Campaign HQ with David Plouffe artwork

Campaign HQ with David Plouffe

87 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 months ago - ★★★★★ - 1.5K ratings

David Plouffe, former President Barack Obama’s campaign manager and White House Senior Advisor, takes a deep dive into key states in the crucial midterm elections - and what it will take to win them. Plouffe’s guests are key operatives, local political reporters and independent pollsters, who don’t just have opinions about what is happening–they know what is happening, because they are the ones in the arena.

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Episodes

The Economy

April 16, 2020 07:00 - 1 hour

How bad will it get and what can be done to prevent the worst? What was smart about the CARES act, what was lacking and what needs to be in the next relief package. How should Joe Biden handle the crisis in the campaign? David is joined by Austan Goolsbee who served as the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers President Obama and currently serves on the Economic Advisory Panel to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as well as teaching economics at the University of Chicago.  To lear...

The Incumbent Advantage

April 09, 2020 07:00 - 1 hour

Longtime Democratic strategist Jim Messina, who served as the campaign manager during Barack Obamas re-election bid in 2012, discusses the advantages of incumbency in presidential re-elects, what Biden needs to do to catch up and how the Covid-19 crisis may affect the contest.​ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What you can do online right now

April 02, 2020 07:00 - 1 hour

Is your candidate on Pinterest and TikTok? What about World of Warcraft? Stefan Smith was Pete Buttigieg’s online engagement director and has some great ideas for people to get more involved in the election digitally, where Democrats need to invest more and the advantages of being everywhere. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

“Will We Vote?”

March 26, 2020 07:00 - 54 minutes

Will we vote in November, how will we vote, and what will it take to protect elections this year and in the future? David is joined by Marc Elias, the leading voting rights and election attorney in the Democratic Party, to discuss all that and more.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gangster Capitalism Season 2: The NRA

March 25, 2020 07:01 - 5 minutes

Gangster Capitalism is back. This season, the NRA is in the crosshairs. This past year has rocked the country’s most powerful special interest organization like none other. Internal power struggles have exposed the group’s questionable, and possibly illegal practices which now threaten the nearly 150 year old nonprofit like never before. We’re pulling back the curtain to reveal that this has little to do with guns. It’s about money.​  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practi...

Ron Klain, Obama’s Ebola czar on COVID-19, and Presidential debate.

March 19, 2020 20:03 - 56 minutes

Ron Klain, chief of staff to two U.S. vice presidents – Al Gore and Joe Biden, served as the United States Ebola response coordinator where he worked on both stopping the epidemic and shaping the economic response. Ron shares what he feels must be done to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and where the failures have been so far. In the second half of the podcast, David and Ron speak about prepping Joe Biden for this year’s upcoming debates, a role he has played in the last 5 Presidential ele...

The CAFE Insider Podcast - the SCOTUS Showdown (with Preet Bharara and Anne Milgram)

March 16, 2020 07:01 - 11 minutes

CAFE Insider helps you make sense of law and politics. In this excerpt from the CAFE Insider podcast, former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara and former New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram break down the Supreme Court’s upcoming decision in the first abortion case to come before the justices since Trump’s appointment of Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. The case, June Medical Services LLC v. Russo, could threaten the long-standing legal precedent established in Roe v. Wade. For more CAFE Insi...

Andrew Gillum and how to win Florida

March 13, 2020 00:50 - 1 hour

As the campaign begins to shift toward the general election, David checks in with Andrew Gillum, the Chair of Forward Florida Action, on his efforts to help get Democrats elected up and down the ballot, the ins and outs of Crisis Management 101, and a call to action to sure Trump does not win Florida. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Biden Surge

March 04, 2020 21:53 - 49 minutes

Anita Dunn senior adviser for Biden for President about what happened Super Tuesday, their plans for the upcoming states, and how they plan to strengthen their campaign to compete against both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

South Carolina: What to Watch For

February 28, 2020 00:44 - 57 minutes

Jaime Harrison served as the chair of the South Carolina Democratic Party from 2013 to 2017, and is an associate chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Harrison is running for the U.S. Senate from South Carolina in the 2020 election against Lindsey Graham. Jamie provides an overview of South Carolina as we head into Saturday’s primary, and his campaign to defeat Graham. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Le...

Dan Pfeiffer Speaks. And Writes.

