Ken Rudin's Political Junkie

Claremont McKenna College’s Jack Pitney assesses what the Republican Party faces as we get closer to the midterm elections. PLUS:  Karoline Leavitt prepares to leave her job … and Max Miller insists on running again. Music in this Episode: Somebody to Love by Jefferson Airplane Against All Odds by Phil Collins Freedom of Choice by Devo The post Episode #432: Has The GOP Maxed Out In Ohio? appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Kentucky political journalist Al Cross takes on the rumors behind the disappearance (from public view) of Sen. Mitch McConnell and, with his long career coming to an end, assesses his legacy. And Meg Kinnard, a political reporter for the Associated Press based in South Carolina, sets up Tuesday’s Republican Senate primary to succeed the late Lindsey Graham, with all eyes on Darline Graham, who was surprisingly named to temporarily fill the seat and who now has decided to run for a full term. PLUS:  Todd Blanche gets closer to confirmation for attorney general.  And Trump throws Jeanine Pirro under the pool. Music In This Episode: Don’t Go Near the Water by The Beach Boys I’m Alive by The Hollies Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves by The Eurythmics (feat. Aretha Franklin) The post Episode #431: O Sister, Where Art Thou?; Bloodhounds For Mitch? appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Donald Trump had an extraordinarily successful month of endorsing winning challengers to Republican incumbents in the primaries.  Laura Merrifield Wilson of the University of Indianapolis discusses the defeats of five Indiana state senators who opposed Trump’s redistricting plan.  Tyler Bridges of The Advocate/The Times-Picayune reports on how Sen. Bill Cassidy’s 2021 vote to convict Trump led to his defeat in 2026.  And Matthew Wilson of Southern Methodist University explains how four-term Sen. John Cornyn fell to Texas state attorney general Ken Paxton. Music in this episode:   The post Episode #430: Trump’s Magical Mystery Revenge & Retribution Tour appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

