Shows
Tea for TeachingCivic PedagogiesClass discussions of public policy issues can be challenging in our politically polarized environment. In this episode, Lauren C. Bell, Allison Rank, and Carah Ong Whaley join us to discuss a new resource that suggests a variety of strategies that encourage students to address their differences and to engage productively in civic engagement projects.
Allison is an Associate Professor of American Politics and chair of the Department of Politics here at SUNY-Oswego. Lauren is the inaugural James L. Miller Professor of Political Science and Associate Provost and Dean of Academic Affairs at Randolf-Macon College. Carah is the Vi...2025-01-2232 min
Democracy FixWho You Gonna Call: How Preparation Powers Election Resilience ft. Michelle HawleyOn Election Day, we watched election officials across the country spring their contingency plans into action - responding to bomb threats, machine malfunctions and power outages, as well as other predictable disruptions. In this episode, Michelle Hawley, Director of the Milwaukee County Election Commission, joins Claire Woodall and Angelina Clapp to provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the planning and partnerships that officials have spent years developing in order to ensure democracy isn’t disrupted. Hawley shares her expert insights on the meticulous planning and crisis management necessary to ensure smooth elections, especially in high-pressure environments.
Elections are abo...2024-12-0636 min
Democracy FixLove it or Leave It: A Conversation About Elections Resilience and Resolve with Kim WymanIn this episode of Democracy Fix, Mia Minkin, Angelina Clapp and Carah Ong Whaley sit down with former Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman, a seasoned election official and advocate for safe and secure elections. We unpack the complexities of election administration in the modern era and reflect on how elections were safe and secure in 2024, even in spite of a wide range of challenges, including foreign malign influence and dozens of bomb threats at polling sites in key states on the last day of voting. We also delve into the challenges of maintaining public trust in election integrity, t...2024-11-2036 min
Democracy FixThe Officials: Beyond the Ballot ft. Wesley Wilcox and Tonya WichmanElection officials have always played a critical role in ensuring that our votes are cast and counted fairly. But in recent years, the landscape of election work has dramatically changed. No longer seen as a quiet, behind-the-scenes service, election officials are now on the front lines of an increasingly toxic environment, facing harassment, threats, and a flood of misinformation.
In this episode of Democracy Fix, two seasoned election officials, Tonya Wichman, Director of Elections in Defiance County, Ohio, and Wesley Wilcox, Supervisor of Elections in Marion County, Florida join Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Angelina Clapp to...2024-10-0225 min
Democracy FixWhat We Can Do When The House Is On Fire ft. Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN) and Tina BartonIn this episode of Democracy Fix, Tina Barton, senior election expert at The Elections Group, and former Congressman Zach Wamp (R-TN) join hosts Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Jeanne Broome to discuss the biggest threats facing U.S. elections and what is being done to address them. Both guests emphasize that the greatest danger is the potential non-acceptance of election results. Congressman Wamp warns that "The biggest problem is the peaceful transfer of power. Without it, we risk losing the very essence of American exceptionalism.” Barton highlights another dimension to the challenges to election integrity in 2024: the spread of fa...2024-09-2029 min
Democracy FixBuilding Radically Transparent and Inclusive Elections ft. Julie WiseIn this episode, hosts Carah Ong Whaley, Angelina Clapp, and Mia Minkin sit down with King County, WA Director of Elections Julie Wise for a deep dive into the county’s award-winning initiatives to ensure all voices are heard in elections. Known for her passionate advocacy for voter accessibility and election transparency, Wise discusses the critical role of trained, nonpartisan election administrators in preserving democracy.
She highlights the challenges faced by election officials across the country, including the need for consistent and reliable federal funding, the impact of the spread of false election information, and the rise in...2024-08-2244 min
Democracy FixHigh Turnout, Low Drama ft. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve SimonMinnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon joins Issue One’s Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Liz Cassin to discuss the challenges posed by the spread of false election information and the importance of directing voters to credible sources. Recently, Grok, an AI chatbot operated by X (formerly known as Twitter), disseminated false information regarding ballot laws in nine states. In response, Sec. Simon and four other secretaries of state wrote a letter to Elon Musk, urging him to correct the misinformation. Sec. Simon highlights the broader challenges posed by AI models that often fail to provide accurate voting information an...2024-08-0635 min
Democracy FixSeeing Is Believing: Can Observing Increase Confidence in Elections? ft. Jeff Mangan and Geraldine CusterWith such a closely watched vote count in 2024, election process transparency is critical for voter confidence. Former Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Jeff Mangan and former State Representative Geraldine Custer join Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Risa Dorf to share their new nonpartisan initiative to provide voters in Montana with trusted and independent oversight of state elections. The effort aims to address misinformation about elections and to build public confidence in how they are run and in who runs them.
“This is one thing communities, local and state governments can do to hopefully bring back con...2024-07-2325 min
Democracy FixSecuring the Vote: Inside Election Integrity with New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse OliverIn this episode of Democracy Fix, New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver joins hosts Dr. Carah Ong Whaley and Mia Minkin to discuss innovative strategies that election officials in her state are pursuing to increase election integrity. As Secretary Toulouse Oliver aptly states, "We build so many checks and balances into our processes it takes time…It's the mundane paint drying processes that ensure that our elections are accurate and that the outcomes are fair.”
Secretary Toulouse Oliver demystifies the complexities of how elections work and underscores the crucial role each citizen plays in maintaining the i...2024-07-1142 min
Democracy FixThe High Costs of ‘Free Speech’ in the Digital Age ft. Dr. Mary Anne FranksWhat and whose speech does the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protect in the digital age? Misinformation about the First Amendment and notions of censorship are being used to distort policy debates and legislative interventions aimed at addressing the rampant spread of false information and online harms. The confusion arises when people believe they have the right to be heard without opposition. “People think that they have freedom of reach as opposed to freedom of speech,” says Dr. Mary Anne Franks, who joins Liana Keesing and Dr. Carah Ong Whaley to discuss the implications of the Supreme Cour...2024-07-0231 min
Democracy FixGoing on the Offensive Defense: Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes on AI, Security, and Public TrustDespite a toxic information environment, election officials are stepping up to meet the moment and make elections more safe and secure in 2024. One of the leaders is Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a member of Issue One’s Faces of Democracy campaign, who just won a Clearinghouse Award for Outstanding Innovation in Election Cybersecurity and Technology.
