Ken Rudin's Political Junkie

The deadline to sign up for the Affordable Care Act has passed, and now comes the fun part: the political recrimination and finger-pointing.  Janet Hook of the Wall Street Journal joins Political Junkie host Ken Rudin to talk about how Obamacare will be with us to stay for the 2014 campaign season. And with a lot of scandal in the news this week, we go to Jim Morrill of the Charlotte Observer, who talks about how his city's mayor, Patrick Cannon, resigned after getting arrested for allegedly taking bribes.  And then Patrick Madden of radio station WAMU talks about the role scandal played in Tuesday's defeat of D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray. And "this week in history" goes back to an April day in 1987, when Jack Kemp, a nine-term conservative congressman from Buffalo, N.Y., declared his candidacy for the 1988 Republican presidential nomination.  Kemp was trailing in the polls to bigger GOP names like Vice President George Bush and Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole.  But, says Charlie Black, a key strategist at the time, Kemp had ideas that mattered and that could change the image of the Republican Party. Download Podcast Additional credits: Ken Rudin, Host and Executive Producer A.D. Quig, Producer and Editor Kristen Sorensen, Associate Producer and Business Manager Douglas Bell, Web Producer and Videographer Alex Drewenskus, Engineer Modern Instrumentals (Silence Is Sexy) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

Russian President Vladimir Putin has done his thing in Crimea, and U.S. President Barack Obama has responded with sanctions.  Now Congress will have its say, with perhaps a bill calling for stronger sanctions against Moscow and more aid to Ukraine.  Kate Hunter of Bloomberg News joins Political Junkie host Ken Rudin to talk about how anxious Congress is to be heard with a unified voice on the crisis ... unlike the situation in Syria, where lawmakers couldn't come together. Then we come back home to Washington, D.C., with a look ahead to Tuesday's Democratic primary for mayor.  The incumbent, Vincent Gray, has been under an ethics cloud for quite some time, and it remains a possibility that he could be indicted before April 1st.  Either way, polls show him in a very tight race with City Councilmember Muriel Bowser.  Patrick Madden of station WAMU and Clinton Yates of the Washington Post talk about what's at stake. And our "this week in history" feature goes back to a March day in 1980, when Ted Kennedy, his challenge to President Carter stymied because of the hostage situation in Iran, wins a landslide primary victory in New York.  Bob Shrum, a longtime Democratic strategist and a key Kennedy staffer, talks about what was at stake at the time and how the victory in New York kept the Kennedy campaign alive ... all the way to the convention that summer at Madison Square Garden. Download Podcast Additional credits: Ken Rudin, Host and Executive Producer A.D. Quig, Producer and Editor Kristen Sorensen, Associate Producer and Business Manager Douglas Bell, Web Producer and Videographer Alex Drewenskus, Engineer

Scott Brown's likely entry into the New Hampshire Senate race livens up a campaign that Republicans had thought was a lost cause ... though he still has his work cut out for him in his battle to unseat Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. Ken talks about Brown's hurdles in his new state with New Hampshire Public Radio reporter Josh Rogers. And then we go south, to remember one of the greatest governors in the nation's history.  Reubin Askew of Florida died last week at the age of 85.  When he was first elected, in 1970, he helped bring the Sunshine State into the 20th Century on issues such as race and tax fairness.  Gene Stearns, a Miami attorney, was an Askew aide back in the day and talks about what made him so special. And "this day in history" goes back to a March day in 1997, when 11 Republican congressmen were called on the carpet by Speaker Newt Gingrich over alleged disloyalty.  One of the 11, Mark Souder of Indiana, talks about those days and how if at all the conservative revolt against Gingrich is comparable to the Tea Party and its problems with John Boehner today. Download Podcast Additional credits: Sulphur, Tobacco, and Whiskey (Waylon Thornton) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 Adventure, Darling (Gillicuddy) / CC BY-NC 3.0 Playtime (Jahzzar) / CC BY-SA 4.0  