The meteoric rise — and dramatic fall — of Congressman Eric Swalwell is the subject of this episode.  Seema Mehta, a political reporter with the Los Angeles Times, recounts how he went from media darling to alleged sex offender, ending what had initially been an improbable bid to become governor of California.  And, for good measure, George Skelton, the veteran L.A. Times columnist, spells out how this sad episode exposed the weaknesses in California’s “top two” electoral system. ALSO:  Wondering the purpose of holding a White House Correspondents Dinner with a president that despises and denigrates the media.  And Republicans are, with a straight face, screaming “partisanship” at Virginia’s ballot initiative that may give the Commonwealth’s Democrats, four additional congressional seats. MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE: Bad Blood by Taylor Swift Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye It’s My Party by Lesley Gore       The post Episode #429: Swalwell That Ends Well appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Kathryn Pearson of the University of Minnesota explains the scandal that may have ended Gov. Tim Walz’s political career, and the expected decision by Sen. Amy Klobuchar that she would seek to succeed him this year. And Lou Cannon, the chief White House correspondent during the Ronald Reagan presidency and a superb Reagan biographer, died last month at the age of 92.  He was last on the Political Junkie back in 2015, talking about the 1980 Republican convention and how Reagan helped his cause by picking George Bush as his running mate — and not former President Gerald Ford, who was rumored to be angling for a spot on the GOP ticket. PLUS:  The Trump administration defends the murder of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.  And Greenland?  Seriously? Music in this Episode: When the Music’s Over by the Doors Amie by Pure Prairie League Like to Get to Know You by Spanky & Our Gang The post Episode #428: Walz Came Tumbling Down appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Matthew Wilson, political science professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, sets up the fierce primaries, Democratic and Republican, for the Senate in Texas.  Incumbent Republican John Cornyn is facing a battle from his right from state Attorney General Ken Paxton, and firebrand liberal Rep. Jasmine Crockett is challenging James Talarico for the Democrats.  No Democrat has won a Texas Senate race since 1988. And Rob Christensen, a former political journalist with the Raleigh News & Observer, remembers Jim Hunt, the former four-term governor and a giant in North Carolina politics, who died last week. PLUS:  The Epstein Files are released (not), Elise Stefanik plans to stay and fight (not), and Trump gives his respects to Rob Reiner (not). Music in this Episode:  Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon U Can’t Touch This by M.C. Hammer A Well Respected Man by The Kinks   The post Episode #427: Jasmine Crockett, Arriving; Jim Hunt, Departed. appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Congressional analyst Jack Pitney assesses the meaning of Marjorie Taylor Greene’s upcoming resignation from Congress, and weighs whether the Georgia Republican still has a future in politics, given her seeming banishment by President Trump. And we remember Mark Mellman, the Democratic pollster who died last month, by replaying an interview we had with him in November of 2016, when Hillary Clinton and Trump were vying for the presidency. PLUS:  A selection of favorite Trump responses to reporters’ questions at press conferences. Music in this episode: Where Is The Love by Roberta Flack and Donnie Hathaway You and I by Rick James     The post Episode #426: Marjorie Tinker Taylor Q’Anon Traitor Patriot appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Maine Public Radio’s Steve Mistler focuses on what may be the Democrats’ best chance at a Senate pickup in 2026, the seat of five-term Republican incumbent Susan Collins.  Establishment Democrats in Washington have come up with who they feel would be the strongest opponent, popular Gov. Janet Mills; earlier this year she made a name for herself by standing up to President Trump at a governors’ conference.  But she is 77 years old, and progressives back home are instead rallying behind Graham Platner, an oyster farmer and former Marine who has raised more than $4 million.  However, controversial old social media posts of Platner’s have been uncovered, threatening his chances. And there are two gubernatorial races taking place next week, in New Jersey and Virginia, states where both incumbents are term limited.  Bob Holsworth of Decide Smart says that Democrats in Virginia are likely to take back the governorship with Abigail Spanberger.  But media coverage is now focused on a series of ugly emails that came from the Dem candidate for attorney general, Jay Jones, whose own lead has evaporated.  And in New Jersey, NJ Advance Media’s Brent Johnson reports that Democrat Mikie Sherrill’s lead has narrowed and that the Republican, Jack Ciattarelli, making his third bid for the job, is within striking distance. Music in this Episode: Fix You by Coldplay Tattoo by Doreen She’s a Sensation by the Ramones Jersey Girl by Bruce Springsteen The post Episode #425: Day Of The Woman? Election 2025 appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Journalist and historian Chris Whipple, author of the new book “Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History,” talks about how the Democratic Party, the Biden campaign and the candidate himself decided to ignore the reality of Biden’s mental acuity and insist on running against Trump until it was too late — and handing the White House to the Republican in the process. PLUS:  The latest on Godzilla vs. King Kong.  And if you think only Biden had the cognitive problems, you’re not paying attention. Music in this episode: I Started a Joke by the Bee Gees I’m Alright by Kenny Loggins   The post Episode #424: The Tragedy Of Joe Biden appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Chicago Tribune political correspondent Rick Pearson sums up the career of Dick Durbin, the Illinois Democrat who is retiring after five terms in the Senate. PLUS:  George Santos can continue to lie, only this time in prison … Remembering Donald Trump’s tirades against Barack Obama for his executive orders and golf playing … A farewell to our old friend Alan Simpson … and looking back at the final days of U.S. involvement in Vietnam, now 50 years after the evacuation. Music in this Episode: Dear Mr. Fantasy by Traffic Time Is Running Out by Muse Don’t You (Forget About Me) by Billy Idol Friends by The Beach Boys We Gotta Get Outta This Place by The Animals   The post Episode #423: Dick Durbin’s 44 Years Of Service appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell is retiring next year, ending a long career in which he united Republicans against Democratic presidents and whose relationship with Donald Trump, while never good, enabled the president to hold onto and extend his power. PLUS: Trump vs. Zelensky. The post Episode #422: How Mitch McConnell Enabled The Party Takeover By Donald appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Past presidents have been able to take tragic events and try to console distraught Americans. Not Donald Trump. Plus: An open Senate race in Michigan, and an Iowa senator up for re-election next year is pressured on a Cabinet confirmation vote. The post Episode #421: The Consoler In Chief appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Trump's election opened up two Senate seats, in Ohio and Florida, that have been since filled by Republican governors. And is our sadness about Jimmy Carter's passing possibly due to the thought of Trump returning to the presidency? The post Episode #420: Decency And Civility, Then And Now appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

The election is over, Trump won, and now the Senate has to confirm (or not) some extraordinary Cabinet choices. Also: Who will succeed Marco Rubio in the Senate? Is bipartisanship possible? And we remember Fred Harris. The post Episode #419: Trump Won, And His Cabinet Choices Prove It appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