In this episode, Secretary Fontes talks about how election officials are preparing for the challenges posed by the spread of false information, generative artificial intelligence technologies, the need for reliable federal funding for elections, and why ordinary Americans should step up...2024-06-1845 min
Politics Is EverythingPrimary Results, Redistricting Shifts, and the History of Senate/Presidential Ticket-SplittingKyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley discuss Senator Mitch McConnell’s legacy after he announced his intention to step down from his role as Senate Republican Leader effective November 2024. They also talk about the Michigan presidential primary election results; the impact of district changes after the New York State Assembly and Senate both passed a new New York Congressional map this week that was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul; a preview of the California Congressional primary; and the recent history of split-ticket voting in presidential and Senate elections. Links in this episode: The Postwar Hist...2024-02-2921 min
Politics Is EverythingWhen It’s Good Because It’s Not BadKyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley discuss recent political developments and new analyses on the Crystal Ball, including reduced split-ticket voting in Senate elections, updates on 2024 Senate contests, insights from the NY-3 special election results and the significance of New York redistricting for the House of Representatives. They also highlight the decreasing number of competitive House seats and the potential impact on future control of the House. Links in this episode Notes on the State of the Senate Big NY-3 Win Brings Democrats Ever Closer in the House 2024-02-2020 min
Politics Is EverythingIs Roe Fertile Ground in 2024? And What’s the Potential Impact of Ticket-Splitting?In this episode, Kyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley discuss the recent Nevada caucus and primary results and dive into the potential impact of ticket-splitting in down-ballot House of Representatives elections this year. Rich Thau, president of Engagious, also joins Carah, Tyler Busch, Zoe Shook, and Etienne Ouellette to discuss focus groups with voters in key states for the 2024 elections. The 2024 Deciders is a project with Sago and Syracuse University’s Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship, In the presidential elections The Race for the House, Part One The Race for the House, Part Two Engagious...2024-02-1132 min
Politics Is Everything'Huge Election, Huge Stakes': Trump's Trials and Political Implications ft. Darren SamuelsohnAward-winning journalist Darren Samuelsohn joins Carah Ong Whaley and Ella Doddridge (UVA ‘26) to help make sense of the various Trump trials and their implications for politics and the upcoming election, what it’s really like covering the former president, and navigating journalism in the modern media landscapes. Links in this episode: Love, Journalism Darren Samuelsohn Court Listener 2024-02-0335 min
Politics Is EverythingHow We’re Thinking About Presidential Primary Elections post-New HampshireIn this episode, Kyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley discuss what they learned about voter turnout in the New Hampshire primary election and how they are thinking about the upcoming presidential primary elections. They also discuss the recent decision in Louisiana to create a second Black-majority Congressional district, ending a nearly two-year saga over adequate Black representation in the state. Links in this episode: The Fields Above the Graves: Louisiana 2024 Redistricting Trump Clears the New Hampshire Hurdle 2024-01-2722 min
Politics Is EverythingA Guide to the New Hampshire 2024 Primary ft. Dante ScalaPolls suggest that the New Hampshire Primary should be more competitive than Donald Trump's large margin in Iowa's low-turnout caucus. Just 4 of New Hampshire’s 10 counties will likely comprise 75% of the primary electorate. Dante Scala, University of New Hampshire, joins Kyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley to offer a guide to which New England hamlets offer the best clues to the outcome on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. Kyle also discusses among which key demographic groups Donald Trump did better in Iowa’s low-turnout 2024 caucus compared to 2016. Links in this episode A Roadmap for the New Hampshire GOP Primary Big...2024-01-1828 min
Politics Is EverythingFull Grassley: What We’re Watching in Iowa ft. Karen Kedrowski, Iowa State UniversityIt’s a flurry of snow and presidential campaigning in Iowa this week in the leadup to the Hawkeye state’s caucuses on Monday, January 15, 2024. Although former president Donald J. Trump continues to hold the lead in polling averages by 30+ percentage points in Iowa, candidates and campaigns are inundating the public with ads, leaflets and rallies, hoping Iowans will brave the freezing temperatures and weather conditions to caucus for them. Dr. Karen Kedrowski, Director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics at Iowa State University, joins Kyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley to discuss campa...2024-01-1027 min
Politics Is EverythingLooking Back, Looking ForwardKyle Kondik shares his new analysis on Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball that compares Trump’s approval in 2019 to Biden’s approval in 2023, the same point in each presidency. He finds that Biden’s lower approval is not driven by a higher level of antipathy from Republicans. Kyle and Carah Ong Whaley also reflect on the state of democracy and the upcoming 2024 elections. Links in this episode: Notes on the State of Politics: Dec. 13, 2023 2023-12-2024 min
Politics Is EverythingCalling Out & Addressing Threats to Democracy ft. Barbara Comstock and L.F. PayneFormer Members of Congress Barbara Comstock (Republican) and L.F. Payne (Democrat), and Alex Theodoridis (UMass) join Carah Ong Whaley and Samuel Kipps (UVA '23) to discuss the findings from a new survey on the perspectives, beliefs, and experiences of former members of Congress, with a specific focus on concerns about violence in 2024 and the differing narratives surrounding the events of January 6th. They also discuss the state of dysfunction and polarization in Congress and efforts to rebuild trust and civility in politics. Rep. Comstock is a senior adviser for the law and lobbying firm, Baker Donelson...2023-12-1240 min
Politics Is EverythingLeast Impactful Debates In American Presidential Nomination History?Kyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley discuss the December 6, 2023 Republican primary debate, Nikki Haley's moment and the broader dynamics of the race for the Republican presidential nomination, and the challenges faced by the other candidates in their attempts to attract Trump's voters. They also talk about the retirements of several members of Congress and the implications for lawmaking and upcoming elections, as well as the new congressional map in Georgia. Links in this episode: Notes on the State of Politics: Dec. 7, 2023 The GOP Primary: Lowest-Hanging Fruit Remains Out of Reach for Trump Rivals 2023-12-0722 min
Politics Is Everything'Party of the People' ft. Patrick RuffiniIn this episode, Kyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley talk with Patrick Ruffini, a Founding Partner of Echelon Insights and Republican pollster about his new book Party of the People: Inside the Multiracial Populist Coalition Remaking the GOP. The book examines an unfolding political realignment especially along class lines with implications for the 2024 elections and beyond.2023-11-2129 min
Politics Is EverythingWhat to Expect When You’re Expecting Election Results: 2023 EditionOn Tuesday, November 7, 2023 voters in several states will go to the polls to cast ballots in state and local elections. Many voters have already cast a ballot early in-person or by mail. Kyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley discuss the Crystal Ball’s mega preview of some of the key elections we are watching: gubernatorial elections in Kentucky and Mississippi; the state legislative contests in Virginia; an abortion-related ballot issue in Ohio; and a state Supreme Court race in Pennsylvania. Links in this episode: A 2023 Election Mega-Preview2023-11-0622 min
