Trial Balloon - Free Version

Corruption in the “Greatest City in the World.” And who are these "undecided" voters?  Links we discussed:  Eric Adams Indicted The Undecided Voters Who Could Decide the Election Kamala Harris Casts Herself as Pro-Business Pragmatist Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter Trial Balloon Live

Trump threatens to prosecute his political rivals... Why even a felony conviction won't upend this race... And does the bully pulpit still exist? Links we discussed: Trump Says He Has ‘Every Right’ to Prosecute His Rivals Even a Felony Conviction Likely Won’t Upend This Race Trump’s Vows Put Rule of Law on the Ballot How Much More Warning Do Voters Need? Democrats Must Make Trump’s Guilty Verdict...

The Trump trial and the split screen campaign. And Mike Johnson's power is backed by Democrats.  Links we discussed: The Split Screen for the Next 6 Weeks Trump Is Already Testifying Trump Is a Pretty Weak Strongman Being Stuck in a Courtroom Is Just What Trump Needed   Chaos and Oppression Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter

Arizona's abortion ruling is a disaster for Trump and Republicans. Stubborn inflation is a problem for Biden and Democrats. Can red states knock Biden off the ballot? Links we discussed Trump Flails on Abortion Fed May Not Cut Interest Rates This Year Red States Threaten to Keep Biden Off the Ballot Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter

Does watching Fox News make you less informed? Could the House flip to Democratic control? Does RFK Jr. hurt Biden or Trump more? Links we discussed Those Who Don’t Watch Fox Less Likely to Vote for Trump Democrats Need to Be Ready If GOP Loses Control Biden Holds Small Lead Nationally RFK Jr. the Spoiler Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter

Which set of candidates were worse — 2016 or 2024? What do the polls really say eight months before the election? Does RFK Jr. matter? Links we discussed There’s Plenty of Time for Biden to Catch Up Democracy Dies In Trumpian Boredom Why RFK Jr. Should Hurt Trump More Than Biden Democrats Go to War Against Third Party Candidates Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's News...

The Trumpification of the Republican Party is now complete. Links we discussed Mitch McConnell’s Legacy Is Donald Trump Mitch McConnell Surrenders to Trump McConnell to Step Down as GOP Leader Trump Pushes Steve Daines to Run for Senate GOP Leader John Thune Soft Launches Bid for Senate GOP Leader Cornyn Talked to Trump About Running for Senate Leader Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political W...

No one is replacing Biden on the ticket. Trump takes over the RNC. Democrats get a big win on Long Island.  Links we discussed One in Five Believe Taylor Swift Conspiracy Replacing Biden Why Trump Needs to Take Over the RNC So Quickly Jon Stewart Returns Biden Campaign Joins TikTok Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter

Trial Balloon celebrates its first year with Taylor Swift. And then we unpack how Joe Biden was handed a gift by Republicans on immigration.  Links we discussed Taylor Swift (The GOP’s Version) Lankford’s Make-or-Break Moment on the Border Quote of the Day Biden Campaign Builds Big Fundraising Lead Why Trump Needs Nikki Haley Out Now Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's...

Is Donald Trump rolling to the White House or is he in trouble? Democracy and immigration are the toughest issues. Links we discussed Can Anyone Stop Trump’s March to the Nomination? Trump Could Wrap Up Nomination By End of February Even the Battle for Second Turned Out Well for Trump Trump Holds Solid Lead Over Biden in Georgia Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's News...

Should Democrats try to disqualify Trump from the ballot? Or will it backfire? Links we discussed: Trump Set to Appeal 14th Amendment Cases Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter

Trump's eligibility in question. Rudy's moral bankruptcy leads to his financial bankruptcy. It's too early to worry about the horse race polls.  Links we discussed: The Immediate Impact of the Colorado Ruling What Do Biden’s Poor Numbers Really Mean? Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter

The House GOP's majority shrinks further. Donald Trump knew exactly what he was saying. Nikki Haley is number two.  Links we discussed: The Inflation Disconnect Scared of Chris Christie Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter

We discuss Biden's chances, Trump's retribution, flipping congressmen, ranked choice voting, and our friend in Copenhagen. Some links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter

What the 2023 off-year elections mean for 2024. And what Joe Manchin not running for re-election means for Joe Biden. Links we discussed: The Polls Weren’t That Bad The Road to 2024 An Off-Year Blue Wave Who Knew Taking Away Rights Was So Unpopular? Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter

Republicans finally settle on a House Speaker but he wasn't really vetted. Meanwhile, Trump's co-defendants are flipping. Links we discussed: The House Considers Mike Johnson Mike Johnson Is Trump’s Perfect Speaker The Speaker Candidates to Watch Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter

The political realities of the terrorist attack on Israel and it's not your father's Republican party anymore. Links we discussed: Father Strips Down at School Board Meeting The Politics of Israel’s Response Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter

Republicans running for president have a debate train wreck while Republicans in the House are about to shut down the government. Links we discussed: Republican Math Reaction to the Second Republican Debate Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire -- Get 20% off an Annual Membership Chris Riback's Newsletter

Kevin McCarthy struggles to hang onto his job, while Mitt Romney quits his.  Links we discussed: Romney Lets Loose in Exit Interview Impeachment Probe Changes McCarthy’s Math McCarthy Dares Conservatives to Oust Him Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter

Mitch McConnell’s second freeze means age may be an even bigger factor in next year’s election. Links we discussed: Mark Thompson Helped Steady 2 News Outlets. Can He Do the Same at CNN? Capitol Physician Clears McConnell to Do Job Feinstein Silent in Her Sad and Messy Final Chapter Biden’s Age vs. Trump’s Crimes Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter

We answer some of your questions.   Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter  

How the latest Trump indictment changes the presidential race. A few links we discussed: Donald Trump Indicted Again We’re Headed for a One Issue Election My Takeaways from Today’s Indictment  Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter  

As the indictments pile up for Trump, we discuss the possible alternatives for the Republican presidential nomination. A few links we discussed: Trump Blots Out the Sun Again Tim Scott Ramps Up Fundraising  Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter  

Are the Hunter Biden allegations like the Steele Dossier? What are the contingency plans if Biden (or Trump) is incapacitated before the convention? And remembering Lowell Weicker, the original maverick politician from Connecticut. A few links we discussed: Remembering Lowell Weicker  Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter   Politics Extra

Abortion is now a huge liability for Republicans but a third party presidential candidate could be a huge liability for Democrats. A few links we discussed: Abortion Remains a Potent Issue for Pro-Choice Voters Most Say Repeal of Abortion Rights Bad for Country Major Anti-Abortion Group Pushes National Ban Mislabeled Jill Stein Managing Cornel West’s Campaign  Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Po...