Ken Rudin's Political Junkie
161 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 614 ratingsEssential political news, analysis and history with veteran political analyst Ken Rudin.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Episode #411: A Sense Of Yuma After Sinema’s Departure
March 12, 2024 20:34 - 53 minutes - 73.1 MBA 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.
Episode #410: California Girls (And Guys)
March 01, 2024 21:22 - 39 minutes - 53.6 MBA 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.
Episode #409: Swift Paranoia Taylor-Made For MAGA
February 09, 2024 02:51 - 46 minutes - 63.6 MBRumors 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.
Episode #408: New Hampshire, Where Trump Came, Saw and Concord?
January 20, 2024 20:34 - 50 minutes - 70 MBThe 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.
Episode #407: Farewell To 2023, Bracing For 2024
January 12, 2024 02:09 - 46 minutes - 63.9 MBIt'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.
Episode #406: Farewell To The Trailblazers
December 06, 2023 15:28 - 1 hour - 106 MBWe 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.
Episode #405: Pence Is Out; Is Choice In?
November 04, 2023 20:08 - 39 minutes - 54.6 MBElection 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.
Episode #404: Master Of The House (For Now)
October 26, 2023 22:19 - 47 minutes - 65.3 MBThe 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 Ke...
Episode #403: Goodbye To DiFi … And Kevin Too
October 06, 2023 15:39 - 29 minutes - 41.2 MBSen. 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.
Episode #402: Murphy’s Law — On Romney, Haley And The Debates
September 26, 2023 03:17 - 43 minutes - 59.9 MBGOP 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.
Episode #401: From The Archives, Gone, But Not Forgotten
September 10, 2023 03:25 - 37 minutes - 50.9 MBInterviews 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.
Episode #400: Larry Hogan’s Heroes
August 25, 2023 23:15 - 38 minutes - 52.6 MBFormer 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.
Episode #399: Senate Health and Politics
August 17, 2023 17:07 - 29 minutes - 40.3 MBLooking 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.
Episode #398: Kevin Can’t Wait
January 13, 2023 04:53 - 1 hour - 47.8 MBA 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 Epi...
Episode #397: Sinema Vérité
December 16, 2022 01:31 - 40 minutes - 27.5 MBA 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.
Episode #396: 51 Or 50, And Fight
November 30, 2022 21:22 - 24 minutes - 17 MBA 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.
Episode #395: Trump’s Problems, Pelosi’s Decision And A 2022 Wrap
November 23, 2022 19:28 - 1 hour - 58.7 MBDonald 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.
Episode #394: Women Yes, Abortion Rights Maybe
October 30, 2022 21:08 - 57 minutes - 39.5 MBDebbie 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, Abort...
Episode #393: Keystone State May Be Key To Senate Majority
October 23, 2022 03:35 - 43 minutes - 29.8 MBA 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.
Episode #392: O Father, Where Art Thou?
October 07, 2022 23:48 - 1 hour - 53.1 MBReports 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 Pol...
Episode #391: She Has Everything But The Voters
August 15, 2022 15:10 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBWyoming 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.
Episode #390: A Risk Of Failin’ For Cheney And Palin
July 29, 2022 19:11 - 54 minutes - 37.6 MBThe 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.
Episode #389: The Facts Are There. Is Anyone Listening?
June 13, 2022 16:59 - 10 minutes - 7.42 MBSome 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.
Episode #388: Is Trump The Wizard For Oz? And Whither Cawthorn?
May 17, 2022 18:01 - 22 minutes - 15.5 MBFive 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.
Episode #387: Trump’s Endorsements, Many Of Them Real People
May 02, 2022 19:02 - 1 hour - 42.7 MBWe 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.
Episode #386: Testing The Leadership’s Patience
April 11, 2022 21:51 - 1 hour - 51.1 MBClaims 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.
Episode #385: Alaska’s Not Jolly Not Green Giant
March 27, 2022 20:02 - 45 minutes - 31.5 MBA 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.
Episode #384: America First! Iowa, Maybe Not.
March 18, 2022 00:25 - 40 minutes - 28 MBThe 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.
Episode #383: The End Of The Bush Era?