February 21, 2020 08:00 - 48 minutes

In this bonus episode, my old friend and Obama colleague, Dan Pfeiffer, talks about his terrific new book, Un-Trumping America and much more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

California Love

February 20, 2020 08:00 - 42 minutes

With the political world focused on NV and SC, the biggest delegate prize looms. And people are voting there in big numbers right now. Hear from renowned CA strategist Ace Smith about what to watch for in the CA campaign.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Heavyweight Battle in Nevada

February 13, 2020 22:21 - 40 minutes

Jon Ralston has covered politics in Nevada for more than 30 years and will be one of the moderators of Wednesday’s Democratic Debate. Jon shares his deep knowledge of Nevada politics, and what he hopes to get from the candidates on Wednesday. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Winner in New Hampshire

February 12, 2020 14:11 - 14 minutes

David presents an update on New Hampshire, covering Sanders narrow victory over Buttigieg, as well as all the action heading into Nevada, South Carolina, and beyond. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steve Schmidt on New Hampshire and the general

February 05, 2020 08:00 - 48 minutes

David explains where the campaigns stand coming out of Iowa’s delayed results as the candidates head to New Hampshire. Then, Steve Schmidt joins David to talk about New Hampshire, a state he knows well and The Lincoln Project, whose mission is to defeat President Trump and Trumpism at the ballot box. Schmidt is a national political strategist who previously worked for President George W. Bush, Senator John McCain and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. To learn more about listener data and our ...

The Managers Speak

January 29, 2020 08:00 - 1 hour

The campaign mangers for Sanders, Biden, Warren and Buttitigeg join to talk Iowa, the other early states and what the race may look like in March.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Breaking down Iowa and beyond with Faiz Shakir (Sanders), Greg Schultz (Biden), Roger Lau (Warren), and Mike Schmul (Buttigieg)

January 29, 2020 08:00

The race is about to take the next step and David Plouffe takes us inside Iowa by sitting down with the campaign managers for the leading nominees: Faiz Shakir (Sanders), Greg Schultz (Biden), Roger Lau (Warren), and Mike Schmul (Buttigieg).

John Kerry’s warnings

January 23, 2020 08:00 - 50 minutes

Secretary John Kerry, a former Iowa caucus winner, talks the end game in Iowa, from a nominee who has been there, the challenges of beating an incumbent President and why the stakes are so high in this election, starting with climate. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Iowa draws closer and a check in with the #yanggang

January 16, 2020 08:00 - 55 minutes

David breaks down the race with two and a half weeks until Iowa. Then, Zach Graumann, Campaign Manager at Yang2020 joins to talk about the #YangGang, Andrew Yang’s path to the White House and the importance of having fun. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dividing our country and uniting Iran

January 08, 2020 18:46 - 1 hour

How might the campaign affect President Trump’s decision making regarding Iran? Would Trump want more troops on the ground, or would he decide that is bad for his campaign? How might Iran use Trump’s predicted behavior to inform their own strategy? David is joined by Samantha Power, the Former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and Professor of the Practice of Global Leadership at Harvard University, for an insightful conversation on how the Iran situation might play out…and why....

Watch their feet and watch their wallets

January 02, 2020 08:00 - 52 minutes

Jonathan Martin, national political correspondent for The New York Times, on how the Times plans to cover the race, and where to keep our eyes as the campaign enters January. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We don’t want another Meadowlands disaster!

December 26, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour

A lot of little details have to be covered while the candidates are out on the road. Alyssa Mastromonaco shares fun stories from her time as then-Senator Obama’s Director of Scheduling during the 2008 campaign, a preview of what the candidates are in for as we head into January, and that one event that didn’t go so well. Alyssa later served as President Obama’s Deputy Chief of Staff from 2011-2014 and is currently a co-host of Crooked Media’s Hysteria podcast. To learn more about listener ...

Someone who can beat Donald Trump

December 19, 2019 08:00 - 42 minutes

Justin Buoen, Campaign Manager at Amy for America joins David for a look inside the Klobuchar campaign, and the upcoming challenges of campaigning during an impeachment trial. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Using Jiu-Jitsu to defeat Donald Trump

December 12, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour

What’s the best way to defeat Donald Trump in the general election? David Axelrod, Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama, senior strategist for the Obama campaigns and host of the podcasts Hacks on Tap and The Axe Files has some suggestions and tells us what gives him hope. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bloomberg is running because Trump is winning.

