Ken Rudin's Political Junkie

With the vice presidential debate between Mike Pence and Tim Kaine now history and the second presidential debate just days away, NPR’s Ron Elving makes a special visit to the Political Junkie to assess the campaign, the media coverage and how much he misses working with Ken. Then we hear from two surrogates for the two candidates.  Senator Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican, makes the case for Donald Trump, and Brandon Davis, the general election chief of staff for the Democratic National Committee, lists the arguments for Hillary Clinton. Finally, we go back 36 years ago this week to 1980, when the House expelled one of its members for the first time since the Civil War.  Sandra Featherman, a political scientist who knows Philadelphia politics inside and out, remembers the case of Mike “Ozzie” Myers, who got kicked out for his involvement in the Abscam scandal. Music used in this podcast: Old Friends by Simon and Garfunkel Your Mother Should Know by The Beatles Applause by Lady Gaga Roar by Katy Perry Coming Home featuring Skylar Grey by Dirty Money  Money by The Flying Lizards On With The Show by The Rolling Stones This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

The first presidential debate is in the books.  Karen Tumulty of the Washington Post offers analysis of the debate’s high and low moments, ridiculous claims and mistruths, and what it all means. Right after the debate, Hillary Clinton headed to North Carolina, a key battleground state that is also experiencing tight Senate and gubernatorial contests.  Laura Leslie of TV station WRAL in Raleigh explores the politics of the Tar Heel State. And it was 56 years ago this week that the first televised presidential debate, between Vice President Richard Nixon and Massachusetts Sen. John Kennedy, was held.  Newton Minow, a JFK aide who later served as Kennedy’s chair of the Federal Communications Commission and who, at 90 years old, is also a vice chair of the current Commission on Presidential Debates, recounts everything surrounding that first debate in 1960. Photo via Fox News Music used in the podcast: Ayatollah by Steve Dahl & Teenage Radiation Lies by The Knickerbockers She Came In Through The Bathroom by Joe Cocker  Unfinished Life by Audiomachine Television Man by Talking Heads This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

With the first presidential debate just days away — and anticipation growing — we hear from communications specialist Ruth Sherman as to what Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump need to do to advance their candidacy. Speaking of Trump, he had an extraordinary announcement last week:  Not only was Barack Obama born in the U.S. (which he had been questioning for five years), but he claimed it was, in fact, the Clinton campaign that had started the whole “birther” controversy in the first place.  Less surprising, Trump’s announcement was covered live by all the cable TV networks … which ultimately sounded more like a Trump Hotel infomercial than anything else.  Margaret Sullivan, the media columnist for the Washington Post, talks about how Trump won the day once again. And in the aftermath of Hillary Clinton’s health issue, Julian Zelizer of Princeton University talks about the role health concerns have played with candidates in the past. Photo via ABC News Music used in the podcast:  Game of Thrones Theme Wordy Rappinghood by Tom Tom Club Won’t Get Fooled Again by The Who  Patty Duke Show Theme Song “Cousins” by The Skip-Jacks Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon Hello It’s Me by Todd Rundgren  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Presidential debates don’t necessarily decide who will occupy the White House.  But history has shown that regardless of what effect they do have, they are often memorable — for better or worse. Our “Great Moments in Presidential Debates” special starts with Alan Schroeder, an expert on the subject, assessing Ronald Reagan‘s great lines in his 1980 debate with President Carter and 1984 with Walter Mondale.  He also discusses the role the Kennedy-Nixon debates had in 1960 and what, if anything, the vice-presidential debates mean in the grand scheme of things. Marvin Kalb, who in 1984 was a correspondent for NBC News, recalls his role in that famous second Reagan-Mondale debate.  Jon Margolis, then a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, talks about his participation in the VP debate between Lloyd Bentsen and Dan Quayle in 1988.  And Bob Schieffer, the former host of CBS’ Face the Nation, talks about how he prepared for his role as moderator in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 debates. And what’s a discussion about debates without Saturday Night Live?  We end our program with memorable SNL debate skits from the past. Photo via Getty Images Music used in the podcast: Don’t Ask Me by Public Image Limited Question by The Moody Blues The Dangling Conversation by Simon & Garfunkel Casual Conversations by Supertramp Caught in the Beat by Broke for Free No New Tale to Tell by Love and Rockets This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Labor Day has come and gone, and now we’re in the homestretch of the campaign.  