conversation also highlights Wisconsin's evolving political landscape, emphasizing how shifting demographics and abortion politics are reshaping the state's role as a crucial presidential battleground.
20:03

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Wisconsin's political landscape is divided, with opposing parties holding key positions of power, creating a dynamic and fiercely competitive atmosphere for elections.
  • Changing demographics in the suburbs, along with a rural-urban divide, contribute to the competitiveness of elections in Wisconsin, with major parties vying for support from different constituencies.

Deep dives

Presidential Politics in Wisconsin

Wisconsin has a history of close presidential races, with four out of the last six elections being decided by less than a single percentage point. In 2016, Donald Trump won the state by about 20,000 votes, while in 2020, Joe Biden won by a narrow margin of around 23,000 votes. The state's political landscape is divided, with opposing parties holding key positions of power. The Republican-led legislature contrasts with a Democratic governor, and both parties strive to secure Wisconsin's crucial electoral college votes.

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