Politics Is EverythingSpoiler Alert? Third Party Wild Card & Perceptions of Women in PoliticsIn this episode, we dive into a new analysis by Kyle Kondik, Managing Editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, about where third parties run strong and where we should expect the third party vote to be meaningfully higher or lower in the most important states in the Electoral College in 2024. We also discuss the election of Representative Mike Johnson as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Carah Ong Whaley also talks with Gretchen Barton, Principal of Worthy Strategy Group, LLC, about a new study of perceptions of leadership and what it means for women in po...2023-10-261h 04
Politics Is EverythingThe Complicated Calculus of Choosing a Veep ft. Joel K. GoldsteinJoel K. Goldstein, a vice presidency scholar at St. Louis University, joins Kyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley to discuss lessons from history on vice presidential selection. Despite headlines quick to suggest that the Republican primary debates are an audition to Donald Trump’s running mate, history suggests that whoever wins the Republican presidential nomination is unlikely to choose one of their rivals for the nomination as his or her running mate. They also discuss challenges for Vice President Kamala Harris. Links in this episode: 2024 GOP Rivals Teaming Up on the Ticket? Don’t Bet on It 2023-10-1427 min
Politics Is EverythingCan AI Help Meet Voters Where They Are? Ft. Matt HodgesMatt Hodges, Executive Director of Zinc Labs at the Zinc Collective, joins Carah Ong Whaley and Ella Nelsen (UVA ‘25) to discuss the role of technology in campaigns and elections and what lawmakers should consider in frameworks governing the use of tech tools, including Generative Artificial Intelligence. Also in this episode, Kyle Kondik discusses his new analysis of how the 2024 election might be historic in that we could have a pair of presidential candidates who sweep their party nominating contests, even in spite of their weaknesses and liabilities. Links in this episode: Matt Hodges Zinc Coll...2023-10-0538 min
Politics Is EverythingEvery time you hear us, you feel a little bit smarter from what we sayIn this episode, Kyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley share takeaways from the second Republican presidential primary debate, held on September 27, 2023 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. They also talk about new analysis on the Crystal Ball by Carah and Kylie Holzman (UVA ‘26) about why the United States hasn’t had a woman president. Links in this episode: Why Haven’t We Had A Woman President? 2023-09-2927 min
Politics Is EverythingWhat’s At Stake in Virginia Legislative Elections & the Crisis Among America's Men ft. David SirotaVirginia is one of just four states — Louisiana, New Jersey, and Mississippi are the others — that hold state legislative elections in odd-numbered years. It’s entirely plausible that following the 2023 elections, Virginia could join Georgia and New Hampshire as states that have one-party state government that is different from the party that won the state in the most recent presidential election. Since Spring, Virginians’ ratings of the Governor and of the president have been relatively stable - 51% of Virginians approve of the way Youngkin is handling his job as governor and 40% approve of the way Biden is handling his job as p...2023-09-2245 min
Politics Is EverythingFlip Flops, Fact Checks & Republicans’ “Excess Seat” Edge in State Legislatures ft. Louis JacobsonIn this episode, Kyle and Carah talk with Crystal Ball Senior Columnist Louis Jacobson about his new analysis on "excess seats" in state legislatures as well as House Republicans' recently-announced impeachment inquiry into President Biden, his journalism career with PolitiFact, and much more. Louis Jacobson is the senior correspondent with PolitiFact. Previously, he served as deputy editor of Roll Call and as founding editor of its legislative wire service, CongressNow. Earlier, he spent more than a decade covering politics, policy, Congress and lobbying for National Journal magazine. He is senior author of the 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024 editions of The A...2023-09-1324 min
Politics Is EverythingNavigating Shifting Political Landscapes ft. Grace PanettaIn this episode, Grace Panetta, a political reporter at The 19th, joins Kyle Kondik, Carah Ong Whaley and Kylie Holzman to discuss several key issues for the 2024 election, including media coverage of women candidates, voter turnout, dramatic shifts in election law landscape, and ongoing threats to democracy posed by election denialism. Also, in this episode, Kyle discusses his new analysis on Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball about how the most populous counties versus the least populous counties have voted in presidential elections from 1996-2020. In 1996, Bill Clinton won both the most (by 15.7 percentage points) and least populous cou...2023-09-0731 min
Politics Is Everything‘Just a Sideshow’: What the GOP Debate Tells Us About the Republican PartyOn August 23, 2023, Republican candidates addressed questions on a range of issues facing the nation including the economy, abortion rights, and support for former President Trump even as he faces several indictments in the first presidential primary debate hosted by Fox News. Just 30 minutes into the debate, Chris LaCivita, a political consultant with the Trump campaign said the former president made the right decision to not participate and instead do his own interview with Tucker Carlson that was streamed on X (former Twitter). In this episode, Kyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley discuss the first Republican presidential primary d...2023-08-2536 min
Politics Is EverythingThe Atlas of Post-Dobbs Ballot Measures & the Power of the FEC to regulate AISince SCOTUS 2022 Dobbs ruling, seven states - California, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Ohio and Vermont - have voted on ballot measures that relate directly or indirectly to reproductive rights. Reproductive rights advocates have come out on the winning side in all seven. J. Miles Coleman discusses the first installment of his analysis on how these initiatives fared relative to other elections in Kansas, Michigan and Ohio. Dr. Craig Holman of Public Citizen also joins Carah Ong Whaley, Marina George and Keshav Hajarnavis to discuss a new public comment opportunity to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on amending...2023-08-1929 min
Politics Is EverythingA Regulatory Regime for AI? ft. Congresswoman Yvette ClarkeA new generation of generative artificial intelligence heralds a new era of campaigns and elections with the potential for disrupting democratic institutions and processes. “What we are concerned about is the weaponization of information,” says Representative Yvette Clarke (D-New York-9), who joins Carah Ong Whaley, Marina George and Keoni Vega to discuss the promise and perils of Gen AI and efforts in Congress to set up guardrails. “I'm not content with where we are. I feel an urgency to get us to where we need to be. We have the knowledge and understanding, but we don't have the regulatory regime...2023-08-1428 min
Politics Is EverythingHow the Most vs. Least Populous Counties Vote & Trump’s Third IndictmentIn this episode, Kyle Kondik discusses his new analysis of how the most populous vs. least populous counties in the United States have voted in recent presidential elections. Kyle and Carah Ong Whaley also discuss the third indictment of former president Donald J. Trump and implications for the 2024 presidential election. Links in this episode: How the Other Half Votes: The United States, Part One 2023-08-0326 min
Politics Is EverythingDwindling Crossover Governorships & 24 Hours in Charlottesville ft. Nora NeusWill the number of split partisan results between presidential and gubernatorial outcomes continue to decline in 2024? Kyle Kondik discusses the dwindling crossover governorships. We also look at “beer track vs. wine track” Republican voters, and how both tracks remain supportive of the former president in the primary despite his weak spots, with the other candidates trying to claw away from DeSantis who remains distant second. Carah Ong Whaley and Skylar Tessler also talk with Nora Neus, Emmy nominated producer, writer, freelance journalist and author of 24 Hours in Charlottesville: An Oral History of the Stand Against White Supremacy. Neus...2023-07-2836 min
