Ken Rudin's Political Junkie

We preview two big elections that will be decided on Tuesday.  Al Cross analyzes the gubernatorial contest in ruby red Kentucky, where Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, running on his record and support for reproductive rights, is thought to be favored against state Attorney General Daniel Cameron, a black Republican who is a protege of Mitch McConnell and endorsed by Donald Trump.  And in Virginia, b...

The House took some three weeks following the ouster of Kevin McCarthy, but there is a new Speaker:  Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana.  We follow the road to victory and discuss Donald Trump’s self-proclaimed role of kingmaker. In addition: — We talk to Paul Horcher , who as an independent Republican assemblyman from California in 1994 decided to bolt his party and vote for Democr...

KQED’s Scott Shafer talks of the trailblazing career of Dianne Feinstein, the longtime California senator who died last month at 90. And we watch history in the making as Kevin McCarthy is ousted as Speaker of the House, the first time that had ever happened. Music in this episode: You Don’t Move Me by Keith Richards Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) by Kelly Clarkson   The p...

Republican strategist Mike Murphy gives Mitt Romney high marks for his candid “exit interview” from the Senate.  He also sings reluctant praise for Nikki Haley, expresses his disappointment with Tim Scott, and sets up this week’s second GOP debate. And Jack Pitney of Claremont McKenna College explains what’s behind Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s decision to launch an impeac...

The political world lost two friends of the Political Junkie in recent days, New Mexico Democrat Bill Richardson and New Hampshire Republican Gerald Carmen .  We celebrate them both this week, replaying conversations we had with them years ago. Music in this episode: San Francisco by Scott McKenzie The Way We Were by Barbra Streisand The post Episode #401: From The Archives, Gone, But Not Forgotte...

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan gives his review of Wednesday’s Republican debate, talks about his plans for the future, and remembers back to his father’s courageous decision to back the impeachment of President Nixon in 1974. PLUS:  Winners and losers of the GOP debate. Music in this week’s episode: So Begins the Task by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Stand! by Sly and the F...

The alarming freeze of Mitch McConnell and the seeming deterioration of Dianne Feinstein have put a new focus on not only the health of two key members of the Senate but on the politics of the body as well.  Carl Hulse of the New York Times talks about the jockeying behind the scenes on the GOP side and the mixed emotions about Feinstein’s future on the Dem side. Plus:  Yet another Trump ind...

Republican strategist Vin Weber gives us the inside scoop of Kevin McCarthy’s ultimately successful bid to become Speaker of the House.  Former RNC chair Michael Steele sets up this month’s election for his old job, as incumbent Ronna McDaniel faces strong opposition to her bid for a fourth term.  And Lou D’Allesandro , a leading New Hampshire Democrat, talks of his disappointmen...

Carl Hulse of the New York Times talks about the decision by Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema to switch from the Democratic Party and become an independent.  He also talks about other famous Senate party switches — Arlen Specter, Joe Lieberman and Jim Jeffords — and how their decisions affected their careers. And Jack Pitney of Claremont McKenna College sizes up the problems facing Californ...

Greg Bluestein of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution sets up next week’s Georgia Senate runoff between Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker.  Regardless of the outcome, Democrats are assured of control of the Senate. PLUS:  Trump’s “My Dinner with Bigots.” Music heard in this week’s episode: Brain Damage by Pink Floyd Let Me In...

The votes were still being counted but the news was being made elsewhere.  Donald Trump announced his candidacy but then was hit with two bombshells:  The Justice Department named a special counsel to investigate the national security documents he took to Mar-a-Lago and his role in the January 6th insurrection, AND the Supreme Court said his tax returns can be released to the Democratic-controlled...

Debbie Walsh , the director of the Center for American Women and Politics, discusses the number of women running in next week’s elections, and what it might — or might not — say about the future of reproductive rights. We go back into the archives for an interview with Bill Salisbury , a longtime reporter with the St. Paul Pioneer Press who covered the political career of Sen. Pa...

Jonathan Tamari of the Philadelphia Inquirer lays out the Pennsylvania Senate race between Mehmet Oz, the Republican nominee, and John Fetterman, the Democratic candidate.  Fetterman was thought to have a sizable lead for most of the year but the GOP has come back, nationally and in the Keystone State, by attacking Democrats as soft on crime.  In Pennsylvania, it may be working. And Jacob Rubashki...

