Political Theater
416 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 days ago - ★★★★★ - 40 ratingsHave you ever asked, “WTF?,” about politics? Or, “who are these people making decisions about my life?” Political Theater pulls back the curtain on the stunts, antics and motivations that drive Washington. Host Jason Dick and the Roll Call team spotlight the spectacle, the players and what’s going on behind the curtain in Washington’s long-running drama: Congress.
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Episodes
Field notes from a North Carolina runoff and a reparations hearing
June 26, 2019 18:58 - 22 minutesA North Carolina House race is dividing the GOP in Washington, D.C., reports CQ Roll Call's senior political reporter Simone Pathé. And Clyde McCrady talks about the emotional House hearing on reparations and why it was a significant moment in U.S. history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
James Inhofe and the art of the bipartisan joke
June 19, 2019 18:18 - 21 minutesAs the Senate starts to debate one of the most consequential policy bills, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the chairman of the committee that is managing the Pentagon policy bill, Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, talks to Political Theater about working with Democrats, throws shade on some lawmakers on his committee and provides his take on Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
‘Running with Beto’: the off-stage version of Beto O’Rourke
June 12, 2019 15:56 - 16 minutesIt was on when Beto O'Rourke, center fielder for the Los Diablitos de El Paso, jumped up on hay bale when filmmaker David Modigliani, first baseman for the Texas Playboys Baseball Club, knew he could make a movie about the 2018 Texas Senate candidate and now one of nearly two dozen Democrats running for president in 2020. "I was playing first base, he got a single and he was, like, 'Hey, I am running for Senate,' '' recalled Modigliani while talking about making "Running with Beto" on the lat...
Why the Grim Reaper thing works for Mitch McConnell
June 05, 2019 22:12 - 21 minutesSenate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is a successful politician without being a typical one. He's proudly uncharismatic, relatively unpopular in his home state of Kentucky and embraces his self-styled role as the Grim Reaper of legislation. So why does he keep winning? In this episode, senior Senate reporter Niels Lesniewski explains how McConnell uses his negatives to win. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
When Werner Met Mikhail in "Meeting Gorbachev“
May 29, 2019 13:00 - 18 minutesEverything about Werner Herzog becomes theater. His documentary “Meeting Gorbachev” combines his iconic narrative style, never-before-seen footage of the last days of Soviet rule and the personal side of the last Soviet president, Mikhail Gorbachev. In this podcast, Herzog muses on how "deeply involved in all these events" he himself was and how “I never would have dreamt I would have spoken to Gorbachev himself." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Get used to talking about Pennsylvania
May 22, 2019 21:05 - 18 minutesFor pure Political Theater, it will be hard to beat Pennsylvania during the 2020 campaign. The Keystone State will be, well, key to an Electoral College victory. President Donald Trump knows it. That may be why he has visited it six times since taking office, including to Montoursville in the north central part of the state on May 20. He won’t be alone, though, because the current Democratic frontrunner, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., was born in Scranton, represented neighboring...
These Democratic women don't want to be 'show ponies'
May 15, 2019 20:39 - 16 minutesFive Democratic freshmen, all women with military or intelligence backgrounds, are banding together to help each other fundraise for their 2020 races. They all flipped Republican districts in 2018, and they know winning districts like theirs is the key to holding and expanding the House majority in 2020. After a few months in Congress, they've figured out who are the "workhorses" and who are the "show ponies," in the words of Michigan Rep. Elissa Slotkin, and they're tired of the latter getti...
Movie Night: The Catholic priest who shepherded civil rights
May 14, 2019 19:00 - 17 minutesA documentary about the late Notre Dame president Fr. Theodore Hesburgh, a real life "Forrest Gump" who challenged presidents and popes in the last half-century, resonates in today's turbulent times, the director of the film tells CQ Magazine managing editor Mike Magner, who grew up hearing about Father Ted's work and causes. The film, directed by Patrick Creadon, explores the challenges Father Ted faced with Republican and Democratic administrations in advancing civil rights. Learn more abo...
Who's afraid of gerrymandering?
May 08, 2019 18:00 - 16 minutesPolitical gerrymandering is losing friends fast, at least in the courts. Ohio and Michigan recently got smacked by federal judges for rigging the maps in favor of Republicans and states like Maryland are under court order to draw more politically neutral lines. Almost of all these fights end up in the same place, the Supreme Court. And a divided set of justices could decide by next month whether the high court is willing to shake things up by defining what exactly constitutes an unconstitutio...
Movie Night: "Hail Satan?"