Politics Is EverythingIt’s Not Just the Weather That’s Hot in Arizona: A Deep Dive Into Arizonan's Views of Elections ft. Thom ReillyIn the new Center for Politics Crystal Ball ratings for the 2024 presidential election, Arizona is just one of four initial toss-up states. In this episode, Carah Ong Whaley and Skylar Tessler talk with Thom Reilly, co-director of the Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy at Arizona State University, about a new survey of Arizonans and their views about elections and election systems. Links in this episode: Consensus and Concern in Arizona's Hot Political Climate: Voter Attitudes About Elections2023-07-2024 min
Politics Is EverythingHot Takes: Virginia Primary ElectionsThe June 20, 2023 primary elections in Virginia were the first time voters encountered the state’s new electoral maps, which were drawn under supervision of the Supreme Court of Virginia after a bipartisan panel appointed by the legislature failed to reach agreement. Kyle Kondik, J. Miles Coleman and Carah Ong Whaley discuss turnover, turnout, fundraising, key issues and what to watch in the general election later this year.2023-06-2124 min
Politics Is EverythingHow Single Member Districts Are Weakening the Foundations of American Democracy & Policy Options for Reform ft. Grant TudorFirst-past-the-post is not baked in the U.S. Constitution and single-member, winner-take-all elections have not always been a given in Congressional elections. But why did Congress mandate single-member districts for U.S. House of Representatives elections in 1967 with the passage of the 1967 Uniform Congressional District Act (UCDA)? And, could replacing current winner-take-all elections with a proportional system of representation curb political extremism and gerrymandering, restore competition to congressional races and expand opportunities for racial representation? Grant Tudor from Protect Democracy joins Kyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley to discuss the evidence from decades of research and a new report.2023-06-1231 min
Politics Is EverythingDid the Roberts Court Really Just Uphold Voting Rights? Ft. Dave DaleyLegal scholars, voting rights and racial justice advocates alike are expressing surprise at the Supreme Court’s 4-3 ruling in Allen v. Milligan on June 8, 2023 that upholds Section 2 of Voting Rights Act. The court upheld a lower court’s decision to strike down an Alabama congressional map because it discriminated against Black voters in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Dave Daley, Senior Fellow at Fair Vote, joins Kyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley to discuss the ripple effects of the ruling for representation, redistricting and the 2024 elections. David Daley is the author of “Ratf**ked: Wh...2023-06-0927 min
Politics Is EverythingWhat’s Keeping Us Up At Night About Candidate Polling ft. Natalie JacksonIn this episode, Natalie Jackson, who writes the “Leading Indicators” column at the National Journal, joins Kyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley to discuss what polling tells us about whether anyone from the crowded field of Republican presidential candidates really has a chance against Donald Trump and critiques the new debate rules the Republican National Committee released for the first debate set for August 2023. Jackson also shares her research on the role that reproductive rights played in the 2022 elections and the role it might play in 2024. Links in this episode: Herding Cats and Polls “Leading Indicators” at the Nati...2023-06-0627 min
Politics Is EverythingManufactured Crisis Averted & Radical Centrism ft. Paul HobbyOn May 31, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to increase the debt limit by a vote of 314-117, with more Democrats supporting it than Republicans. The debt limit simply allows the United States to spend money on programs that have already been authorized by Congress. However, this debt ceiling deal includes provisions to restrict non-defense spending, amends the National Environmental Policy Act, approves a controversial natural gas pipeline, ends the pause on student loan payments, and imposes work requirements on some people who receive SNAP benefits. Out of 100 members of the House Progressive Caucus, 60 voted yes and 40...2023-06-0130 min
Politics Is EverythingA Tale of Two Electorates ft. Michael Frias and Haris AqeelThe 2022 election defied conventional wisdom and historical trends. Michael Frias and Haris Aqeel with the firm Catalist join Kyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley to discuss why and share findings from a new report analyzing what happened in the 2022 midterms elections. Michael Frias is the CEO of Catalist with over twenty years combined experience in politics, state government, and the federal government. Prior to joining Catalist, Michael was at the Department of Homeland Security. Haris Aqeel is Senior Advisor at Catalist and the report lead author. He has a decade of experience in political analytics, ca...2023-05-2545 min
Politics Is EverythingWhich States Will Have the Most Important Elections Downballot in 2024?Which states will have the most important elections downballot in 2024? David Nir and David Beard, co-hosts of The Downballot, join Kyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley to share their expert insights. They also discuss how Donald Trump continues to impact candidates down ballot and what new turnout data by demographics from the Census Current Population Survey tells us about the 2022 midterm elections and how should candidates and campaigns be thinking about their approaches to different constituencies looking ahead to 2024. David Nir is the Political Director at Daily Kos and publisher of Daily Kos elections, and David Beard...2023-05-0941 min
Politics Is EverythingWhat Are the Driving Forces Behind Shifting Voting Patterns in the Midwest?What are the factors driving shifts in presidential voting patterns in the Midwest states of Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana? In this episode, Kyle Kondik provides an in-depth look at the partisan split and direction of counties in these states. Carah Ong Whaley and Kyle also discuss the high-stakes supreme court contest in Wisconsin. Links in this episode: How the Other Half Votes What to Watch for in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race A First Look at 2024 State Supreme Court Contests 2023-03-3123 min
The DownballotBlockbuster 2024 Supreme Court preview, with Carah Ong WhaleyState supreme court races are a favorite topic of ours, and there are literally dozens more on the ballot in 2024, so we're previewing the top battles with Carah Ong Whaley of the University of Virginia's Center for Politics on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast. Carah tells us how and why so much money has come to be spent on supreme court elections in recent decades before diving into next year's key contests, including several states where control is on the line, like Ohio, Michigan, and Montana. With the stakes high for redistricting reform, abortion rights, and democracy...2023-03-3050 min
Politics Is EverythingWhat Happened in Virginia Special and Wisconsin Supreme Court Elections? ft. J. Miles ColemanOn February 21, 2023, Jennifer McClellan handily won the special election to serve Virginia’s Fourth Congressional District, making her the first Black woman to represent Virginia in Congress, and Wisconsin held a primary for the most important judicial race of the year in the closely-divided state. In this episode J. Miles Coleman and Carah Ong Whaley discuss the elections and why they matter. Links in this episode: Notes on the State of Politics: February 22, 20232023-02-2220 min
Politics Is EverythingTry Before You Buy! Primaries, Primaries and More Primaries ft. Kyle KondikWhy has it been over a decade since an incumbent senator was successfully primaried in a regularly-scheduled election? Which Senators might be vulnerable to a primary challenge in 2024? What are the primaries that merit watching? How will changes in the Democratic presidential primary schedule play out? How should the Republican Party consider changes it might make to the way it nominates presidential candidates? Kyle Kondik, Managing Editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball addresses these questions and more in this episode with Carah Ong Whaley. Links in this episode: The Senate Primaries to Watch So Far Both Whi...2023-02-1632 min