A big victory for the GOP in a special Florida congressional seat highlights this week's Political Junkie.  Host Ken Rudin speaks with Adam Smith of the Tampa Bay Times about the somewhat surprising win by Republican David Jolly in the Sunshine State's 13th CD.  True, the seat has been in GOP hands since 1955, but since last October's death of longtime incumbent C.W. Bill Young, Democrats felt they had the advantage:  changing demographics and a well-known candidate, Alex Sink.  But Jolly's win gives the GOP bragging rights and sets back the Democrats' hope of picking up a net of 17 House seats this year to make Nancy Pelosi speaker once again. David Sherfinski covered the Conservative Political Action Conference for the Washington Times and shares his observations about some of the speakers at CPAC event. And in the podcast version of the program, NPR correspondent David Schaper looks ahead to next Tuesday's primaries in Illinois, where Pat Quinn, a Democrat who became governor following the impeachment and removal of Rod Blagojevich on corruption charges in 2009, is seeking another term.  By most accounts, Quinn is one of the most endangered governors in the country. Download Podcast

This week's Political Junkie and host Ken Rudin try to answer three questions: What's the matter with Kansas?  Well, we learn that Sen. Pat Roberts, seeking a fourth term this year, may not have an actual residence in the state.  But his Tea Party-backed opponent in the GOP primary, Milton Wolf, made inappropriate jokes X-ray images of gunshot victims on his Facebook page.  Steve Kraske of station KCUR and the Kansas City Star explains. What's going on in Arizona?  The state legislature passed a bill that would allow business owners to refuse to serve gays because of religious reasons.  Yvonne Wingett Sanchez of the Arizona Republic tells us why Gov. Jan Brewer would most likely veto the measure ... which Brewer did, just hours later. And what's next for Congressman Dingell?  John Dingell, in the House since 1955 and the longest-serving member of Congress in history, says he's had it and, at age 87, won't run again.  But Congressman Dingell may be replaced by Congresswoman Dingell -- Debbie Dingell, his wife.  American University professor Jim Thurber reviews "Big John's" impressive career. Download Podcast Credits Deltas of Matacumbo (Cosmic Analog Ensemble) / CC BY 4.0 demo 2008 (Latché Swing) / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Another vote -- this time on raising the debt ceiling -- and other fissure exposed inside the GOP. Carl Hulse of the New York Times talks to Political Junkie host Ken Rudin about how a majority of Republicans voted against the bill ... but secretly wished it would pass. Then we move to Texas, where Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News talks Lone Star State politics, everything from Ted Cruz on the right to Wendy Davis on the left. We also look back to the Iowa Democratic presidential caucuses of 1984, when outsider Gary Hart capitalized on a second place finish to Walter Mondale to defeating the former vice president eight days later in New Hampshire. Who better than Gary Hart to talk about those days of 30 years ago? Download Podcast Credits: Songe D'Automne (Latché Swing) / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Washington, DC (The Nighttime Adventure Society) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

The decision by the House Republican leadership to postpone any discussion about getting an immigration bill on the floor -- ostensibly because the GOP doesn't trust President Obama -- has had its greatest political effect in California. Cathleen Decker of the Los Angeles Times joins Political Junkie host Ken Rudin to talk about what it means for some Golden State members of Congress. Then Al Cross joins us to talk about the Kentucky Senate race, where Republican Mitch McConnell has decidedly weak re-election numbers, and Mike Dennison fills us in on the Senate race in Montana, which in the past week got a new Democratic incumbent. Finally, we say goodbye to Shirley Temple, America's sweetheart, and remember not only her voice but her devotion to the world of politics and public service. Download Podcast

President Obama told us about the state of the union ... now it's time to hear about the state of the states.  Political Junkie host Ken Rudin talks with the Washington Post's Reid Wilson about how several governors whose re-election prospects were iffy for 2014 have improved their standing with the stronger economy. With the passing of former Second Lady Joan Mondale, we hear from her niece, Lucy Mondale, who talked about Joan's lifelong love of the arts ... and her enduring love affair with her husband, Walter Mondale. Last week, Rep. Henry Waxman, a California Democrat, announced his retirement.  He and another retiring congressman are the last of the Watergate Class of 1974, the group of 75 Democrats who were elected to the House in November 1974 in the wake of the Watergate scandal.  A member of that group, Michigan's Bob Carr, talks about what that congressional class was able to accomplish. And the "this day in history" feature has Pat Buchanan talking about his war on the Republican establishment with his big win in the 1996 Louisiana caucuses.   Credits: Podcast artwork generously provided by Mikey Casalaina at evolvedmonkey.com Download Podcast