Neal Conan returns for his monthly visit with an update on Clinton v. Trump, weighing in on his immigration speech and a look at the upcoming debates. There’s no debate in Arizona:  John McCain is in the fight of his life.  Dan Nowicki of the Arizona Republic talks about what’s ahead for the GOP senator who is seeking a sixth term and who is still in a very uncomfortable dance with his party’s presidential nominee. Trump and Clinton start their debate schedule on Sept. 26.  But as far as John Donvan is concerned, these are not true debates.  Donvan, an ABC News correspondent and a debate moderator for Intelligence Squared, has ideas on what would improve these encounters. And John Dickerson, the host of “Face the Nation,” has a new book that is filled with his favorite political moments in history.  He brings many of them to life, not only in his book “Whistlestop,” but on the Political Junkie. Photo via Associated Press/Paul Sancya Music played in the podcast: Mississippi Queen by Mountain Talk Talk by Talk Talk Immigrant Song by Led Zepplin We Need Brain: Songify the G.O.P. Debate! by The Gregory Brothers Black Lives Matter – No Justice No Peace by Sounds of Blackness Howard Dean Mega Mix Blue Circles by Unreal This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

September begins with a look back on some favorite interviews from the Political Junkie archives. We start this week with a chat with Barry Goldwater Jr., son of the 1964 Republican presidential nominee, a candidate who — like Donald Trump — had serious problems uniting his party in advance of the election. Uniting behind a campaign issue has also proven difficult. Larry Noble of the Campaign Legal Center talks about the years-long efforts to get lawmakers to pass a campaign finance overhaul bill. But even when that came to pass, in 2002 — the McCain-Feingold Act — the results were not long lasting. And in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, more money is being spent on campaigns than ever before. The Olympics are over, which leads to one of our trivia questions: Who was the last president who went undefeated in his political career — in general elections AND primaries? Aaron Blake of the Washington Post came by for a chat about presidents and defeats they suffered. And finally, Ron Klain, Al Gore’s former chief of staff, talks about the aftermath of the 2000 presidential election, when the Supreme Court decided the oh-so-close Bush v. Gore race. Music played in the podcast: Wrong Side of the Revolution (Instrumental Version) – Josh Woodward Barry Goldwater Radio Jingle (1964) Love Your Money – Daisy Chainsaw It’s Over – Ray Orbison Urbana-Metronica (wooh-yeah mix) – spinningmerkaba This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Tom Lutz, author of “Crying: A Natural and Cultural History of Tears” explores the history of shedding tears in politics, starting with perhaps the most famous incident of all, Ed Muskie breaking down during the 1972 campaign in New Hampshire. Regardless of whether Hillary Clinton makes it to the White House later this year, Jay Newton-Small, a correspondent for Time magazine and an author of a new book on the subject — says that women in politics are already showing increasing influence and power, despite numbers in Congress that hardly reflect their population. Ninety-nine years ago, Jeannette Rankin, a Republican from Montana, became the first woman in history sworn into Congress.  House historian Matt Wasniewski talks about the role Rankin played in history. And, Jon Meacham joins the program to discuss his biography of George H.W. Bush, the 41st president who soared in popularity in the aftermath of the successful 1991 Gulf War but who was ousted after just one term, with the lowest numbers for an incumbent since William Howard Taft in 1912. Photo via Doug Mills/AP  Music played in the podcast: Summer’s Almost Gone – The Doors Crying – Roy Orbison I Am What I Am – Gloria Gaynor War (What Is It Good For?) – Edwin Starr Born in the U.S.A. –  Bruce Springsteen This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Last month, Hillary Clinton became the first female presidential nominee of a major party in history. Debbie Walsh of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University reflects on both Clinton’s accomplishment and the women who preceded her. Stephen Hess of the Brookings Institution has a new book about famous political families.  It’s called “America’s Political Dynasties: From Adams to Clinton,” and it goes through not only the Roosevelts and the Kennedys and the Tafts, but also many families we have long since forgotten.  Steve dropped by to share some of his favorite stories. The Sacramento Bee’s Jack Ohman, winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning, suggests that being on the Political Junkie program may be an even bigger thrill. And Dylan Byers, CNN’s media reporter talks about the complicated relationship between Donald Trump and the press. Photo via AP/Matt Rourke Music used in this podcast: Vacation – Go Go’s History Never Repeats – Split Enz We Are Family – Sister Sledge Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous – Good Charlotte Happy Jack – The Who This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Republicans, who fear that controversial comments made by Donald Trump will benefit his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, are now concerned that a Trump defeat could cost the GOP its majority in the Senate.  