A look at two races on the ballot next month that have national implications: Montana Senate and North Carolina governor. Plus, two vice presidential hopefuls meet in New York City. The post Episode #418: Butte And The Beast appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

How Kamala Harris went from the battles of California politics to the possibility of becoming the 47th President of the United States. The post Episode #417: The Unfathomable Rise Of Kamala Harris appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

How a bad debate performance by President Biden helped lead to Kamala Harris becoming the (likely) Democratic nominee for president. And a farewell to the long political career of New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez. The post Episode #416: I’d Walk A Mile For A Kamala appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Setting up next week's CNN debate between Biden and Trump. Predicting Trump's running mate. And a look at some GOP VP picks that sometimes -- but not always -- worked. The post Episode #415: The Debate — Cui Bono? appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Republican strategist Mike Murphy, a leading anti-Trump voice in the party, discusses the state of politics and a new look at the presidential race in the aftermath of the guilty verdict. The post Episode #414: Trump Law, Meet Murphy’s Law appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Democrats are experiencing an increasingly bitter battle for a Maryland Senate seat that suddenly seems competitive. Plus, Kristi Noem destroys her own VP hopes. And a farewell to Pete McCloskey. The post Episode #413: Maryland Has A Thriller, Farewell To Pete, And A Ruff Ending For Kristi appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

How the Ronna McDaniel hiring turned NBC News into knots and revived the question about the advisability of hiring partisan voices on network news. And we rerun a wonderful 2017 interview with Joe Lieberman, who died last week. The post Episode #412: Old McDaniel Told A Lie appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

A review of the Arizona Senate race following the departure of incumbent Kyrsten Sinema. And a look at the key results from Super Tuesday. Plus, a review of a most unusual State of the Union address. The post Episode #411: A Sense Of Yuma After Sinema’s Departure appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

A look ahead towards Tuesday's primary to fill the Senate seat long held by the late Dianne Feinstein. Plus: Age and Biden, Sanity and Trump, and a Farewell by McConnell The post Episode #410: California Girls (And Guys) appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Rumors that Taylor Swift might endorse Joe Biden has led conservatives to lose their minds. And a look at Tuesday's congressional race on New York's Long Island to replace the irreplaceable George Santos. The post Episode #409: Swift Paranoia Taylor-Made For MAGA appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

The latest in the Republican and Democratic contests in New Hampshire. The post Episode #408: New Hampshire, Where Trump Came, Saw and Concord? appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

It's a review of 2023 and a look ahead to 2024 with NPR's Ron Elving. The post Episode #407: Farewell To 2023, Bracing For 2024 appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

We hear from the biographers of two trailblazers who have left us, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. And we hear about an investigative podcast about Ohio's greatest political scandal in history. The post Episode #406: Farewell To The Trailblazers appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Election Day is on Tuesday, and we look at the race for governor in Kentucky and the battle for the state legislature in Virginia. Plus, Mike Pence is out, and Tommy Tuberville loses friends. The post Episode #405: Pence Is Out; Is Choice In? appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

The ousting of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and replacing him, finally, with Mike Johnson, sets up two conversations this week: One, with a former California GOP lawmaker who bolted his party to vote for a Democratic House Speaker, only to be recalled for his efforts; and Two, a visit to the 1995 archives and a talk with a former Republican House leader analyzes the forced resignation of House Speaker John Boehner. The post Episode #404: Master Of The House (For Now) appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), the longest serving woman in the history of the Senate and a trailblazer for women, has died at the age of 90. And Kevin McCarthy becomes the first House speaker in history to be ousted in a vote amongst his colleagues. The post Episode #403: Goodbye To DiFi … And Kevin Too appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

GOP strategist Mike Murphy on Mitt Romney, Nikki Haley and this week's second Republican debate. We explore what's behind the Impeach Biden effort. And Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has been indicted. The post Episode #402: Murphy’s Law — On Romney, Haley And The Debates appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Interviews with two political guests who died last week, Democrat Bill Richardson and Republican Gerald Carmen, are repeated in this episode. The post Episode #401: From The Archives, Gone, But Not Forgotten appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan talks about Donald Trump, the GOP debate, his future plans, and memories of his father, who courageously supported Nixon's impeachment in 1974. The post Episode #400: Larry Hogan’s Heroes appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Looking at the health -- and the political jockeying -- regarding Senators Mitch McConnell and Dianne Feinstein. Plus: Another Trump indictment and the first GOP debate on the way. The post Episode #399: Senate Health and Politics appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