February 23, 2022 21:42 - 1 hour - 42.1 MBA 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.
Episode #382: Truth Or Consequences
February 16, 2022 23:42 - 31 minutes - 21.6 MBThe health of a New Mexico Democrat becomes critical in a Senate that is split 50-50. And Mike Pence, who spent four years as a compliant vice president, surprised many with his break from Donald Trump over the correct course of action on that fateful Jan. 6th day. The post Episode #382: Truth Or Consequences appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #381: Joe Gets His Court Pick, Maybe
February 01, 2022 11:52 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MBSupreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, under tremendous pressure from the left, announced his resignation this week, which allows President Biden to name a successor while the Democrats still control the Senate. The post Episode #381: Joe Gets His Court Pick, Maybe appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #380: War Hero, Senate Giant — The Man From Russell, Kansas
December 30, 2021 00:27 - 1 hour - 42.7 MBDoes Joe Manchin's decision to vote no on President Biden's top priority end its chances? And we remember Bob Dole, the former Senate Majority Leader and 1996 presidential nominee, who died earlier this month at the age of 98. The post Episode #380: War Hero, Senate Giant — The Man From Russell, Kansas appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #379: In The Middle Of Nowhere
November 19, 2021 13:55 - 58 minutes - 40.5 MBFormer Sen. Joe Lieberman, author of a new book about centrism in politics, says both parties need to compromise if they expect anything to get done. And we review the career of Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT), who announced his retirement after nearly 48 years in office. The post Episode #379: In The Middle Of Nowhere appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #378: A Hero, To The Max
November 13, 2021 23:34 - 36 minutes - 24.8 MBWe remember former Georgia Democratic Sen. Max Cleland, who died last week and who was on the receiving end of one the most controversial attack ads in political history. And we weigh the decision by New Hampshire GOP Gov. Chris Sununu not to challenge Sen. Maggie Hassan (D) next year, who is thought to be vulnerable. The post Episode #378: A Hero, To The Max appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #377: Yes Virginia, This One Matters
October 28, 2021 19:07 - 36 minutes - 24.7 MBTuesday's gubernatorial contest in Virginia is being watched nationwide for a possible clue about what might happen in the 2022 midterms ... and how to deal with Donald Trump. And former Sen. Harry Reid makes the case for Nevada to lead off the presidential calendar, not Iowa. The post Episode #377: Yes Virginia, This One Matters appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #376: Is There Hope For The GOP? Or Democracy?
October 22, 2021 23:36 - 53 minutes - 37 MBA book by a longtime Republican strategist says his party has become indistinguishable from Donald Trump -- and all that's wrong with Trumpism. We look ahead to next month's historic Boston mayoral race. And we talk to Colin Powell's former chief of staff, who has the inside scoop behind Powell's infamous 2003 UN speech about "weapons of mass destruction." The post Episode #376: Is There Hope For The GOP? Or Democracy? appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #375: Sinema Paradiso
October 10, 2021 20:49 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MBSen. Kyrsten Sinema may be driving progressives nuts by thwarting much of President Biden's agenda, but her actions may be popular back home. And we remember the unfortunate 2012 campaign gaffe of Todd Akin, who died last week, and who suggested that "legitimate rape" would not result in pregnancy. The post Episode #375: Sinema Paradiso appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #374: Trump Enemies List Loses One
September 22, 2021 02:49 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MBThe decision by anti-Trump Republican Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio not to seek reelection next year is seen as a victory for the former president, who retains deep loyalty among GOP voters. And we discuss the meaning of last week's defeated recall vote in California. The post Episode #374: Trump Enemies List Loses One appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #373: Can You Recall The Governor Of California?