May 04, 2019 12:00 - 19 minutesPenny Lane’s documentary “Hail Satan?” is among the most entertaining civics lessons to come around in a long time. Chronicling in jaunty manner the origins and growth of the Satanic Temple, which the IRS just recently recognized as a bona fide church, Lane’s movie shows how the Temple has enforced the First Amendment’s separation of church and state across the country. Lane, the director of “Our Nixon,” and “Nuts,” discussed her new movie, the underlying issues and just how much resonance it...
No holds Barr as Democrats grill attorney general
May 01, 2019 21:57 - 20 minutesAnytime Attorney General William Barr talks about the Mueller report it’s a big deal. It's a bigger deal in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Add a leaked letter, a bunch of presidential candidates on the committee and all kinds of almost Shakespearean context, and you've got a lot of political theater. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Movie Night: "Knock Down the House"
April 30, 2019 21:49 - 18 minutesIf you listen to this podcast, you know Jason Dick loves movies, especially if they relate to politics. So on occasion, we’re going to bring you conversations with directors and actors — and even some movie reviews — for all the political movie-lovers out there. In this episode, we talk with Rachel Lears, director of the Netflix documentary “Knock Down the House,” which profiles four congressional challengers in 2018 and how they fared (spoiler alert: one of them is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez)....
Why a crowded 2020 ‘knife fight’ is good for Democrats
April 24, 2019 17:51 - 21 minutesDemocrats continue to throw their hats into the 2020 presidential race, and veteran strategist Rodell Mollineau thinks that’s a healthy way to work out the party’s message during a “once in a generation time” for them. “I’m all for this,” he says. Mollineau, a founder of American Bridge and Rokk Solutions, and previously a staffer for Senate majority leaders Tom Daschle and Harry Reid, discusses with Jason Dick and Nathan Gonzales the burgeoning field, what an ideal ticket would look like ...
When Fritz Hollings ‘made the turn’ as a Southern politician
April 16, 2019 21:25 - 16 minutesBefore the late Sen. Ernest “Fritz” Hollings was elected to what would become a distinguished congressional career, the South Carolina Democrat reversed himself on the defining issue in Southern politics: segregation. Running for governor in 1958, Hollings opposed integration of public schools, a keystone battle in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision desegregating public schools. But by the end of his term, he said it was time for the South to change, taking...
Why 'Queer Eye' stormed Capitol Hill
April 10, 2019 18:39 - 16 minutesWashington might be Hollywood for ugly people, but every once in a while Hollywood pretties the place up. That was certainly the case when the cast of “Queer Eye” came to the Capitol to advocate for the Equality Act, to the delight of many staffers, members and tourists. Jennifer Shutt discusses how the celebrity advocates used their powers for policy purposes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why we should care that the Senate will debate less
April 03, 2019 20:12 - 21 minutesThe Senate has changed its rules again and it will result in less debate on many judicial and executive nominations. Who cares? The public should, if it wants a responsive government at least. James Wallner of the R Street Institute and CQ Roll Call's Niels Lesniewski discuss the ramifications. "No one can be bothered to care about the rules, '' Wallner laments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Will Mueller matter in 2020?
March 27, 2019 18:56 - 14 minutesCQ Roll Call senior political reporters Bridget Bowman and Simone Pathé explain the political ramifications, if any, on the conclusion of the Russia election interference report of Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
‘The River and the Wall,’ a journey down the wall’s path
March 20, 2019 16:00 - 18 minutesWhen Ben Masters began the 1,200-mile journey along the Rio Grande to film his new documentary “The River and the Wall,” he had no idea the border wall would dominate politics the way it does today. Nor did he think, as he spoke with such locals as Beto O’Rourke and Will Hurd, that their voices would resonate so far beyond the border. Now the movie, making festival rounds and set for a May 3 release, profiles the debate deftly and shows off the unparalleled beauty of the region as Masters and...
Why Trump is Fueling Journalism Majors
March 13, 2019 18:01 - 15 minutesWhen the president of the United States labels you the enemy of the people, what’s a young, aspiring journalist supposed to think? While recognizing that journalism is in a crisis, Christina Bellantoni, a professor of journalism at the University of Southern California and a former editor of Roll Call and at the Los Angeles Times, says the era of fake news is actually bringing out the real value of journalism and helping to motivate the next generation to seek the truth. Learn more about you...
