Best Speakerryan Podcasts (2025)

1
‘Beauty never gets old’ -- Slava Leontyev in the ‘Porcelain War’ 30:26

7d ago30:26

30:26

Is it possible to find beauty amid the horror of the Ukraine-Russia war? The Academy Award-nominated documentary "Porcelain War" argues that it is not only possible, it is essential. Co-director Slava Leontyev discusses how ordinary people keep their culture, art and themselves alive, and how even in a time of fear "it's hard to forbid people to li…

1
Having a plan beats not having a plan 26:26

13d ago26:26

26:26

The early days of the 119th Congress and the second Trump administration have been a whirlwind, but here is one observation for those looking to make sense of things: Having a plan beats not having a plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy CQ Roll Call

1
Instability as norm? Or test? 35:41

20d ago35:41

35:41

The early days of the second Trump administration have brought us an intense debate over constitutional authority and the role of government, which has been folded into the unstable and chaotic political era we are in. Is this destabilization something that will endure, or is it one of many similar, rough times in our history, say the 1960s, when p…

1
Pardon me? Tales of presidential pardons 31:10

28d ago31:10

31:10

Presidential pardons are all over the place, thanks to outgoing President Joe Biden and newly sworn in President Donald Trump. Presidents’ power to pardon is pretty comprehensive, and has been used to pardon the likes of Confederates, Jimmy Hoffa, Richard Nixon, Defense secretaries, family members and dirty tricksters, and most recently the Jan. 6 …

1
Appointed senators: The winners, seat-warmers, losers and weirdos 42:22

1M ago42:22

42:22

Appointed senators: They're a thing. Of the 206 individuals appointed to the Senate since 1913, when the Seventeenth Amendment codified direct election of senators and how to fill vacant seats, 11 of them are currently serving. Jason Dick and Nathan Gonzales go through the highlights, lowlights and weirdlights of this category of senators. Learn mo…

1
So you say you want to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget 34:17

1M ago34:17

34:17

It's the most wonderful time of the year: When Washington says it will cut the federal deficit. Easier said than done! Just ask the 2011 super committee, which had a mandate and bipartisan support, and failed spectacularly. For this podcast, we combine the powers of the Political Theater podcast with sister podcast CQ Budget and its illustrious hos…

1
Looking ahead to 2025's biggest political stories 41:47

2M ago41:47

41:47

What's an "off year" in politics? There is no such thing, according to Nathan Gonzales, Roll Call's campaigns analyst and the publisher of Inside Elections. We run through the top developing political stories of 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy CQ Roll Call

1
Revenge of the Senate 50:08

2M ago50:08

50:08

Is the United States Senate The World’s Greatest Deliberative Body, or is it the world's most inefficient waiting room, where senators kill time before a flurry of inefficient activity? Part 2 of our discussion with Brookings' Molly Reynolds about ways Congress could function better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
Home improvements for the House 44:52

3M ago44:52

44:52

It happens every December: We ask ourselves, is this the best Congress can do? And the answer is no. They can do better. And there are a number of ways the legislative branch can function better by implementing some very simple, common-sense proposals. Molly Reynolds of the Brookings Institution joins the podcast for the first part of a two-part se…

1
A very judgy lame duck 26:28

3M ago26:28

26:28

If you're paying attention to the Senate, you know they're voting on a lot of judges, as happens during lame duck congresses. There are also a lot of partisan broadsides being fired about it all. How did we get to this point and why? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy CQ Roll Call

1
Who are these guys? The Congress-to-Cabinet revue 39:59

3M ago39:59

39:59

President-elect Donald Trump has picked several current and former members of Congress for his Cabinet and senior staff. Here’s a quick and dirty on the roster, which includes former Democrats, former critics and one avowed dog killer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy CQ Roll Call

1
5 big questions about this election with Nathan Gonzales 13:48

3M ago13:48

13:48

So, we have questions in the aftermath of this election. Who is the leader of the Democratic Party? What lessons do Republicans take from their victories? Do we have to keep calling it a "Blue Wall." And more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy CQ Roll Call

1
The last Most Vulnerable Incumbents lists of the 2024 cycle 33:11

4M ago33:11

33:11

Roll Call looked under every nook, cranny and poll to round off the Most Vulnerable Incumbents lists for the 2024 cycle. Find out how and why who got where! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy CQ Roll Call