A look at Kevin McCarthy's victory to be Speaker of the House, which took 15 ballots -- the most since before the Civil War. We set up this month's election at the RNC to determine whether incumbent chair Ronna McDaniel can keep her job. A prominent New Hampshire Democrat is saddened by President Biden and the DNC's decision to replace his state as the nation's first presidential primary. And a look at the 2024 Senate race in California, where candidates are already running. The post Episode #398: Kevin Can’t Wait appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

A look at the decision by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) to leave her party and become an independent, and a look at other Senate party switches. Plus, Kevin McCarthy battles his right flank to become the next speaker of the House. The post Episode #397: Sinema Vérité appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

A look ahead to next week's Senate runoff in Georgia. Plus, thoughts about Trump's dinner with two anti-semites. The post Episode #396: 51 Or 50, And Fight appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Donald Trump is running but the Justice Department may not let him get far. Nancy Pelosi is stepping down, but she's not going far. And what to make of the 2022 midterms. The post Episode #395: Trump’s Problems, Pelosi’s Decision And A 2022 Wrap appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Debbie Walsh of the Center for American Women and Politics reviews the women who will be on the ballot on Nov. 8th ... not all of whom are supporters of abortion rights. And reporter Bill Salisbury remembers that day in 2002 when Sen. Paul Wellstone, 11 days out of his third-term re-election bid, perished in a plane crash in Minnesota. Plus, a review of the Fetterman-Oz Senate debate in Pennsylvania and the brutal attack on Nancy Pelosi's husband. The post Episode #394: Women Yes, Abortion Rights Maybe appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

A detailed look of the Pennsylvania Senate race by Jonathan Tamari of the Philadelphia Inquirer. And Jacob Rubashkin of Inside Elections lays out the themes of the 2022 midterm elections. The post Episode #393: Keystone State May Be Key To Senate Majority appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Reports on two key races this year, the Senate contest in Georgia (where GOP candidate Herschel Walker finds himself in a growing list of controversies) and the gubernatorial race in Texas (where incumbent Republican Greg Abbott and Democratic challenger Beto O'Rourke held their only debate this week. Plus, a conversation with retiring AP congressional reporter Alan Fram after nearly four decades on the job. The post Episode #392: O Father, Where Art Thou? appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Wyoming Sen. Alan Simpson talks about his close friend, Rep. Liz Cheney, and her chances in the August 16th primary for renomination. The post Episode #391: She Has Everything But The Voters appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

The political future of two well-known Republican women -- Liz Cheney and Sarah Palin -- will be determined by the voters next month. The post Episode #390: A Risk Of Failin’ For Cheney And Palin appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Some thoughts about what we saw and heard from the January 6th committee last Thursday, designed to find out who was responsible for the planning and execution of the assault on democracy. The post Episode #389: The Facts Are There. Is Anyone Listening? appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Five states are holding primaries on May 17th, with Pennsylvania and North Carolina taking top bill. The post Episode #388: Is Trump The Wizard For Oz? And Whither Cawthorn? appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

We explore the effect of Donald Trump's endorsements. A look at the upcoming Georgia primaries. And we remember the late Orrin Hatch, the longest serving Republican senator in history. The post Episode #387: Trump’s Endorsements, Many Of Them Real People appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Claims made by freshman Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) may have gone too far for the House Republican leadership to support his re-election. We look at the key Senate races up in 2022. And a new book on politics and the media is asking serious questions about bias. The post Episode #386: Testing The Leadership’s Patience appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

A look at the career of the late Rep. Don Young (R-AK), the longest serving Republican in the history of Congress. And a review of a recent Ohio GOP Senate debate that almost turned physical. The post Episode #385: Alaska’s Not Jolly Not Green Giant appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

The Democratic Party is rewriting its calendar for the 2024 presidential race, and Iowa is expected to lose its position as the lead off contest. And Sen. Jim Inhofe's (R-OK) upcoming resignation will result in a special election -- but an assured Republican victory. The post Episode #384: America First! Iowa, Maybe Not. appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

A review of Tuesday's primaries in Texas, featuring George P Bush's attempt to topple the state attorney general. Plus, a Presidents Week look at some classic movies and the presidents they portrayed. The post Episode #383: The End Of The Bush Era? appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.