Episodes

  • ‘It’s Up to the Women’

    ‘It’s Up to the Women’
    Nov 1 2024
    Polls show the divide in how American men and women vote could be bigger than ever this year—and longtime Democratic strategist and pollster Celinda Lake thinks the outcome of this race will be up to the women. She joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to discuss what she calls this election’s “gender chasm” that’s given former President Donald Trump the edge with men and Vice President Kamala Harris the advantage with women. They discuss why the gender gap exists—and if it’s here to stay. She also explains how Democrats are reaching women who might be interested in voting for Harris but are hesitant to vote differently from their Trump-supporting husbands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    23 mins
  • The ‘Mind-blowing’ Thing About This Year’s Polls

    The ‘Mind-blowing’ Thing About This Year’s Polls
    Oct 25 2024
    The days before an election always bring uncertainty, but that’s especially true this year, with polls showing a near deadlock between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. This week, Republican pollster and CNN Political Commentator Kristen Soltis Anderson joins CNN Political Director David Chalian. They discuss the ever-changing electorate, what makes this year’s polling unique and why she thinks it’s “irresponsible” to make any predictions right now about what will happen on Election Day. Plus, she explains the two X-factors pollsters could have miscalculated this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • Are We Prepared for Election Day?

    Are We Prepared for Election Day?
    Oct 18 2024
    Early in-person voting started this week in Georgia and North Carolina, and it won’t be long until voters nationwide are lining up at polling places on November 5. So, do election officials feel ready? CNN Political Correspondent Sara Murray has been reporting on how communities across the country are preparing for Election Day. She joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to discuss what election officials are doing to combat disinformation and avoid repeating problems from 2020. They also discuss the “neighborhood fights” playing out in Wisconsin over ballot drop boxes and why you shouldn’t be surprised if tallying votes in Pennsylvania takes a long time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • The Two Things That Will Decide The Election

    The Two Things That Will Decide The Election
    Oct 11 2024
    Election Day is just a little over three weeks away, and there’s still no clear leader in this race. With Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump still neck-and-neck, all eyes are on the battleground states. Doug Sosnik is a longtime Democratic strategist who’s known for his deep-dive political memos. He joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to share his insights on the current state of play and why he thinks the next 25 days are all about Harris’ ability to close the deal with voters who may not feel naturally aligned with her. He also explains why this election could yield the biggest gender gap in American political history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    28 mins
  • Masculinity on the Ballot

    Masculinity on the Ballot
    Oct 4 2024
    This could be a historic election when it comes to the gender gap. Women have strongly supported Vice President Kamala Harris while former President Donald Trump holds a significant advantage with men. And while women’s rights have been front-and-center in this election, the race has also raised questions about masculinity and male voters. Richard Reeves is the founding president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, a think tank that does non-partisan research on the wellbeing of boys and men in the US. He joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to discuss the different models of American manhood on display in the race and why he thinks some male voters are feeling “politically homeless” during this election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    28 mins
  • The Gen Z Voter Vibe Shift

    The Gen Z Voter Vibe Shift
    Sep 27 2024
    Earlier this year, enthusiasm for a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump was low with Gen Z voters. It looked unlikely young voters would repeat their record turnout from 2020. But, there are signs of renewed excitement amongst the 18-to-29-year-old set with Vice President Kamala Harris at the top of the ticket. A new Harvard Youth Poll this week showed that shift, with Harris commanding a 31-point lead among likely voters under 30. John Della Volpe is the director of polling at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics. He joins CNN Political Director David Chalian to talk about Gen Z voters. They discuss the enthusiasm gap between young Democrats and young Republicans, how memes influenced Gen Z’s perceptions of Harris and a somewhat surprising issue that polls well with young voters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • What the Candidates’ Plans Could Mean for the Economy

    What the Candidates’ Plans Could Mean for the Economy
    Sep 20 2024
    This was a pivotal week for the US economy. The Fed announced its first interest rate cut since the pandemic — and it was a big one. Voters say they're thinking a lot about the economy during this election. In poll after poll, issues related to the economy rank at the top of voters’ priority lists. Catherine Rampell is an opinion columnist for the Washington Post and an economic and political commentator for CNN. She joined CNN Political Director David Chalian to talk about this week’s Fed decision, how Americans are feeling about their finances and what economists have to say about the presidential candidates’ plans for the economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    28 mins
  • What the Debate Meant for the Race

    What the Debate Meant for the Race
    Sep 13 2024
    Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris faced off on the debate stage for the first time this week. Harris landed jabs, and Trump struggled to stay on-message. But will their performances move the needle in this extremely tight race? And what should Harris’ and Trump’s campaigns focus on now with the big debate behind them? Karen Finney is a CNN political commentator and was senior spokesperson for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. Doug Heye is a Republican strategist who served as deputy chief of staff to former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. They join CNN Political Director David Chalian to share their takes on the debate, the candidates’ paths to 270 and how the campaigns could reach on-the-fence voters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    32 mins