Greg Giroux of Bloomberg sizes up the vulnerable Senate seats for 2016. And if the Clinton-Kaine ticket is elected this year, then a new senator will have to be appointed in Virginia to succeed Vice President Tim Kaine.  Bob Holsworth, an expert in Old Dominion politics, lists the potential successors. Finally, Larry Tye talks about his new biography, “Bobby Kennedy: The Making of a Liberal Icon,” and chronicles how RFK went from working with Joe McCarthy in the early 1950s to fighting for peace in Vietnam and social justice in the 1960s … until his tragic assassination in 1968. Photo via The Associated Press Music used in the podcast: Survival – Eminem Sock it to Me, Baby! – Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind? – The Lovin’ Spoonful Adlai Stevenson – Sufjan Stevens Abraham, Martin & John – Dion This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Were this a normal political year, the presidential candidates would be out trying to unite their party and hope to woo voters from their opponent.  But Donald Trump continues to keep up his feuds, not only with the Muslim family of a slain U.S. soldier but many of his fellow Republicans as well.  Neal Conan is with us this week to assess how the Trump and Hillary Clinton campaigns are doing. And what to make of the candidates’ acceptance speeches?  Jennifer Mercieca of Texas A&M University sizes up the rhetoric and the flourishes of Trump and Clinton. Of course, all the focus is on the top of the ticket, but what about the running mates?  Matt Miller of Maple Glen, Pa., is the winner of our “Guess the V.P.” contest from back in January — he was the first to predict Tim Kaine for the Democrats.  And he gets to talk about it on this week’s program. Before there were Trumps and Clintons, there were the Tafts.  Former Ohio Gov. Bob Taft remembers his grandfather, Mr. Republican himself, Sen. Robert A. Taft, who died 63 years ago this week. And finally, we hear from Mike Saifie, a Clinton convention delegate from San Bernardino, Calif., who talks about the role of Muslims in politics and American life. Photo via J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press Music used in the podcast:  High Hopes – Frank Sinatra See You In September – The Happenings I Predict – Sparks Wordy Rappinghood – Tom Tom Club Goody Two Shoes – Adam Ant A Family Affair – Sly & The Family Stone Peace Train – Cat Stevens This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

The Democrats made history in Philadelphia, nominating Hillary Clinton for president … the first woman to head up a major-party ticket.  It was a week of tears and joy, but also of conflict and recrimination. And we were there to record the moment. The week started disastrously for the party.  With the hacking of Democratic National Committee e-mails and their release on WikiLeaks, we learned that staffers of the DNC, including national chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, had made it clear Clinton was their choice from the beginning … and that they worked to disparage or mock rival Bernie Sanders.  Wasserman Schultz, who was scheduled to open and close the convention, instead announced her resignation. But that was a momentary blip in a week where the party went out of its way to talk about unity — and compare itself to the chasm we saw at the GOP convention the week before.  Top Democrats, including President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama and former President Bill Clinton, among others, went to the podium to laud Hillary’s candidacy. This week’s show includes great interviews with Cory Booker, Kate Brown, Wendy Davis, Tom Hayden, Dan Glickman and Marjorie Margolies, as well as state lawmakers, delegates and emotional voices on and off the convention floor. Photo via Getty Images Music used in the podcast:  War – Edwin Starr Philadelphia Freedom – Elton John All Together Now – The Beatles Kong – Bonobo This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Donald Trump, defying expectations, finished off his miraculous climb to the Republican presidential nomination this week in Cleveland.  We were there to witness it all, interviewing party leaders, pundits and delegates, on and off the convention floor. With more than 700 delegates voting for someone other than Trump, there was no disguising the fact that dissension was apparent in Cleveland — none more so than the surprise refusal of Ted Cruz to endorse the top of the ticket, despite being rewarded with a prime-time convention speech.  The other mini-story that didn’t help the GOP cause was Melania Trump‘s speech and questions about its originality. But if you were looking for a red-meat convention, look no further than what went on this week at the Quicken Loans Arena.  Attacks on Hillary Clinton, the presumed Democratic nominee, were constant.  Chants of “Lock Her Up!” from the delegates were everywhere.  