Beyond the Polls with Henry Olsen

After 14 years at the helm, the polls tell us the British Tories are facing a slaughter on Thursday. To get at the party’s collapse, Henry hops across the pond to discuss British politics with a couple of swell chaps. First up is The Times’ Tim Montgomerie, who covers the post-Brexit smashing victory and the subsequent failure to deliver to the new coalition. Then Matthew Goodwin joins to dig into the rise of Nigel Farage, UKIP, and the Reform Party’s challenge to the status quo.And if you're new to the British parliamentary system, fret not! Henry's got a rant to get you up to speed. - Music from this week's show: "Rule, Britannia" performed by the Prince's Military Band and "The Star Spangled Banner" performed by Frank C. Stanley (via the Library of Congress)

If you want to win an election, you gotta campaign. And to campaign, you gotta get a lotta dough! This week Henry chats with R. Rebecca Donatelli, founder of Campaign Solutions, for a deep dive into the world of online political fundraising. Plus, Henry rants ahead of a debate that (we're told) won't change anybody's mind. And he breaks down a big introduction ad for a newcomer candidate who hopes to take Kansas 2.

Chuck Warren of the Breaking Battlegrounds Podcast joins Henry for a close inspection of the ever-interesting state of Utah. They get into the characteristics that make it a red state like no other as they dig into the primaries for Mitt Romney's Senate seat and congressional districts 2 and 3.  Plus, Henry takes a look at Trump's sustained lead in the polls; later he compares the ad strategies of South Carolina CD 3 primary candidates Mark Burns and Sheri Biggs.

J. Miles Coleman, Associate Editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball, returns to peer into the contested primaries in Virginia's 5th, 7th and 10th congressional districts. These deep dives into the respectively red, purple and blue territories, Coleman and Henry survey this microcosm of the national stage. Plus, Henry unpacks Emmanuel Macron's snap election gamble to head off his populist archfoe Marine Le Pen; and he looks at two finely crafted ads for Democrat Mary Peltola's tough reelection bid in Alaska. 

Mollie Hemingway discusses Trump's chances, Biden's vulnerabilities, and VP criteria. They explore conservative branding and analyze a controversial attack ad in the North Carolina Governor's race.

Political analyst Amy Walter from Cook Political Report discusses the latest findings from her Swing State Project, focusing on voters' views on the economy, the low number of undecided voters, and Democrat strategies. Henry Olsen delves into 'right direction vs. wrong track' polling data for election predictions. They also analyze John Avalon's ad strategy in New York's red district.

Steve Kornacki, NBC's national political correspondent, joins Henry Olsen to discuss Trump's momentum vs. Biden's unconventional debate challenge. They analyze the impact of third-party candidates, voter turnout, and public opinion on the election outcome. Plus, they delve into the influence of inflation on economic perceptions and share passionate reflections on horse racing events.

Jim Geraghty, Senior Political Correspondent at National Review, joins Henry to discuss the dysfunction in the Republican Party, potential November outcomes, and tight polls. They also analyze a bad political ad and dissect the GOP's strategic approach. Plus, a quick stop in Maryland to explore Angela Alsobrooks' victory over David Trone.

Patrick Ruffini discusses his book on GOP's multiracial coalition shift with Henry Olsen. They explore sustainability, global implications, dueling political ads, and the trend of working-class voters favoring right-est populist parties worldwide.

Political analyst Ruy Teixiera joins to discuss Democratic Party's shift away from white working class, Republican Party's attempt to win them over. Explore party realignment, cultural issues, and economic concerns. Analyze political strategies, family values in campaigns, and social interactions for informed citizenship.