1
But is it art? Unpacking ‘The Apprentice’ 22:32

4M ago22:32

22:32

For many film buffs, October is Scary Movie Month, when we go to the vault to watch "Last House on the Left" or head to the theater to catch "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice." It is also election season. So does "The Apprentice" fit in here? It’s a biopic about the relationship between Roy Cohn and a young Donald Trump and how Cohn helped shape the future …

1
What it means for an electoral race to be unstable 27:14

4M ago27:14

27:14

The 2024 campaign is in the home stretch, and there are several races that are defined by a high degree of instability. How do we mean? It starts with the campaigns themselves not even agreeing on the basic contours of the race. From there things can get weird. Nathan Gonzales walks us through a few races that fit the bill — and that are incredibly…

1
‘War Game’: Rehearsing the uncomfortably plausible 33:57

4M ago33:57

33:57

What happens when a veterans organization conducting an unscripted role-playing simulation with real political figures about an attempted coup on Jan. 6, 2025 joins forces with filmmakers who have “Dr. Strangelove” and Nathan Fielder on the brain? The experimental but highly relevant documentary “War Game.” Co-director Jesse Moss and Vet Voice’s Ja…

1
"Sleepy" but consequential term awaits Supreme Court 25:32

5M ago25:32

25:32

The Supreme Court starts its new term this coming Monday, October 7th, and while the docket does not include such high-profile cases as the last two years, when the justices overturned Roe v. Wade and granted presidents wide immunity over official acts, the high court will still consider matters of constitutional rights that could reverberate for y…

1
Tales of the three-headed incumbent: Biden/Harris/Trump 22:18

5M ago22:18

22:18

The 2024 presidential race feels a bit "incumbenty." A former president, Donald Trump is running against first the current president, Joe Biden, and now the current vice president, Kamala Harris. There aren't a lot of parallels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy CQ Roll Call

1
One last journey down Roll Call's Jersey Turnpike 30:44

5M ago30:44

30:44

All good things come to end, even the tenure of Roll Call Politics Editor Herb Jackson, who wraps up his time here talking congressional granularity, leadership PAC names, FEC data and various whangdoodles and fartleks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy CQ Roll Call

1
The surprises, lessons and exhaustion of the congressional primaries 40:23

5M ago40:23

40:23

Back in March, Alabama, Arkansas, California, North Carolina and Texas held their congressional primaries, kicking off a mini-epoch of intra-party contests (mostly, with some exceptions), that has just now concluded with Tuesday’s primaries in New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Delaware (sort of; thanks Louisiana). So what’s it all about? What can we …

1
When political realignment happens before your eyes; Amanda Becker discusses ‘You Must Stand Up’ 31:55

6M ago31:55

31:55

Amanda Becker's new book, “You Must Stand Up” is a story about the political fallout of the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision that overturned the federal right to an abortion. Becker, national correspondent for The 19th, figured this would be the biggest political event of her career; it might turn out to be the most significant political event in gen…

1
Members of Congress get ready to kick out the jams 28:16

6M ago28:16

28:16

Here at Roll Call, we like to step back every so often and just groove. And what better way to do that than by being part of the Sept. 17 Congressional Record musical program on Capitol Hill. We’ll be the media sponsors, along with The Kennedy Center, Library of Congress and the Recording Academy, when members of Congress from both sides of the ais…

1
Sweet (temporary) home Chicago 24:32

6M ago24:32

24:32

Hello from Chicago and the Democratic National Convention. Roll Call and the Political Theater team are on the ground here for all the fuss. We are at the point when folks here are in a groove, slightly fatigued and firmly ensconced in this pop-up political purgatory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
DNC-adjacent: Stories in the convention’s orbit 41:44

6M ago41:44

41:44

Kamala-palooza is almost here. The Democratic National Convention starts soon in Chicago, with the party looking to capitalize on the bounce it has gotten since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race and Vice President Kamala Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz quickly wrapped up the nomination. There might be a lack of drama …

1
Ohio, the [political] heart of it all 39:09

7M ago39:09

39:09

Ohio is having a moment in the political spotlight, with the Republican vice presidential nominee, Sen. JD Vance, hailing from the Buckeye State, while his home-state colleague, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, is in a tight re-election contest that will be key to determining the Senate majority. We talk with Jessica Wehrman, CQ Roll Call’s health po…

1
Yes things feel crazy, but elections are frequently chaotic, from LBJ to RBG and more 33:36

7M ago33:36

33:36

If there is one thing elections in the United States brings out, it's chaos. Assassination attempts, resignations, primary challenges, third-party campaigns, economic meltdowns, pandemics and sudden deaths. Join Jason Dick and Nathan Gonzales for a ride down bad-memory lane! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
Happy Days for Republicans in Milwaukee 37:39