Why everyone wants to talk about HR 1
March 07, 2019 19:43 - 18 minutesDemocrats love it. Republicans hate it. K Street really hates it. The White House wants to veto it. Everyone’s talking about HR 1, House Democrats' overhaul of campaign finance, election and lobbying laws. CQ Roll Call’s Kate Ackley says Democrats “ran on this messaging” in 2018 and are arguing it deserves to be a top priority “so that we can unrig the system.” Republicans across the board have rallied against it. What's going on? We break it down on the latest Political Theater Podcast. Lear...
How the National Archives Helped ‘Apollo 11’ Get a Fresh Look
February 28, 2019 07:00 - 17 minutesThe Apollo 11 Moon landing is one of mankind’s iconic stories. So how, with the 50th anniversary of the lunar landing coming up, does the documentary “Apollo 11” tell the story in a new way? For director Todd Douglas Miller and his team, it started with archival footage, some of it never seen, at the National Archives and other audio and visual files around the country. Miller discusses his new film, how it came together, both in middle of the politically tumultuous 1960s, and now, in politic...
Does Michael Cohen Testimony Change Political Strategies?
February 27, 2019 20:02 - 9 minutesSure, as one cable news talking head says, Michael Cohen’s congressional testimony on Wednesday is “very, very explosive” and spread out over “several, several hours” but does it change the political parties’ 2020 strategy? Roll Call political reporters Simone Pathe and Bridget Bowman discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
All the President's Potential Opponents
February 20, 2019 19:28 - 18 minutesTake one congresswoman from Hawaii, one tech entrepreneur and one South Bend mayor, add in 7 percent of the U.S. Senate and you still don’t have even half of the potential Democratic field of presidential candidates. Why is everyone running for president? And what kind of effect will that have on down-ballot races for Congress, state houses, and governor’s mansions, not to mention the legislative agenda on Capitol Hill? Inside Elections Reporter/Analyst Leah Askarinam helps us sort through th...
The State of Lobbying is, Well, Pretty Darn Good
February 13, 2019 11:00 - 19 minutesLast year, Julian Ha of Heidrick & Struggles said the swamp was “constipated,” as the lobbying world continued adjusting to the Trump administration and Congress. And now? Things are starting to flow again. Ha and CQ Roll Call lobbying reporter Kate Ackley discuss the state of lobbying, 2019 edition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is the State of the Union Just Another Campaign Stop?
February 06, 2019 22:29 - 20 minutesPresident Donald Trump's State of the Union address touched on familiar themes and not so familiar ones like bipartisanship. Yet, the goal of many politicians Tuesday night was a 2020 campaign snapshot, complete with fundraising appeals and messaging. Roll Call senior political reporter Simone Pathé explains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Donald Trump and the Chamber of 2020 Rivals
January 30, 2019 21:30 - 16 minutesWhen President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address to both chambers of Congress on Feb. 5, he will not be the only star of the night. The Democrats seeking to replace him — and there are many — could end up stealing the limelight, says Nathan Gonzales, publisher of Inside Elections and Roll Call’s elections analyst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Dick Cheney Have in Common
January 23, 2019 19:57 - 19 minutesWhat do Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and former Vice President Dick Cheney have in common? In addition to being political power brokers, films about them have now been nominated for Academy Awards, for the documentary “RBG” and feature film “Vice,” respectively. So politics, which has gotten a bit of a bad rap lately, (see shutdown, 2019, for more), can be both interesting, entertaining and profitable for Hollywood? Well, yes and no, says Renee Tsao, vice president of PR Collabo...
What’s not part of the shutdown? 2020 Senate campaigns
January 16, 2019 21:36 - 18 minutesPolitics never sleeps, not even during a government shutdown. That is especially true of Senate campaigns, because the unique nature of that chamber and its election cycle means folks need to be on their toes. Nathan Gonzales, the publisher of Inside Elections and Roll Call’s elections analyst, discusses which senators are the most vulnerable as the 2020 cycle ramps up, and how things like the current shutdown factor into political positions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone....
Congress for Newbies: Practical Advice From a Pro
January 09, 2019 17:35 - 17 minutes“Decide what kind of member of Congress you want to be,” says Tom Davis, the former congressman from Virginia. “Voters see through phoniness pretty quickly.” Davis, who chaired the Republican campaign committee and House Oversight panel and currently plies his trade at Holland & Knight, has a reputation as one of most principled and savvy politicians around. He has a few pointers for new members of Congress. After all, there are rookie mistakes, and there are rookie mistakes on the national ...
What to Expect as the New 116th Congress Gets Under Way
January 02, 2019 20:57 - 17 minutesIf it’s a new year in an odd-numbered year, then you’ve got yourself a new Congress. As the 116th Congress is sworn in, things are going to look and operate differently: A record number of women in the House and Senate, new ethics rules, divided government and hats — maybe— on the House floor! Also, amid it all, the 2020 presidential race is already well under way. Roll Call staff writer Katherine Tully-McManus breaks down the biggest changes for Political Theater. Learn more about your ad c...