December 05, 2019 08:00 - 56 minutes

Kevin Sheekey, campaign manager for Bloomberg 2020, discusses the reasoning behind the timing of Michael Bloomberg’s entry into the Presidential campaign, and the strategic rationale behind their decision to skip the first four early states and mount a national campaign. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tommy Vietor from Pod Save America

November 26, 2019 08:00 - 48 minutes

Tommy Vietor, host of Pod Save America was President Obama’s Iowa Press Secretary during the 2008 campaign.  Tommy is back from recently being on the ground in Iowa - in preparation for Pod Save America’s “On The Ground In Iowa” miniseries - where he spent time with the undecided voters who will determine who wins the Iowa caucuses. David and Tommy take a look at the fortunes of the top polling candidates as Iowa approaches, and what it will take for the nominee to beat Trump in the general e...

The Digital Wars

November 21, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour

David is joined by Tara McGowan, the founder and CEO of ACRONYM, a nonprofit organization committed to building power and digital infrastructure for the progressive movement, for a discussion of the importance of social media and Citizen Creators to Campaign 2020.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Life After Beto

November 14, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour

Jennifer O’Malley Dillon served as Campaign Manager at Beto for America, and previously was the Deputy Campaign Manager for Obama for America and the Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee. Jen joins David for a look inside Beto O’Rourke’s decision to exit the race, and her unique perspective on the race for the nomination and the ultimate battle against Trump. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Le...

Booker’s Path

November 07, 2019 08:00 - 1 hour

Cory Booker’s campaign manager, Addisu Demissie, on how he sees Booker navigating the early primary states and emerging post South Carolina as real contender for the nomination  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Iowa’s Big Stage

October 31, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour

The campaign enters a new phase this weekend. The big Iowa Democratic Party dinner has historically played a key role in determining the caucus winner. Paul Tewes, Democratic strategist and the Iowa state director for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, discusses the advantage of a campaign getting hot late. Then, a conversation with Obama’s director of field operations Mitch Stewart about the art of the ground game. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https...

Delegates, Delegates, Delegates

October 24, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour

It's not about how much money you raise, how funny your tweet was or even how many states you win. It’s about how many delegates you amass.  How are delegates awarded? What’s the difference between primaries and caucuses? What kinds of strategic decisions do campaigns need to make? What happens if someone doesn’t gather a majority of delegates?   Delegate Guru Jeff Berman (National Director of Delegate Operations for the 2008 Obama presidential campaign) joins David. To learn more about l...

Hillary Clinton

October 17, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour

Impeachment. Facing Trump. Debates. No one has a more unique perspective on these ripe topics than Hillary Clinton. Hear her take on these issues and the 2020 election. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can Mayor Pete get the Edge?

October 10, 2019 07:00 - 53 minutes

David is joined by Mike Schmuhl, campaign manager for Pete Buttigieg for a look at Mayor Pete’s potential road to the White House, not politicizing impeachment, disagreeing without being disagreeable, managing prep for next week’s debate, and feeling good about where the Buttigieg campaign is in the polls. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How hot can the Bern get?

October 03, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour

Bernie Sanders’ campaign manager Faiz Shakir discusses the road to the nomination, how people should kick the tires on all the candidates, and why Bernie vs. Biden matters.  To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Warrenmentum

September 26, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour

Joe Rospars, Chief Strategist for Warren for President, gives insight into Elizabeth Warren’s potential path to the White House, the tactics behind the selfies, and whether or not he thinks discussing impeachment will become part of the day to day campaign for candidates. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inside the Biden Campaign with campaign manager Greg Schultz

September 19, 2019 07:00 - 49 minutes

A look inside Joe Biden’s Presidential campaign with his campaign manager Greg Schultz.  David and Greg talk about campaigning in Iowa, what the field may look like post-South Carolina, the state of debates, and Biden’s path to winning the nomination. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Introduction to Campaign HQ with David Plouffe

September 09, 2019 23:35 - 2 minutes

David Plouffe, President Barack Obama’s campaign manager, digs into what the candidates are trying to accomplish in their messaging, why they are making the campaign stops they are, whether they can recover from crisis…and what is their pathway to the Democratic Nomination….then from there, the road to the White House. Plouffe’s guests are the campaign managers, the state directors, the field organizers on the ground - they don’t have opinions about what is happening, they know what is happen...