7M ago37:39

37:39

The Republican National Convention in Milwaukee has put some steam in the strides of the GOP, who have taken their 2024 confidence meter up to 11. Republicans feel good about their nominee, Donald Trump, their opponent, Joe Biden, and their chances in November. Roll Callers John Bennett and Briana Reilly join the podcast to talk about what it's lik…

1
Just the facts, just the facts, with factba.se 29:24

7M ago29:24

29:24

Want a look at George W. Bush’s comments at the 2007 White House Correspondents Dinner? Or what coffee shop President Joe Biden visited last weekend in Harrisburg? Or the White House briefing room seating chart from 2015? There are ways to find all of this on your own. Or there is Factba.se, the longtime go-to for all White House transcripts, calen…

1
Nathan Gonzales just can't wait to get on the road again 24:22

8M ago24:22

24:22

Roads are such a great metaphor for writers. There are roads to nowhere, to recovery. They can be less travelled. It can be enough for some books to just have the main characters be on the road. Now Roll Call Elections Analyst Nathan Gonzales is hitting the road too, kicking off an occasional series on House races that will determine the majority t…

1
Two years in the post-Dobbs world 35:16

8M ago35:16

35:16

It has been nearly two years since the Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion, overturning Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Since then, several states have instituted their own abortion policies, including total bans on the procedure. We have also had several elections show to what extent reproductive…

1
When being ambassador to Iceland isn't enough 44:32

8M ago44:32

44:32

Looking for guidance on how to get ahead in politics? Be a grunge rocker in college or a NASCAR driver. Don't be ambassador to Iceland, an actor or a video game music composer. A Trump endorsement helps. Less clear: how voting for or against dumping Kevin McCarthy affects things. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
Gathering in dark rooms: Sky Sitney on DC/DOX’s upcoming festival 41:02

9M ago41:02

41:02

The DC/DOX Documentary Film Festival kicks off its second full festival this month, showcasing a diverse slate of non-fiction stories for a hungry audience in the nation’s capital. From politics, of course, to fashion, health, movie stars, the space program, there is a little bit of everything to choose from. There is also a very interesting conste…

1
Summertime, and the political news is busy 53:51

9M ago53:51

53:51

Forget Hollywood blockbusters: This summer will be all about the politics. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, we'll be witness to a criminal trial for a U.S. senator (oh, and a former president too), make-or-break Senate primaries, the political conventions, Supreme Court opinions on abortion and presidential immunity and much, much more. Inside Elect…

1
Primary colors: Breaking down the latest congressional contests 34:16

9M ago34:16

34:16

The races that will shape November's election continue to take shape now that we have primary results in Maryland, West Virginia and Nebraska, with consequences at the House, Senate and even presidential level. Roll Call elections analyst Nathan Gonzales discusses those races and his latest Inside Elections ratings changes. Learn more about your ad…

1
How to get yourself on Roll Call's Most Vulnerable Incumbents list 32:55

10M ago32:55

32:55

At Roll Call, we periodically update our list of most vulnerable senators and members of the House as we get closer to the election. It's a shifting list, and reflects a snapshot in political dynamics. So how does one land on the list? Roll Call campaign staff writers Daniela Altimari and Mary Ellen McIntire join the Political Theater podcast to di…

1
Jan. 6, 2021 and the people who will never forget 39:05

10M ago39:05

39:05

There is no way to spin being beaten and bloodied and scared. The history of the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 is still being written, which is an important and massive undertaking. Not everyone wants to talk about the bear spray and broken windows. But the new documentary “The Sixth” by Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine gives a fresh voic…

1
Meanwhile, in non-Trump, non-impeachment and non-speaker news 42:02

10M ago42:02

42:02

This has been a momentous week for politics. Jury selection started in the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump. The Senate dispensed with impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. And the House considers a foreign aid package that has made Speaker Mike Johnson a target of his unhappy colleagues. But be…

1
‘Food, Inc. 2’ filmmakers provide plenty to chew on 28:39

10M ago28:39

28:39

People feel so passionately about food that perhaps it is not a surprise it has yielded that rarest of things: A sequel to a documentary. The makers of 2008’s “Food, Inc.,” are, as the new movie’s tagline goes, back for seconds with “Food, Inc. 2,” a multi-layered look at the food industry, its farmers, workers, scientists, journalists and more. Co…