Greg Bluestein of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports on the myriad of controversies and alleged scandals surrounding Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker.  The latest — reports that the anti-abortion Republican paid for an ex-girlfriend’s abortion — would suggest that his challenge to Democratic incumbent Rafael Warnock is in jeopardy.  But Republicans are sticking with...

We talk to our old pal Alan Simpson , the former Wyoming senator, who talks about his long relationship with Liz Cheney, the congresswoman who is in danger of losing her primary on August 16th.  Simpson says that even if she loses, we will not have heard the last from her. PLUS:  The FBI raid at Mar-a-Lago and the political firestorm that erupted in its aftermath. Music in this Episode: Hard Heade...

The political future of two well-known Republican women — Liz Cheney and Sarah Palin — will be determined by the voters next month.  The August 16th primaries in Wyoming and Alaska may end the careers of both President Trump’s strongest critic as well as the first and only female GOP running mate in history.  We speak with Rodger McDanie l , a longtime Wyoming Democrat who was hi...

A quick review of the first installment of the January 6th committee’s hearings to learn what exactly happened in the time leading up to the insurrection — what Donald Trump and his co-conspirators knew and did — as well as the motivations of the mob that broke into the Capitol. The post Episode #389: The Facts Are There. Is Anyone Listening? appeared first on Ken Rudin's Po...

A quick look at the primaries at stake on May 17th.  Most eyes will be on Pennsylvania , where Donald Trump has put his weight behind Dr. Mehmet Oz, and in North Carolina , where Rep. Madison Cawthorn’s bizarre behavior may finally be too much for Republican voters. The post Episode #388: Is Trump The Wizard For Oz? And Whither Cawthorn? appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie .

Claremont McKenna College professor Jack Pitney talks about the power of Donald Trump endorsements, which propels many — but not all — candidates to victory. Greg Bluestein of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution sets the stage for the May 24 primaries in Georgia, which is holding key contests for governor, senator and secretary of state.  It’s another state where Trump’s endor...

Journalist Tom Fiedler reports on the latest antic of freshman Rep. Madison Cawthorn, a North Carolina Republican with a history of embellishing stories and staying in the news and who may have gone too far by suggesting that some of his fellow Republicans may have partaken in sex orgies and cocaine snorting.  Despite Donald Trump’s endorsement, he faces a tough fight in the May 17 primary....

Liz Ruskin of Alaska Public Media reports on the death of Rep. Don Young, the senior member of Congress and the longest serving Republican in congressional history. Howard Wilkinson of radio station WVXU recaps the zany Ohio Republican Senate debate that nearly turned into a fistfight and sets up the Ohio 3rd GOP primary for the seat of the retiring Rob Portman (R). Plus, we share our exasperation...

Mo Elleithee , a longtime Democratic Party insider and member of the DNC’s Rules and Bylaws Committee, talks about plans to rewrite the presidential primary calendar for 2024 — a calendar that may dislodge Iowa from its long held leadoff spot. Randy Krehbiel , a political reporter with the Tulsa World , discusses the upcoming resignation of Sen. James Inhofe (R) and who may succeed him...

Ross Ramsey of the Texas Tribune sets up Tuesday’s primaries, the first in the nation.  GOP Gov. Greg Abbott is all but assured of renomination, and will likely face Democrat Beto O’Rourke in November.  But the main battle on March 1st is the Republican primary for state attorney general.  Incumbent Ken Paxton is facing three challengers: former state Supreme Court Justice Eva Guzman,...

With the Senate tied at 50-50 and a crucial Supreme Court confirmation vote coming up, the last thing the Democrats wanted, politically, was to see one of its own, New Mexico’s Ben Ray Lujan, sent to the hospital with a stroke.  New Mexico political blogger Joe Monahan sums up the dilemma facing a party that can’t afford to lose even one of its members. And Joel Goldstein , a preeminen...

With Democrats holding on to their Senate majority until the rest of the year, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer announced his resignation this week, subject to the confirmation of his successor.   Robert Barnes , the Court correspondent for the Washington Post, notes the tremendous pressure Breyer was under by liberals to quit, lest the left wind up in the same position they were in 2020 &#821...