Politics Is EverythingWhat Is the State of Biden’s Next Campaign? ft. Kyle KondikShould we rethink State of the Union addresses, which have become pretty formulaic? This year, President Joe Biden touted bipartisan accomplishments and focused primarily on the economy and domestic issues. He didn’t really delve into some of the cultural issues on which the parties differ, which was in stark contrast to Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ response for Republicans. Even in his discussion of policing, he centered the voices of the parents of Tyre Nicols and the talks that Black parents must have with their kids. But, President Biden also discussed the strains that law enforcement are under. What...2023-02-0926 min
Politics Is EverythingThe Importance of Defending Democracy ft. Ambassador Juan Gabriel ValdésIn Chile, a special assembly spent more than two years writing a new constitution to replace the current one that dates back to the country's military dictatorship. The proposed constitution, which some called the world’s most progressive, would have put a focus on social issues and gender parity, enshrine rights for the indigenous population, and address climate change. In September, Chilean voters rejected the proposal, and on January 11, 2023, Chile’s Congress passed a bill that starts a new process to replace the country’s Pinochet-era constitution. In this episode, His Excellency Juan Gabriel Valdés, Ambassador of Chile...2023-02-0840 min
Politics Is EverythingWhy Have Presidential and Senate Results Become More Aligned in Recent Elections? Ft. J. Miles ColemanOutcomes in the Senate races have increasingly become aligned with the presidential vote. Senate candidates frequently performed better a decade or two ago, with 40-point or more performance better than that of the presidential candidate occurring in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012. J. Miles Coleman explains this trend and what it portends for the 2024 elections. Links in this episode: The Shocking Decline of Senate Ticket-Splitting 2023-02-0323 min
Politics Is Everything2024 Senate: Democrats Have a Lot of Defending to Do ft. Kyle KondikThe Crystal Ball released its 2024 Senate Ratings this week. With 34 Senate contests, Democrats are defending 23 of these seats, while Republicans are defending just 11. That Democratic tally includes the 3 states with independents who caucus with the Democrats. In this episode, Kyle Kondik, Managing Editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, provides an overview of the initial ratings and why Democrats will be playing defense. Links in this episode: Initial Senate Ratings: Democrats Have a Lot of Defending to Do Michigan’s Open Senate Seat: Democrats’ Swing State Retirement Drought Ends2023-01-2417 min
Politics Is EverythingA First Look at 2023 & 2024 Gubernatorial Contests Ft. J. Miles ColemanJ. Miles Coleman, Associate Editor of Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball, discusses the 2023 gubernatorial elections in Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi. Kentucky has a popular Democratic governor, and Republicans will likely retain control of the executive branch in Louisiana. In Mississippi, Democrats have not won a gubernatorial contest this century, but a credible Democratic candidate joined the contest last week. Miles also shares an early forecast of 2024 gubernatorial contests and predicts that North Carolina will be the most contested election. Links in this episode: 2024 Governors Races: A First Look The 2023 Governor Races 2023-01-2022 min
Politics Is EverythingHow the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attacks Impacted Politics ft. Luke BroadwaterThe biggest impact of the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attacks was on public understanding to realize that it wasn't just a single day, says Luke Broadwater, a Congressional reporter in the Washington bureau of The New York Times. Broadwater has written hundreds of articles covering the causes and consequences of the January 6, 2021 attacks on the U.S. Capitol and the House Select Committee’s investigation. Prior to joining The Times, Luke worked for nearly a decade at The Baltimore Sun, where he covered the Maryland State House and Baltimore City Hall. He broke a stor...2023-01-1727 min
Politics Is Everything‘Our democracy is really at risk’ ft. Sandra GarzaFor the second anniversary of the violent attacks on the U.S. Capitol, we spoke with Sandra Garza, a clinical social worker, veteran, and partner of Private First Class Brian Sicknick, a U.S. Capitol Police officer who died of injuries sustained during the insurrection on January 6th, 2021. Ms. Garza shares her experiences attending the House Select Committee hearings and what more needs to be done to achieve justice and accountability. She says everybody has a responsibility to ensure this never happens again. Ms. Garza is the plaintiff on a lawsuit filed on January 5, 2023 in the United S...2023-01-0828 min
Politics Is EverythingThe Case for Justice ft. Mark S. ZaidOn the second anniversary of the January 6, 2021 attacks on the U.S. Capitol, we talk with Mark S. Zaid, an attorney with a practice focused on national security law, freedom speech, constitutional claims and government accountability. Mr. Zaid represents Sandra Garza, the partner of fallen Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, in a new lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court on January 5, 2023 against Donald J. Trump and two rioters. The lawsuit includes claims for relief for 1) wrongful death; 2) conspiracy to violate civil rights; 3) common law assault against Khater and Tanios, 4) Negligence Per Se against all defendants; 5) Aiding and...2023-01-0646 min
Politics Is EverythingMcCarthy’s Headaches & What Rebels WantThere has not been multiple ballots in a speaker election in 100 years, as Kyle Kondik wrote for the Crystal Ball earlier this week. On Thursday, January 5, Representative Kevin McCarthy of California offered new concessions to a group of conservative Republicans that have prevented him from winning the majority of votes needed to secure Speaker of the House. Mr. McCarthy has not yet been able to lock in the 218 votes he needs to win the Speakership. In the seventh, eighth, and ninth rounds of voting, held on Thursday, 20 Republicans voted for other candidates, and one voted “present.” In this...2023-01-0528 min
Politics Is EverythingWhat Were the Best and Worst Political Moments of 2022?From the authentic to the hyperconstrued, from taking serious public issues and concerns to the utterly nonsensical and absurd, Kyle Kondik, Miles Coleman and Carah Ong Whaley share what they think are the best and worst of campaign ads, campaign moments and candidate moments of the 2022 midterm elections. What made your best and worst political moments of 2022? Share them with us by email goodpolitics@virginia.edu or Tweet at us at @Center4Politics.2022-12-2122 min
Politics Is EverythingA New Era of Competitive Presidential Elections & Shifting Voting PatternsIn this episode, Kyle Kondik and Miles Coleman discuss the two eras in the Republican-Democrat two-party system that really stand out for competitiveness because of how close consecutive presidential elections were: the 6 elections between 1876-1896 and the elections in the 2000-2020 time period. They also discuss shifts in voting patterns In the 2000-2020 time period and the patterns that emerge regionally. “The most competitive states in 2020 may be the most competitive in 2024: Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin in the Great Lakes region and Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and North Carolina in the Sun Belt,” Kyle asserts. Links in this episo...2022-12-1828 min
Politics Is EverythingIs Free Speech Under Threat on Campuses?In this episode, we talk with Bradford Vivian, Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences at Penn State University and author of Campus Misinformation (Oxford University Press), about how the idea that free speech is under threat on college campuses became a core political appeal and how it has been manufactured through misinformation, distortion, and political ideology.2022-12-1322 min
Politics Is EverythingA Fighting Chance for 2024Kyle Kondik and Miles Coleman react to the Georgia Senate election, discuss House crossover districts, split ticket voting in 2022 and the Democratic Party’s 2024 primary plan. Regarding the Republican candidate quality problem, Kyle suggests that the “Senate Leadership Fund needs to take a more active role in primaries going forward if Republicans want to do well in 2024." Have a politics question or topic you want us to take up? Email it to goodpolitics@virginia.edu.2022-12-1038 min