1
When the most powerful people get what they want, Ohio version 28:49

11M ago28:49

28:49

What does it mean when both Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and former President Donald Trump agree on the same candidate? Because that happened in Ohio’s Republican Senate primary. That was not the only win for the establishment, such as it is, during Tuesday’s elections. Roll Call campaign staff writer Daniela Altimari spent some qualit…

1
The highs, lows and weirds of the White House beat 31:46

11M ago31:46

31:46

Covering the White House is one of the most high-profile beats in politics. Covering the Trump, then the Biden White House, and starting during a pandemic and an election year makes it even more high profile. Roll Call Chief Correspondent Niels Lesniewski has been at the helm for a little over four years and shares his experiences as he prepares fo…

1
The changing 2024 Senate landscape 39:51

12M ago39:51

39:51

Lost in this year’s highly competitive presidential nominating contest (sarcasm detector!) is the coming-at-you primaries for House and Senate that kicked off with a bang on Super Tuesday. We got some clarity about fall matchups in some high-profile races on that most special of Tuesdays, and some of that clarity came from folks who were not even f…

1
What we talk about when we talk about Super Tuesday 34:13

12M ago34:13

34:13

Tuesdays can get a bad rap. Sometimes the best that can be said about them are that they're the day that's the furthest from next Monday. But not Super Tuesday! More than a quarter of the House of Representatives faces a primary race on March 5, and there are two high-profile Senate races as well. And while not all of Super Tuesday's races are comp…

1
Exploring the inbetweenness of Taiwan 30:04

12M ago30:04

30:04

S. Leo Chiang’s documentary films explore lives across continents and culture, from the first Vietnamese-American congressman to the first LGBT political party in the Philippines to a legendary Hawaiian ukulele player. His latest film, the documentary short “Island in Between,” has been nominated for an Academy Award. Its subject, Taiwan’s Kinmen I…

1
One special place: New York’s 3rd Congressional District 29:36

1y ago29:36

29:36

What’s not to like about political stories that encompass not only New York City, Queens specifically, but reach into Long Island’s northern shore in Nassau County. The special election in New York’s 3rd Congressional District to replace expelled GOP Rep. George Santos is over, with Democrat Tom Suozzi defeating Republican Mazi Melesa Pilip for the…

1
'What the Hell just happened?' Congress reaches deep into the failure well 39:34

1y ago39:34

39:34

The current congress started off last year with an historic show of dysfunction, taking 15 rounds of voting to elect a speaker. Things did not get better. And then this week we saw the House and the Senate devolve into what some observers dubbed “failure theater.” One senator, Chris Murphy of Connecticut, asked simply, “What the Hell just happened?…

1
A sense of where he is: Bill Bradley's 'Rolling Along' one-man show 26:43

1y ago26:43

26:43

There are not a lot of resumes that read like Bill Bradley’s. Gold medal Olympian. Rhodes Scholar. Pro basketball player. Author. Senator. Presidential candidate. Radio host. And now a documentary film storyteller. His latest project, "Rolling Along," premiered last June at the Tribeca Film Festival, appropriate for the iconic New York Knick, and s…

1
What's the big idea? The big political stories beyond the headlines 39:37

1y ago39:37

39:37

We’re off and running in a pivotal election year, but beyond the horse race coverage and hot takes, there are always big stories that will help define what is going on. Herb Jackson, Roll Call’s politics editor, and Political Theater host Jason Dick trade big ideas about what the big stories are for 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg…

1
Signs of life? Democrats start to sound off about Biden campaign 25:55

1y ago25:55

25:55

Democrats are voicing concerns that the Biden re-election campaign needs to start getting on the road, but the question is, which direction? And who's driving? Dispatches from a fretting Capitol Hill, courtesy of Roll Call editor-at-large John Bennett, who joins the podcast to discuss his reporting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone…

1
Whyiowa? Because we start at the beginning 31:58

1y ago31:58

31:58

It’s January 2024. It’s cold, especially in Iowa and New Hampshire, the first stops on the presidential campaign voting calendar. We kick off this year by discussing the early contests, as well as setting the stage for the rest of this election year, particularly House and Senate races, with Roll Call’s elections analyst, Nathan Gonzales. Learn mor…

1
Don't hassle me I'm local: The DC episode 44:54

1y ago44:54

44:54

How big a deal is the pandas leaving the National Zoo? Or the sale of the Commanders? Or the Wizards and Capitals possibly leaving downtown DC? Or all the retail vacancies piling up? Recommend If You Like Editor Brandon Wetherbee gets local with the Political Theater podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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