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A deep dive on the most important policy, political, and campaign story of the week, powered by National Journal’s expert correspondents. New episodes every Monday.
Episodes
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Sep 19, 2019 • 45min
Episode 47: Crystal Ball
If you want political predictions, this is the show for you. Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball, breaks down Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden's chances in 2020, analyzes the biggest presidential battleground states, and predicts how many seats Democrats will flip in the Senate.

Sep 12, 2019 • 51min
Episode 46: The Elephants on Parade
Washington Examiner senior political correspondent David Drucker joins the show to preview the Democratic presidential debate this week and assess the political state of play after the GOP's narrow win in a hotly-contested Congressional special election. We also assess the breadth of Elizabeth Warren's appeal within the Democratic party, and whether she could build a large enough coalition to become president.

Sep 5, 2019 • 38min
Episode 45: Populism Across the Pond
Summer's nearly over, but the politics of 2020 are beginning to heat up. Former GOP operative Liam Donovan, now a principal at the Washington government relations firm Bracewell, joins the show to handicap President Trump's re-election odds and explains why Elizabeth Warren is starting to scare some Republicans. Plus, in the wake of a wave of Congressional retirements, we talk about the parallels between the Trumpified Republican party and the evolving Conservative Party in Great Britain.

Aug 7, 2019 • 46min
Episode 44: Texas Fold 'Em
Abby Livingston, the Washington bureau chief at the Texas Tribune, joins the show to talk about the big week in Texas political news. As one of the most connected reporter covering the Lone Star State, Abby provides insight into the wave of Texan GOP members of Congress retiring and contextualizes the recent tragedy in El Paso.

Jul 30, 2019 • 49min
Episode 43: Biden His Time
Democratic strategist Scott Mulhauser, who served as Vice President Joe Biden's deputy chief of staff in 2012, discusses the upcoming debates and what's at stake for the frontrunner. Mulhauser also discusses the politics of impeachment for Speaker Pelosi, and offers his perspective on the staff shakeup at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Mulhauser, who served as chief of staff at the US Embassy in Beijing, details why Democrats may be following Trump's lead on China on the campaign trail.

Jul 26, 2019 • 49min
Episode 42: Republicans Beyond the Wall
Bestselling author Tim Alberta, out with the new book American Carnage: On the Front Lines of the Republican Civil War and the Rise of President Trump, joins the podcast to talk about the evolution of the Republican party in the last decade. Alberta talks about the importance of culture in the party's disruption, and the continuing relevance of immigration to modern GOP politics. We also discuss the Game of Thrones-like scenario that awaits Republicans if Trump loses reelection.

Jul 18, 2019 • 51min
Episode 41: Bai the Book
Yahoo political columnist Matt Bai, author of the book All the Truth Is Out: The Week Politics Went Tabloid, joins this week's show to assess the ugliness of today's political discourse, lament the news media's focus on ratings over substance, and break down the state of the Democratic presidential primary.

Jul 10, 2019 • 45min
Episode 40: The Elephant in the Room
Kimberly Atkins, political correspondent at Boston’s NPR affiliate WBUR, discusses the state of the 2020 race, the Democratic divisions on Capitol Hill and the controversy over the Trump administration’s Census intervention.

Jun 27, 2019 • 46min
Episode 39: Open to Debate
Kurt Bardella was once a star Republican staffer on Capitol Hill. But after Donald Trump won the presidency, he became disillusioned from his old party and now considers himself a proud liberal Democrat. Kurt joins the show this week to talk about his political evolution and dish about the Republicans he used to work for. He also offers his analysis of the Democratic presidential debate and the latest Supreme Court rulings.

Jun 13, 2019 • 47min
Episode 38: Leading the PAC
Steven Law, CEO of the Senate Leadership Fund and three other Republican super PACs, breaks down the competitive Senate races, assesses the president's role in 2020 congressional campaigns and offers his blunt take on the strongest Democrat Trump could face.