Politics Is EverythingWhy are Americans so obsessed with fascism?Fascism has had a firm grip on the American imagination for one hundred years. “Increased polarization in the United States reflects Americans' deepest fears of what might be happening in the polity,” says Bruce Kucklick, “The disruptive politics of Donald Trump has been grist for fascism-obsessed America.” Kuklick joins us to discuss the roots of fascism in American politics and popular culture based on his new book Fascism Comes to America: A Century of Obsession in Politics and Culture (University of Chicago Press). Bruce Kucklick is the Roy F. and Jeannette P. Nichols Professor Emeritus of American History a...2022-12-0839 min
Politics Is EverythingIs Ranked Choice Voting a Cure for What Ails Politics?Are ranked choice voting and multi-member districts a cure for the hyperpartisanship and partisan extremism plaguing politics? In this episode, we talk with Rob Richie, who has been the leader of FairVote since co-founding it in 1992. Richie shares evidence for how ranked choice voting is increasing representation and opportunities for new voices and new players in politics in places where it has been adopted. Mary Peltola, who is the first Alaska native to ever serve in Congress, is one such example. As a result of the passage of ballot Measure 26-228 in the 2022 election with 58% of voters...2022-11-2535 min
Politics Is EverythingLooking Back on 2022 Elections & Looking Ahead to 2024 Elections2022 was a great year for incumbents and a lot of things did matter - candidate quality, redistricting, reproductive rights and democracy. In this episode, Kyle Kondik, Managing Editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, and Miles Coleman, Associate Editor, assess the 2022 election and why Republicans didn’t do as well as expected in an election that historically pointed to their advantage. They also discuss what divided government but narrow majorities mean for governance, and look ahead to the Georgia runoff and to 2024 elections. Links in this episode: Sabato’s Crystal Ball2022-11-2237 min
Politics Is Everything‘This is a war on democracy and democratic principles.’“This is a war on democracy and democratic principles,” Dr. Yuna Potomkina, Advisor to Ukraine Minister of Defense tells us. Armed conflict has been raging in Ukraine since early 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea. On February 24, 2022, during a last-ditch UN Security Council effort to dissuade Russia from attacking Ukraine, Vladimir Putin announced the beginning of a full-scale land, sea, and air invasion of Ukraine targeting Ukrainian military assets and cities across the country. Since then, nearly 8 million Ukrainians have been forcibly displaced. An unknown number of Ukrainian children have been forcibly separated and deported to Russia, on top of othe...2022-11-1127 min
2022 Midterms: What’s at Stake?What to Watch in the 2022 ElectionsThis episode of the series comes from the Politics is Everything podcast, hosted by Carah Ong Whaley & Kyle Kondik.The Senate is coming down to a jump ball situation. Candidates need to avoid a bad toss, and can’t miss a foul or violation. Sabato’s Crystal Ball is still projecting a Republican gain in the House in the high teens or low 20s.In this episode, we share our live discussion initially held on Twitter Spaces with resident experts Kyle Kondik, Managing Editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball and Miles Coleman, Associate Editor. We talk a...2022-11-0836 min
Politics Is EverythingWave Watch: Elections 2022The Senate is coming down to a jump ball situation. Candidates need to avoid a bad toss, and can’t miss a foul or violation. Sabato’s Crystal Ball is still projecting a Republican gain in the House in the high teens or low 20s. In this episode, we share our live discussion initially held on Twitter Spaces with resident experts Kyle Kondik, Managing Editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball and Miles Coleman, Associate Editor. We talk about our latest projections, what to watch, and the state of play in key Senate, House and Gubernatorial races in the fi...2022-11-0536 min
Politics Is EverythingA Pumpkin Year for Democrats?Kyle Kondik discusses changes in Sabato’s Crystal Ball ratings to favor Republicans and he predicts the GOP will take control of the House of Representatives following the 2022 midterm elections. The Crystal Ball says the Senate remains a toss-up. We also talk about how the political environment matters and what to watch in the final week leading up to Election Day 2022. Links in this episode: Larry Sabato's Crytal Ball 2022-10-2717 min
Politics Is Everything'Democracy hangs there by a thread.' ft. Clint Hill & Lisa McCubbin Hill“Democracy hangs there by a thread really,” Clint Hill says on this episode of Politics Is Everything. “It hangs there by the will of the people. Without the agreement of the people to live by those circumstances, it will not exist. When it has been jeopardized by individuals, or groups or power mongers, it’s very difficult to watch if you’re one of those like myself who accepts the wonders of democracy. Democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people. And it is fragile. It can go either way. We must be careful.” Clint...2022-10-2535 min
Politics Is Everything‘Disagreement is healthy.’ ft. David Ramadan“Partisanship has become a problem on a personal level,” says Dr. David Ramadan, a Republican who served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2012 to 2016 in “one of the most Democratic districts in the entire Commonwealth.” Dr. Ramadan discusses ways to reduce extremism in both parties. Dr. Ramadan is the Vice President of an innovative EdTech leader, Noodle, the world’s fastest-growing online and lifelong knowledge network of universities, corporations, and learners. He is also an adjunct professor at George Mason University (his alma mater) and is a 2022-23 scholar at the Center for Politics.2022-10-2127 min
Politics Is Everything'The Only Way Anything Gets Better Is if You Lean In' ft. Margaret BrennanMargaret Brennan, moderator of "Face The Nation” on CBS and the network's chief foreign affairs correspondent based in Washington, D.C. joins us to discuss the crisis in confidence in the media and political institutions, and the importance of leaning in to fix the challenges facing our democracy and society. Brennan says we need to be paying more attention to what is happening around the world as “We are literally seeing the foundations of the global order shaken.” Links in this episode: Face the Nation2022-10-2027 min
Politics Is EverythingHow many seats will Republicans end up with in the House of Representatives?In this episode, Larry Sabato, Director of the Center for Politics, and Kyle Kondik, Managing Editor of the Crystal Ball, place the 2022 election in historical context, discuss which races are the hardest to predict and address the state of play as we head into the final three weeks of what is slated to be the most expensive election on record. Links in this episode: Sabato’s Crystal Ball 2022-10-1926 min
Politics Is EverythingWhat's Happening with Four Weeks Until Election Day 2022?It’s just four weeks until the last day to vote, a.k.a. Election Day 2022. What’s happening that may be affecting the electoral environment now that people are playing closer attention to the elections? Kyle Kondik and Carah Ong Whaley discuss ads, the prospect for women candidates, and ballot measures, and they answer listener questions. Links in this episode: Sabato's Crystal Ball 2022-10-1132 minPolitics Is EverythingCan we regain the ability to come back together after elections?“Everything has changed,” says CNN political contributor and Center for Politics scholar Paul Begala about campaigns and elections since he was the senior strategist for Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign. “Partisanship is now part of our identity and social media has really put jet fuel behind all the fissures in our society…Elections have always been about dividing. We’re losing the ability to come back together afterward.” We talk with Mr. Begala about the changing nature of political campaigns, the 2022 elections, political organizing, Texas politics, the Democratic Party and more. Links in this episode: About Paul...2022-10-0634 min
Politics Is EverythingOutside Spending, Rating Changes & Ads...Oh My!The cost of elections is on the rise. Adjusted for inflation, the 2022 congressional elections are set to cost $9.3 billion dollars, compared to $6.7 billion in 2018, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics. And the average cost to win a seat has doubled since 2004. In this episode Kyle Kondik shares his outside spending analysis, where outside spending is targeted and how outside spending is influencing his assessment of races. Kyle and Miles Coleman also discuss updated Sabato’s Crystal Ball House and Gubernatorial ratings and what political ads tell us about some key races. Links in this Ep...2022-10-0424 min