If the delegates weren’t unanimous about the candidate they liked, they certainly were regarding the candidate they disliked. This week’s show includes great interviews with Haley Barbour, Scott Brown, Ann Coulter, Jim Barnes, Senators Shelley Moore Capito, Roger Wicker and John Boozman, and many voices from the convention floor. Photo via Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY Music used in the podcast: We Can Work It Out – The Beatles We Are One – The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride Baby What A Big Surprise – Chicago Maryland, My Maryland – Maryland State Song Lucky Number – Lene Lovich Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time) – The Delfonics This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Presidential nominating conventions may be scripted and not newsworthy, but there have been enough dramatic happenings that call for a “Great Moments in Convention History” special program. We hear from Stephen Hess of the Brookings Institution, who attended the 1952 convention in Chicago as Sen. Everett Dirksen (R-Ill.) lashed out at former presidential nominee Thomas Dewey for his two defeats. We talk with Barbara Eagleton, whose late husband, Sen. Thomas Eagleton (D-Mo.), was George McGovern‘s running mate at the 1972 Democratic convention in Miami Beach, until news of his electro-shock therapy for the treatment of depression forced him off the ticket — 18 days later. Judy Goldsmith was chair of the National Organization for Women in 1984, and recalls weeping with joy as Geraldine Ferraro accepted the nomination for vice president that year at the Democratic convention in San Francisco. Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis reflects back on the 1988 Democratic convention that nominated him and of the memorable speeches that accompanied that event. And Lee Edwards of the Heritage Foundation talks about Ronald Reagan — his valiant but unsuccessful effort at the 1976 convention in Kansas City, and his victory four years later in Detroit. Photo via Associated Press Music used in the podcast: Bird Machine – DJ Snake featuring Alesia Orange Crush – R.E.M. Chicago – Crosby, Stills, Nash, & YoungGo Now – Moody Blues I Am Woman – Jordin Sparks  Ronnie – Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Last week’s Politicon conference in Pasadena, California gave us the opportunity to hear from two Republicans making the case “for” and “against” Donald Trump. GOP strategist Mike Murphy insists there’s a chance, albeit slim, that the convention will back the effort to free the delegates to vote their conscience. The opposing view came from Michael Steele, the former RNC chair, who said that if the party hopes to defeat Hillary Clinton in November, it’s going to have to unite behind Trump. With Clinton getting a scolding by the FBI director for her handling of classified information, and with Trump getting blasted for an alleged hidden message in an anti-Hillary tweet, Neal Conan arrives at the perfect time to offer his thoughts on the entire campaign. We also spoke with Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party candidate, who acknowledges that his only chance of success depends on if he makes it into the debates this fall. And we go back to July of 2007 when we learned of the inclusion of Louisiana Sen. David Vitter’s phone number in the records of a D.C. prostitution ring.  Pollster Bernie Pinsonat explains why that scandal didn’t come crashing down on Vitter until last year’s gubernatorial race. Photo by Gage Skidmore Music used in the podcast: Mat Kearney – Coming Home (Oregon) War – Why Can’t We Be Friends The Beach Boys – Friends Kid Rock – Detroit Thang Devo – Freedom Of Choice A Flock Of Seagulls – Modern Love is Automatic This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

The eight-member Supreme Court released key decisions in the past week, with special attention focused on the issues of abortion rights and immigration.  Robert Barnes of the Washington Post lays out the cases and explores how they may play politically. Donald Trump may be the presumptive Republican presidential nominee in most parts, but there are some in the GOP who are doing what they can to make sure that doesn’t happen.  Dane Waters is a co-founder of the group “Delegates Unbound,” which is trying to change the rules at the GOP convention that would make the delegates free to decide on their own which candidate to support, unbinding them from having to vote for the candidate whom they were pledged to during the primaries and caucuses.  But would denying Trump the nomination bring chaos to the convention? Another Trump worry could be money, as implausible as it sounds.  Currently, he is well behind Hillary Clinton insofar as money in the bank.  And there have been questions about the money he has given to his campaign: are they loans or gifts?  Paul Ryan of the Campaign Legal Center has the answers. And, with this being 11 years since Sandra Day O’Connor announced she was leaving the Supreme Court, Ken shares a personal note about a memorable day he and the Justice spent together at Sedona. Photo via Bettmann/Corbis Music used in the podcast: Duke Ellington Orchestra “Take The A Train” The Lovin’ Spoonful “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?”  Cream “I Feel Free” Queen “We Are the Champions” The Barenaked Ladies “If I Had a Million Dollars” Grease: The Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture “Sandy” This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License