On the Ballot

On this episode: Cryptocurrency has evolved from a niche experiment into a disruptive force with global implications—and U.S. financial institutions, lawmakers, and regulators are working to establish clear crypto-related policy. In this episode, we unpack the state of crypto policy in 2025: The political realignment around digital assets, the rapid growth of stablecoins, the future of tokenized securities, and the debate over whether the U.S. should adopt a central bank digital currency or establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve. Our guest is former CFTC Chairman Chris Giancarlo , who severed in that position from 2017 to 2019. Known to many online as "CryptoDad," today Giancarlo helps lead the Digital Dollar Project, which advocates for a thoughtful exploration of a U.S. digital currency. With deep insight into both public and private sector shifts, he helps us break down where policy could be headed, what setbacks could be on the horizon, and the implications of America's approach.This year, we're hoping to learn more about our audience and what topics you want us to tackle. Complete a brief 5 minute survey to review the show and share some feedback: https://forms.gle/zPxYSog5civyvEKX6 Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

On this episode: President Trump has made his first judicial nomination since returning to office, selecting a candidate for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Most presidents make few judicial nominations in their first 100 days, and Trump’s current pace aligns with historical trends dating back to Reagan. While his first term (and former President Joe Biden’s) saw a record number of Article III appointments, Trump’s current term began with fewer vacancies across the federal judiciary. Factors like Senate control and long-term court openings shape how many judges are ultimately appointed, and our data shows that the bulk of judicial nominations typically occur in the second and third years of a presidency.Our latest look at federal judicial vacancies: https://ballotpedia.org/The_Federal_Judicial_Vacancy_Count_5/1/2025Subscribe to our newsletter about federal courts and judges: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Robe_%26_Gavel This year, we're hoping to learn more about our audience and what topics you want us to tackle. Complete a brief 5 minute survey to review the show and share some feedback: https://forms.gle/zPxYSog5civyvEKX6 Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

On this episode: What does it really take to track down local election information? On this episode of On the Ballot, Ballotpedia’s Thomas Grobben joins host Doug Kronaizl for a behind-the-scenes look at the quirky, persistent, and sometimes unexpected lengths our team goes to in order to gather candidate data from all corners of the country. From calling local newspapers and county treasurers to enlisting the help of a gas station clerk—and even a squirrel-rescuing election commissioner—this episode highlights the human side of covering decentralized elections and the value of our expanding local election coverage.Learn more about our local election coverage: https://ballotpedia.org/Local_election_coverage,_2025This year, we're hoping to learn more about our audience and what topics you want us to tackle. Complete a brief 5 minute survey to review the show and share some feedback: https://forms.gle/zPxYSog5civyvEKX6 Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

On this episode: States don’t all count ballots at the same speed, and the reasons why are more complicated than they might seem. In some places, unofficial election results are nearly complete by the end of Election Day. In others, it can take election officials days or even weeks to finish the count. Behind the scenes, policies around ballot deadlines, early voting, pre-processing rules, and election resources all shape the timeline.The factors that slow down or speed up ballot counting come into sharper focus when comparing California and Florida — two states with high levels of early and mail voting, but dramatically different reporting speeds. Their approaches offer a window into the broader tradeoffs between delivering faster results and protecting voter access, election accuracy, and public trust.Explore the full report: https://ballotpedia.org/Factors_affecting_the_speed_of_ballot_counting_and_delivery_of_unofficial_election_results,_with_a_case_study_of_California_and_Florida This year, we're hoping to learn more about our audience and what topics you want us to tackle. Complete a brief 5 minute survey to review the show and share some feedback: https://forms.gle/zPxYSog5civyvEKX6 Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

On this episode: We explore how authority over public education is shifting across the country—starting with Ohio’s new “Parents' Bill of Rights” law. Axios Columbus reporter Alissa Widman Neese breaks down the law’s controversial provisions, reactions from educators and lawmakers, and where the debate might go next. Then, Ballotpedia staff writer Annalise Reinwald joins the show to explain how local school board powers differ across states, what’s changing, and why it all matters for voters, parents, and students.Read about Ohio’s new parent’s bill of rights: https://www.axios.com/local/columbus/2025/04/09/ohio-house-bill-8-parents-rights-law Explore our school board authority overview: https://ballotpedia.org/Local_school_board_authority_across_the_50_states This year, we're hoping to learn more about what our audience and what topics you want us to tackle. Complete a brief 5 minute survey to review the show and share some feedback: https://forms.gle/zPxYSog5civyvEKX6 Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