Politics Is Everything'What an Injustice' ft. Senator Tim KaineSenator Tim Kaine joined the Center for Politics on September 23, 2022 to honor law enforcement who defended the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021 for the first annual Defender of Democracy Awards. The J6 insurrection interrupted the proceedings of the House and Senate as they met to fulfill their Constitutionally prescribed duty to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election and forced members to evacuate to safe locations, including Senator Kaine. Senator Kaine recalled his reaction on January 6 as he was hunkered down in the Capitol with other Senators and staff and seeing Virginia State Troopers arrive on the s...2022-09-3019 min
Politics Is EverythingHello, 2022: 1978 and 1982 Are CallingSabato’s Crystal Ball has been tracking how 2022 is different from previous midterm elections years when the party that holds the White House is often punished. The 2022 midterm elections features both an unpopular president and there are also indications that the unpopular president’s party won’t be strongly punished. In this episode, Kyle Kondik discusses how echoes of the 1978 and 1982 midterm elections may be reverberating in 2022. Links in this episode: https://www.opensecrets.org/outside-spending/outvscand https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/senate-class-population-imbalance/ 2022-09-2722 minPolitics Is Everything'I was just simply doing my job.' ft. Sergeant Aquilino GonellOn Friday, September 23, the Center for Politics honored and recognized all of the police officers, state troopers, national guard, firefighters, and emergency responders who protected members of the U.S. Congress, their staff, journalists and other public servants at the Capitol on January 6, 2021 as the legislative branch of America’s democracy carried out the Constitutionally prescribed certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election. In this episode, we talk with one of the recipients of the award, U.S. Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell. Sergeant Gonell served in Iraq with the U.S. Army during Operation Iraqi Fr...2022-09-2626 minPolitics Is EverythingWhy Is the U.S. Constitution in Jeopardy?Activists have been campaigning behind the scenes for years now to change the U.S. Constitution to limit the federal government, with implications for education, health care and the environment. In this episode, we talk with former Senator Russ Feingold, President of the American Constitution Society, and Peter Prindiville, a non-resident fellow at the Stanford Constitutional Law Center about their new book, The Constitution in Jeopardy. Feingold and Prindiville trace the origins and developments of Article V of the U.S. Constitution and its provision and the ways in which it embodies an underappreciated tension that the...2022-09-2249 min
Politics Is EverythingMaking Complex News Clear ft. Robert CostaRobert Costa, chief election and campaign correspondent for CBS News and a scholar at the Center for Politics this academic year, shares his approach to covering campaigns, elections and politics to help the public make sense of the complex issues facing the nation. “It can become a blizzard that's hard to follow," says Costa, "You have to report deeply and you want to break news...Unless it's breaking ground on the biggest players, it's important, but not THE story." Links in this episode: Peril Watergate at 50: The political scandal that changed Washington Rep. Liz Cheney Speaks joi...2022-09-1735 minPolitics Is EverythingAre Republican Chances for the Midterm Underrated?There’s been some mixed electoral indicators - including the recent rise in President Biden’s job approval rating and Democrats doing better in the generic ballot - that are making the 2022 elections more challenging to analyze. Henry Olsen, Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and Washington Post columnist joins us to discuss why the Republicans are now being underrated, including through persistent and unaddressed biases in survey research, and what that means for the 2022 elections. “We should be very careful when we’re looking at state-level polling,” says Olsen. Links in this episode: Ethics...2022-09-1219 minPolitics Is EverythingHouse Ratings: 'What the hell’s going on out here?'Kyle Kondik, Managing Editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the Center for Politics, talks about redistricting, the special election in Alaska and new ratings for House of Representative seats. Links in this episode: Notes on the State of Politics: Sept. 7, 2022, https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/notes-on-the-state-of-politics-sept-7-2022/ 2022-09-0720 minPolitics Is EverythingWhere Have Trump's Endorsements Mattered and Why? ft. Leah AskarinamIn August, Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY) became the seventh House Republican to fall to a Donald Trump-backed challenger since 2018. Rep. Cheney has taken a prominent role in calling for accountability for the January 6, 2021 insurrection and calling out false election narratives. In this episode, we talk with Leah Askarinam, senior editor at Grid News, about the extent to which and where have Mr. Trump’s endorsements mattered in the 2022 election and why. “Trump undoubtedly is the most powerful endorser in the Republican Party, but even that has its limits,” says Askarinam. Askarinam also discusses the role of candidate quality, the impact...2022-09-0625 minPolitics Is EverythingHow Has the Political Environment Changed & What Does It Portend for Senate Races?In Sabato’s Crystal Ball this week, Kyle Kondik and J. Miles Coleman write that Democrats are hoping to make the 2022 election more of a choice than a referendum. Democrats are benefiting from some damaged Republican candidates in several key races as well as the emergence of abortion as a key issue in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. In this episode, they discuss how the political environment has changed and what it portends for Senate races. Links in this episode: Larry Sabato’s Crystal Ball: https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/ Election Spending Overview, Center fo...2022-08-3022 minPolitics Is EverythingWhat Would American Democracy Look Like If Everyone Participated?What would American democracy look like if everyone participated? Americans turned out to vote in record numbers in the 2020 presidential election and turnout has been on the rise in other recent elections. However, voter turnout in the United States still lags behind other countries. In this episode, we discuss 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting with co-authors Miles Rapoport, executive director of 100% Democracy: An Initiative for Universal Voting and the Senior Practice Fellow in American Democracy at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the Harvard Kennedy School, and E.J. Dionne, Jr. senior fellow at the B...2022-08-2949 minPolitics Is EverythingIs Ticket Splitting Still Alive?In the lead up to the 2020 election, the Pew Research Center asked voters whether they would split their ticket, that is to select a Republican for one office and a Democrat for another. Just 4% of registered voters said they would do so. Less than four percent of members of the House of Representatives (16 of 435) represent districts that voted for the opposing party’s presidential nominee in 2020. At the state level, 90 percent of state Senate and state House districts around the country voted for the same party for president as they did for the legislature. In 2022, six states - Alabama, In...2022-08-2427 minPolitics Is EverythingCan We Fix the Rage Machine? Ft. Tim Miller?Tim Miller is an MSNBC analyst, writer-at-large at The Bulwark, and the host of "Not My Party" on Snapchat. Tim was communications director for Jeb Bush’s 2016 presidential campaign and spokesman for the Republican National Committee during Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign. He has since left the GOP and become one of the leaders of the “Never Trump” movement. He is author of Why We Did It: A Travelogue from the Republican Road to Hell that aims to explain why Washington DC politicos who knew better went along with Trump and he