The State of the Union is ... strong.  And so is this week's Political Junkie show.  Former Clinton speechwriter Paul Glastris joins us with an assessment of President Obama's SOTU speech and keen insights from his days in the White House.  And host Ken Rudin takes Paul back into history with memorable moments of past State of the Union messages. Later, in the extended podcast version, Ken visits with Louisiana analyst John Maginnis about Sen. David Vitter's decision to seek the governorship of the Pelican State, and then heads west to talk to Sacramento consultant Steve Swatt to discuss California's comeback under Gov. Jerry Brown. Plus:  a new trivia question, and "this day in history" brings us back to the Watergate scandal. Download Podcast // _ // ]]> Credits: Podcast artwork generously provided by Mikey Casalaina at evolvedmonkey.com

This week's Political Junkie show reviews President Obama's speech on NSA surveillance with Josh Gerstein of POLITICO, then looks ahead to the president's State of the Union address, reuniting host Ken Rudin with his old pal, Neal Conan.  (And they have an announcement about a July 11 Political Junkie Road Show!) Later, in the extended podcast version, Ken visits with University of South Florida professor Susan MacManus about the upcoming special House election to fill the seat of the late Rep. Bill Young (R).  And from there he goes to Oklahoma, talking with Tulsa World reporter Randy Krehbiel about the announcement by GOP Sen. Tom Coburn that he will leave office at the end of the year, two years before his term is up. Plus:  a new trivia question, and "this day in history" features former Tennessee Sen. and 2008 presidential hopeful Fred Thompson. Download Podcast Credits: Podcast artwork generously provided by Mikey Casalaina at evolvedmonkey.com

Continuing where he left off in 2013, Chris Christie remains the most talked about Republican in the country ... only this time he may not like what everyone is saying.  The week's Political Junkie show focuses on the New Jersey governor and whether the "Bridgegate" scandal is a minor blip, or something more.  Host Ken Rudin talks to Republican strategist Mike Murphy, who says that Christie is neither a clear frontrunner for 2016 nor damaged goods ... but he concedes that all the facts have yet to come out. And then we go to Iowa, where Des Moines Register pollster Ann Selzer gives us a snapshot of a very critical state, two years before the presidential caucuses. Plus:  a new trivia question, and "this day in history" features former Illinois Sen. and 2004 presidential hopeful Carol Moseley Braun. Download Podcast Credits: Podcast artwork generously provided by Mikey Casalaina at evolvedmonkey.com Quittin' Time (Patrick Lee) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

2014 is an election year, with control of the House and Senate at stake.  Host Ken Rudin talks to political analyst Stu Rothenberg about what to watch for.  One Senate campaign that is no longer is the one just ended by Liz Cheney in Wyoming; this week she gave up her primary challenge to Republican incumbent Mike Enzi.  Former Sen. Alan Simpson, a longtime friend of Dick Cheney who endorsed Enzi, talks about how the primary battle was causing anguish among Republicans in the state. And in the longer version of the broadcast, a farewell to some of the political giants who left us in 2013, with memories from those who knew them well.  Former Congressmen Bob Michel (R) and Dick Gephardt (D) talk about their relationship with Thomas Foley, the former speaker of the House. Former Pennsylvania Gov. and Bush Cabinet official Tom Ridge, along with Stephen Hess of the Brookings Institution, remember Bill Scranton, who challenged Barry Goldwater at the 1964 Republican convention.  And Cokie Roberts talks about her mom, Lindy Boggs, who for nearly a half century was a congressional spouse and a member of Congress herself. Plus:  a new trivia question, and "this day in history" brings us back to former Georgia governor and senator Zell Miller. Download Podcast Credits: Podcast artwork generously provided by Mikey Casalaina at evolvedmonkey.com Pale Jewel (Waylon Thornton) / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 Last Dance (Jahzzar) / CC BY-SA 3.0 Swinging London 1966 (Lucas Perný a Miloslav Kollár) / CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Heavy, Crazy, Serious (Blank & Kytt) / CC BY 3.0