The Daily

Wisconsin's Pandemic Primary

Apr 7, 2020

Astead W. Herndon, a national politics reporter for The New York Times, discusses Wisconsin's controversial decision to hold its primary amid the pandemic. He highlights the clash between public health concerns and political motivations. The conversation delves into significant challenges like reduced polling locations, partisan conflicts over absentee voting, and the state’s historical political divides. Astead provides insight into how these dynamics affect voting rights and governance, underscoring the broader implications for democracy during a health crisis.

29:27

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Episode guests

Astead W. Herndon

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Episode notes

Intro

3min

Elections Amidst a Pandemic

10min

Wisconsin's Political Transformation and Division

2min

Political Turmoil in Wisconsin

12min

Voting Challenges Amidst the Pandemic

3min

Global Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Economic Considerations

3min

Against the advice of public health officials and the wishes of its own governor, Wisconsin will hold its Democratic primary today — in the middle of a pandemic. So how did that happen? Guest: Astead W. Herndon, who covers national politics for The New York Times. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily.

Background reading:

The political and legal fight between Wisconsin’s conservative state legislature and its Democratic governor was only the first round of an expected national fight over voting rights during the coronavirus crisis.

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