On this episode: The 3rd installment of our Historical Ballot Measures Factbook series! A deep dive into the Golden State’s long and influential history with ballot measures. Former host and ballot measure expert Victoria Rose returns to help us explore how California became a national trendsetter in direct democracy—covering everything from Prop 65’s warning labels to the tax revolt sparked by Prop 13. We also break down why it’s gotten so expensive to qualify a measure for the ballot, how California voters repealed English-only instruction in schools, and what to expect from upcoming measures in 2025 and beyond. Plus, a few fun facts about chiropractic laws and the only advisory question in California history.Explore California’s factbook: https://ballotpedia.org/California_Ballot_Measures:_Historical_Ballot_Measures_Factbook Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

On this episode: In 2025, Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring English the official language of the United States. Around the same time, Idaho lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment to do the same at the state level—setting the stage for a 2026 ballot measure. But this push for English-only laws has a much longer history, one shaped by shifting politics, cultural identity debates, and legal challenges that go back decades.For example — did you know that English is already the official language of 30 states?First, Idaho Capital Sun reporter Kyle Pfannenstiel explains what’s behind Idaho’s latest move, what supporters hope to achieve, and why opponents are raising concerns. Then, Ballotpedia’s Ryan Byrne walks us through the rise of English-as-official-language laws across the country—how they gained momentum in the 1980s, what kinds of court rulings they’ve triggered, and why many of them turn out to be more symbolic than sweeping. We also unpack how Trump’s executive order fits into the broader landscape—and whether it could spark more state-level action in the years ahead.Explore the history of these laws: https://ballotpedia.org/History_of_English_as_official_language_ballot_measures_and_laws Learn about Idaho’s 2026 measure: https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/03/25/english-could-become-idahos-official-language-under-constitutional-amendment/Read President’s Trump’s executive order: https://ballotpedia.org/Executive_Order:_Designating_English_as_the_Official_Language_of_The_United_States_(Donald_Trump,_2025) Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

On this episode: Breaking down the high-stakes April 1st elections, featuring two of the most closely watched contests since last November. First, Wisconsin Public Radio’s Anya van Wagtendonk joins us to unpack Judge Susan Crawford’s double-digit victory in the nation’s most expensive judicial race in history, what drove the record-breaking turnout, and how the results could shape abortion access, union rights, and redistricting in the Badger State. Then we head south with POLITICO Florida’s Gary Fineout to explore two Republican-held special elections, the retention of those seats, and why closer-than-expected margins—even in deep-red districts in Florida—are worth analyzing . From Elon Musk’s influence to shifting county-level dynamics, this episode connects the dots on how local races could ripple nationally.Learn more about each race:Wisconsin Supreme Court: https://ballotpedia.org/Wisconsin_Supreme_Court_elections,_2025 Florida Congressional: https://ballotpedia.org/Florida%27s_1st_Congressional_District_special_election,_2025 Check out our guest’s reporting:Wisconsin Public Radio’s Anya van Wagtendonk: https://www.wpr.org/person/anya-van-wagtendonk Politico’s Gary Fineout: https://www.politico.com/staff/gary-fineout Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

On this episode: With Incumbent Justice Ann Walsh Bradley retiring, the stakes in Wisconsin's April 1st election  to select her successor couldn’t be higher — determining whether the court maintains its current liberal majority or shifts to a conservative 4-3 split. The candidates, former Republican Attorney General and current circuit court judge Brad Schimel, and Dane County circuit court judge Susan Crawford, present voters with starkly different visions. With high-profile cases on issues like abortion rights and collective bargaining on the horizon—and following 2023’s record-breaking judicial race spending—all eyes are on Wisconsin once again. Learn more about the election: https://ballotpedia.org/Wisconsin_Supreme_Court_elections,_2025 Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

On this episode: With every state legislature in session this year, lawmakers have introduced thousands of bills aimed at reshaping how Americans vote. Some states are tightening voter registration requirements, while others are expanding mail-in voting and ranked-choice elections. Partisan control is driving many of these changes, but some surprising bipartisan efforts have emerged as well. Ballotpedia’s Joe Greaney joins the show to break down the latest trends in election administration legislation, what’s passing in red vs. blue states, and what these shifts could mean for the 2026 election cycle.Explore the report: https://ballotpedia.org/State_of_Election_Administration_Legislation_2025_Spring_Report:Executive_summarySign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates Stream "On the Ballot" on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you have questions, comments, or love for BP, feel free to reach out at ontheballot@ballotpedia.org or on X (formerly Twitter) @Ballotpedia.*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.