Did Tax Reform Scrooge the Holiday Party Spirit?
December 19, 2018 14:00 - 17 minutesWhether it was a cramped schedule, the funeral of a president, changes to the tax code or overall crankiness, the holiday party scene this year seemed a little, um, meh. Niels Lesniewski, Kate Ackley and Peter Cohn crash the party that is Political Theater to discuss the wine, song and and tax deductions of the Washington holiday party circuit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Political Football That is Washington Redskins Football
December 12, 2018 16:00 - 17 minutesThere might be no better example of “political football” than what the Washington Redskins are doing by working with Congress, the White House and the D.C. City Council to secure a new stadium in the capital. And that’s just one of the political issues facing professional football, says Brandon Wetherbee, managing editor of the culture website Brightest Young Things and host of the podcast You, Me, Them, Everybody. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Roger Ailes 'Was Never Sorry About Anything'
December 05, 2018 14:40 - 20 minutesIn her new film, director and producer Alexis Bloom examines the life of the late Republican Party kingmaker and controversial Fox News leader who, before his death, was forced out amid multiple sexual harassment allegations. "He was a heat over light kind of guy,'' Bloom tells Political Theater of Roger Ailes. "He dealt in psychological tropes very deftly. He was ruthless.'' Even conservative political commentator Glenn Beck, once a Fox host, is astonished by Ailes' confidence in his own p...
Going Down to Mississippi, Senate Runoff Edition
November 28, 2018 17:30 - 14 minutesThe results of the Mississippi Senate runoff election were not surprising. The Republican won. The Democrat lost. It is a Republican state. But the fact that we were talking about Mississippi at all in the late stages of the 2018 election season was a surprise. It also brings up questions about political trends in the South, race, history and culture. There is even a Clinton angle! And the not-overwhelming victory of Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith over Democrat Mike Espy portends profound questions f...
What Really Happens During Congress’ Freshman Orientation
November 14, 2018 19:11 - 19 minutesWhat’s my Representational Allowance? Why can’t I take pictures on the House floor? Where are the bathrooms? Newly elected lawmakers are participating in freshman orientation this week, and while it has a first day of school vibe, they should pay attention. It could save them some embarrassment, and maybe even avoid getting into hot water with the Ethics Committee or even federal authorities. Roll Call Staff Writer Katherine Tully-McManus runs down what the members-to-be are doing during fre...
The Midterms' Most Memorable Moments
November 07, 2018 20:54 - 15 minutesEvery campaign season is defined by moments when the big picture starts to come into focus. A parade outside Kansas City where Republican Rep. Kevin Yoder is confronted about gun violence. A pizza parlor in New Jersey becomes an overflow town hall. Roll Call politics reporters Simone Pathé and Bridget Bowman and elections analyst Nathan Gonzales discuss such moments during the 2018 midterms, as well as how to address the dreaded election hangover we’re all suffering. Learn more about your ad...
"A Private War" Illustrates Power, and Risk, Of Reporting the Truth
October 31, 2018 16:57 - 13 minutesAt a time when journalists around the world face threats and are characterized as the enemy of the people, the new movie "A Private War" arrives at delicate point. Director Matthew Heineman and star Rosamund Pike discuss their picture on the latest Political Theater Podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Explosive Rhetoric Ramping Up, But Do Voters Care?
October 24, 2018 19:38 - 19 minutesPraising violence against reporters. Sending pipe bombs to public figures. Threatening political opponents. The fiery rhetoric is in full swing as the nation enters the homestretch of the 2018 midterm election. Is any of it changing voters’ attitudes or behavior? Roll Call senior political writer Simone Pathe and Inside Elections editor Nathan Gonzales discuss the effect of all the bad vibes on the electorate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Will the Lone Stars Align for Beto O’Rourke in Texas Senate Race?
October 17, 2018 18:38 - 18 minutesWill appealing to Whataburger partisans get out the vote? What about a new Willie Nelson song? These are but some of the questions that will be answered by the Texas Senate race between Republican Sen. Ted Cruz and Democratic Rep. Beto O’Rourke. That’s because some of the Lone Star State’s favorite sons, like country-music legend Nelson and filmmaker Richard Linklater, have come out strong for O’Rourke and are putting their artistic talent where their mouths are. Will it make a difference, ...