September 12, 2021 02:54 - 44 minutes - 30.4 MBWe set up what's at stake in Tuesday's California gubernatorial recall election. And we replay an interview from last summer with former Illinois Sen. Adlai Stevenson III, who died last week. The post Episode #373: Can You Recall The Governor Of California? appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #372: Remembering Neal Conan
August 28, 2021 03:36 - 23 minutes - 15.9 MBAn awful month. A disastrous exit from Afghanistan. And we lost Neal Conan to cancer. The post Episode #372: Remembering Neal Conan appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #371: No Mo Cuomo
August 12, 2021 03:44 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MBThe resignation announcement by New York's Andrew Cuomo means many things, not the least of which it will lead to the state's first female governor. A look at the hopeless complaint by Democrats that their party is the only one that cares about sexual harassment. Plus, a look at last week's two congressional primaries in Ohio. The post Episode #371: No Mo Cuomo appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #370: Texas Hold ‘Em? First You Gotta Catch ‘Em.
July 18, 2021 11:14 - 40 minutes - 28 MBTexas Democrats have fled the state to hold up legislation that could make voting more difficult. But how long can this tactic work? And we remember Edwin Edwards, the former governor of Louisiana, first with a rebroadcast of our interview with him from 2014 and with a discussion about his influence with a noted Louisiana political expert. The post Episode #370: Texas Hold ‘Em? First You Gotta Catch ‘Em. appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #369: Mike Gravel And Acts Of Civil Disobedience
June 30, 2021 15:48 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MBWe are replaying an interview we had six years ago with Mike Gravel, the former Alaska senator who died this week, about his decision to read excerpts of the Pentagon Papers on the Senate floor. The post Episode #369: Mike Gravel And Acts Of Civil Disobedience appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #368: Before ‘Enemy Of The People,’ There Was A Horsewhip Committee
June 26, 2021 15:50 - 50 minutes - 34.7 MBChristine Chabot of Loyola University weighs the arguments of getting Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer to retire early, before Republicans have a chance of regaining control of the Senate (and the White House). And Donald Ritchie talks about his new book, “The Columnist,” about the controversial and feared journalist, the late Drew Pearson. Plus, Senate ... Read more The post Episode #368: Before ‘Enemy Of The People,’ There Was A Horsewhip Committee appeared first on Ken Rudin's Pol...
Episode #367: Heroes And Villains
June 10, 2021 20:07 - 51 minutes - 35.1 MBBy insisting on "bipartisanship," Joe Manchin (D-WV) is jeopardizing President Biden's agenda in the Senate. And a new book explores John Glenn's orbital mission in 1962 and how it played in the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The post Episode #367: Heroes And Villains appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #366: Taylor-Made For The Senate
May 30, 2021 16:26 - 46 minutes - 31.8 MBWe replay an interview with the late Sen. John Warner (R-VA) from 2018. And we set up this year's gubernatorial contest in the Old Dominion. The post Episode #366: Taylor-Made For The Senate appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #365: Fighting For A New GOP. And A Different California.
May 21, 2021 20:48 - 54 minutes - 37.1 MBLiz Cheney is out. But a former member of Congress won't stop fighting to rid the GOP of the Trump influence. And while the recall against California Gov. Newsom is underway, polls indicate that he is benefitting from his actions on vaccines and the reopening of the state. The post Episode #365: Fighting For A New GOP. And A Different California. appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #364: Liz Cheney And The Party Of Intolerance
May 07, 2021 23:49 - 47 minutes - 32.5 MBLiz Cheney is about to lose her House leadership position because she refuses to go along with Donald Trump's lies and misstatements. Meanwhile, President Biden needs to be cognizant of his barebones majority in the Senate and mindful of the needs of Joe Manchin, the West Virginia Democrat who has become a powerbroker in his own right. The post Episode #364: Liz Cheney And The Party Of Intolerance appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #363: Walter Mondale Fought The Good Fight
April 23, 2021 21:02 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MBA replay of our 2015 interview with Walter Mondale, who died this week at the age of 93. The post Episode #363: Walter Mondale Fought The Good Fight appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.
Episode #362: Remembering Roger Mudd
March 13, 2021 01:29 - 1 hour - 45.6 MBA look at the recall effort in California aimed at Gov. Gavin Newsom (D). Sen. Roy Blunt's (R) unexpected retirement in Missouri is likely to open the door to a fierce battle among Republicans for the seat. And Marvin Kalb remembers the life and legacy of Roger Mudd, the exemplary television political journalist who died this week at the age of 93. The post Episode #362: Remembering Roger Mudd appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.