joins us on Politics is Everything to discuss his book...2022-08-1746 minPolitics Is EverythingWhat's at Stake in Gubernatorial Elections?The president’s party has lost governorships in 16 of the 19 midterm elections since World War II. In this episode, Kyle Kondik, Managing Editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball discusses the most competitive gubernatorial races in 2022. He shares how a variety of factors - including presidential approval, incumbency, the state of economy and other issues, the year in which gubernatorial elections are held - converge to shape the outcome of gubernatorial elections. Links in this episode: https://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/ 2022-08-1724 minPolitics Is EverythingDoes Political Experience Matter?The difference in experience among Senate candidates is one of the story lines Kyle Kondik, Managing Editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball, is following in the 2022 midterm elections. As a group, Republican Senate (and gubernatorial) candidates have less experience running for office and than do Democratic candidates on the slate this election. How will candidate experience and qualities impact election outcomes? Also in this episode, Ahmed, a student who participated in the Center’s Global Perspectives in Democracy Program, shares about his experience in the United States this summer and his views on democracy in Iraq. Lin...2022-08-1027 minPolitics Is EverythingIntroducing Politics Is EverythingIntroducing Politics is Everything, a new podcast from the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. 2022-08-0800 min
Red, White, and ConfusedThe Decline and Importance of Civic EducationIf you have been paying attention to politics on television or online, you might be thinking that we have a huge civics knowledge gap in America. From politicians saying things that are just not true about our government, to your friends and family repeating those claims on social media – the question we will discuss on today's show is whether we have a civics education crisis in America. If we do – what can we do about it? Join me as I discuss this topic with four guests: Lauren Bell (Randolph-Macon College), John Forren (Miami University), Katherine Robiadek (Hood Colle...2022-08-0429 min
The Democracy GroupDialogue, Polarization, & the Future of the American Experiment | TDG Event SeriesFor nearly 250 years, America has served as a test case for a social experiment that few could have ever conceived of — a constitutional federal republic. However, when one considers our history of massacres, slavery, civil war, and battles waged over voting rights, among other injustices, one can easily find reason to be doubtful of this experiment’s success. Given current levels of political polarization, it can seem naïve to think of America as a “done deal”. But, before we acquiesce to a failed experiment, let’s consider the role of dialogue in shaping our American experiment and how it might be...2022-01-141h 00The Democracy GroupDemocracy's Crises and Failure of Imagination | TDG Event SeriesA recording and transcripts of this event are available at democracygroup.org.HostJenna SpinelleFounder, The Democracy GroupGuestsLee DrutmanCo-Host, Politics in QuestionTuri MuntheHost, On OpinionCarah Ong WhaleyCo-Host, Democracy Matters
2021-07-2357 min
Democracy WorksWalter Shaub on transparency, ethics, and democracyCan transparency, oversight, ethics and accountability save American democracy? What can Congress do to create lasting ethics reforms? How would the For the People Act change ethics rules for the legislative, judicial, and executive branches of the U.S. government and are the changes enough? How can the Office of Government Ethics and Office of the Inspector General contribute to democratic accountability? How can Congress get a toe hold into reigning in presidential power?In this episode of the Democracy Matters podcast from the JMU Center for Civic Engagement, hosts Abe Goldberg, Carah Ong Whaley, and Angelina C...2021-07-1949 min
Democracy WorksDemocracy as a way of lifeWe live in an era defined by a sense of separation, even in the midst of networked connectivity. As cultural climates sour and political division spreads, our guest this week suggests there is no better time to reconsider ideas of unity in democracy.In his book, The Ethics of Oneness, Jeremy David Engels argues that if the lessons of oneness are taken to heart, particularly as they were expressed and celebrated by Whitman, and the ethical challenges of oneness considered seriously, it is possible to counter the pervasive and problematic American ideals of hierarchy, exclusion, violence, and...2021-06-2832 min
James Madison Center for Civic Engagement: Democracy MattersEpisode 50: 'Democracy Is an Act'In an essay published posthumously, civil rights icon and Member of Congress John Lewis, wrote, "Democracy Is Not A State. It Is An Act." The team at the James Madison Center for Civic Engagement reflects on 2020 and our nonpartisan efforts to promote informed electoral participation, ensure a complete count in the 2020 Census and create opportunities for people to learn about and take on action on the problems they care about most. The team also shares what more they would do to strengthen democracy. 2020 Team: Abe Goldberg, Carah Ong Whaley, Logan Zeigler, Angelina Clapp, Diego Salinas, Sarah Gully, Emily Baker...2021-01-041h 05The Democracy GroupCivic Engagement, Social Distancing, and Democracy Reform“COVID, the pandemic … has really brought to bear not just the inequities and the inequalities, but also the necessity to have a much more active sense of democracy as a verb — democracy as an action that we can all be part of.”-Juleyka Lantigua-Williams, 70 MillionHostRichard DaviesCo-host, How Do We Fix It?@DaviesNowGuestsMila AtmosHost, Future Hindsight@milaatmosJuleyka Lantigua-Williams, Founder and CEO of Lantigua-Williams and Co.Creator and Executive Producer, 70 Million@JuleykaLantiguaCarah Ong-Whaley, Associat...2020-07-2837 min
Higher Ed Socialcarah ong whaley & ending systemic racismWhile a lot of colleges and universities talk about ending racism and inequality on their campuses, Carah Ong Whaley and her team at JMU dove headfirst into taking action. Carah is Associate Director of the Center for Civic Engagement, which has put together weekly virtual discussions on topics related to racism, policing, and more. She is also part of an effort to rename JMU buildings currently named for well-known racists in history. As you’ll hear, she’s active in both the #JMUchangethenames social media campaign and working behind the scenes with university leaders.
We recorded this episode on June 18. Stay...2020-06-2636 min
Future HindsightCivic Engagement, Social Distancing, and Democracy ReformRecently, Mila sat down with other podcast hosts from our podcast network The Democracy Group, to discuss the impact COVID-19 is having on our democracy, vulnerable populations, and more. “COVID, the pandemic … has really brought to bear not just the inequities and the inequalities, but also the necessity to have a much more active sense of democracy as a verb — democracy as an action that we can all be part of.” — Juleyka Lantigua-Williams, 70 Million Host: Richard Davies, Co-host, How Do We Fix It? @DaviesNow Guests: Mila Atmos, Host, Future Hindsight @milaatmos2020-05-0437 minDemocracy WorksBonus: Civic engagement, social distancing, and democracy reformDemocracy is very much a group activity. Inside, we come together to debate, discuss, do the work of government, and make laws. Outside, we protest and hold rallies. But much of this is not possible. Social distancing presents a tremendous challenge. In this episode from The Democracy Group podcast network, we look at the barriers and the opportunities as we all deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“COVID, the pandemic … has really brought to bear not just the inequities and the inequalities, but also the necessity to have a much more active sense of democracy as a verb...2020-05-0137 min
The Rural Health VoiceRHV: 18 US CensusWhat can you do to make sure tax dollars and other resources are allocated to your community? Join my conversation with Dr. Carah Ong Whaley, Associate Director at the James Madison University Center for Civic Engagement. Undercounted is underfunded, under represented, and under resourced. The 2020 Census is your opportunity to make sure everyone counts!
Virginia Complete Count Commission
US Census Bureau
Outreach materials and community toolkits2019-07-0525 min