What ‘The Front Runner’ Says About Today’s Politics
October 10, 2018 14:00 - 25 minutes“The Front Runner” is not going to tell you how to feel about politics. The new film, starring Hugh Jackman and directed by Jason Reitman and co-written by him and Matt Bai and Jay Carson, tells the story of the short-lived 1988 presidential campaign of Sen. Gary Hart, D-Colo., who went from being the presumptive favorite to win the presidency to political oblivion within the span of a few days, felled by a scandal fueled by the senator’s extra-marital affair. “You could see the seeds of pol...
Rap, Race and Health Care Help Decide Upstate New York Fates
October 03, 2018 21:15 - 13 minutesIn upstate New York, two Republican House freshmen are fighting for their political future against two Democrats who hope that kitchen sink issues like health care will power them through. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As Minnesota Goes in the Midterms, So Goes the Nation?
September 26, 2018 20:20 - 20 minutesMinnesota is suddenly the center of the political universe and voters there are more focused on health care and the economy than the latest scandal in Washington. And they'll have a lot to say in the midterms because the Land of 10,000 Lakes is hosting a governor's race, two Senate races and four competitive House races that will go a long way to determine the congressional majority next year. Roll Call Senior Political Reporter Simone Pathé spent six days covering six races and 12 candidates...
High Court, High Political Drama — Probably for Years to Come
September 19, 2018 20:33 - 15 minutesIn the middle of a singularly rough Supreme Court nomination fight, the business of the high court goes on. The fate of Brett Kavanaugh, President Donald Trump’s second nominee to the court, is still up in the air. But the direction of the court, regardless of what happens with Kavanaugh, seems to be moving inexorably negative, at least politically, say CQ legal affairs writer Todd Ruger and senior writer Kate Ackley. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Beto O’Rourke: Not Just Another Bassist From El Paso
September 12, 2018 17:37 - 19 minutesRep. Beto O’Rourke has gained rock star status as an insurgent liberal candidate running against the established Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, but, but, but, says Nathan L. Gonzales, Roll Call’s elections analyst and the publisher of Inside Elections, O’Rourke’s rise to national prominence did not happen overnight or come out of nowhere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Kavanaugh Drama Provides Stage for Democrats
September 05, 2018 21:30 - 16 minutesSenate Democrats are trying to make the most of the Supreme Court nomination hearing of Brett Kavanaugh looking to bolster support for the midterms and the 2020 presidential election. Leah Askarinam of Inside Elections tells us which Democrats are likely to gain from the strategy and whether it will affect Republican turnout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Remembering McCain: Personal Stories From CQ Roll Call Journalists
August 29, 2018 19:19 - 20 minutesSen. John McCain had countless interactions with members of the press during a career on Capitol Hill that spanned more than three decades. CQ's Patrick Pexton and Megan Scully along with Roll Call's Niels Lesniewski share personal anecdotes that reveal a more personal side to the late Arizona senator. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How Duncan Hunter Became the Hunted Over Campaign Cash
August 22, 2018 21:13 - 16 minutesPro tip: Don’t put in writing your complaints that your campaign treasurer won’t dish out petty cash for your personal use. That’s just one of the details outlined in the federal indictment against Rep. Duncan Hunter and his wife Margaret. They are in hot water over their alleged misuse of campaign finance funds, a pattern of using that cash for personal use, including for their kids’ tuition, family vacations and even dental work, and passing off purchases as charitable actions. The Califor...
Ben Foster and Being Part of a ‘Continuing Conversation’ About Veterans
August 15, 2018 19:39 - 11 minutesFor actor Ben Foster, veterans’ re-entry to civilian life is part of what he says is “a continuing conversation” he says is important. It shows in his body of work, including his latest movie, “Leave No Trace,” which he discussed with Political Theater host Jason Dick. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Left to Its Own Devices: Medical Tech, Congress and the Public
July 31, 2018 16:37 - 22 minutesDirector Kirby Dick and producer Amy Ziering discuss their documentary "The Bleeding Edge" about the medical device industry and its unknown dangers. The movie comes as Congress again considers repealing the tax on medical devices, says CQ health editor Rebecca Adams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Capitol Shooting That Changed Everything
July 25, 2018 19:08 - 16 minutesJuly 24, 1998 changed everything on Capitol Hill. The shooting and ensuing deaths of two Capitol Police officers left a scar on the close-knit community and began a ramping up of hardened security around the legislative branch that continues today. Roll Call Senior Editor David Hawkings covered the event, and Roll Call multimedia reporter Thomas McKinless produced a documentary about the episode with fresh eyes. They discuss what they remembered, and what they learned on the latest Political ...