Political Rewind: Wired Roots and a White House Welcome Mat

In this edition of the Political Rewind it's stories from NPR's election wrap-up and transition coverage. Don Gonyea is on hand when the future tenants of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue tour their new home; Mara Liasson explores the future of Obama's technologically enhanced grass roots movement; Greg Allen explains how the Sunshine State went blue this cycle; and Howard Berkes talks with formerly Republican rural voters who made the decision to choose Obama.

You can stream it here:

Or download it at your post-electoral convenience.

--Kyle Gassiott

12:42 PM ET | 11-13-2008 | permalink

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It's All Politics: At Long Last Edition

The election is finally over, but It's All Politics is back with a recap of the winners and losers. Join Ken Rudin and Ron Elving as they try not to mention that Ken got Ohio wrong, assess Joe Lieberman's standing with the Dems, and examine the likelihood of a Senator Sarah Palin. Why let a little voting stop all the politicking?

You can also download it here.

--Laurel Wamsley

11:02 AM ET | 11- 7-2008 | permalink

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Political Rewind: It ain't over, 'til...Wait, it is!

Ignore your disbelief the election is actually over! So clean up the confetti or dry your tears and listen to our special "Election Fini" version of the Political Rewind. This week Don Gonyea maps Barack Obama's road to the presidency; Scott Horsley examines McCain's defeat; and Mara Liasson tells us just what voters and experts expect from President-Elect Obama.

--Kyle Gassiott

Or download it here (and reminisce!)

7:20 PM ET | 11- 6-2008 | permalink

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It's All Politics: A Light at the End of the Tunnel Edition

In the final episode of It's All Politics before the election, NPR's Ron Elving and Ken Rudin have one last chance to make their predictions. What states will the presidential race come down to? Will the Democrats get a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate? Will Obama's 30-minute infomercial intrude on the podcast, too? Find out here:

-- Thomas Pierce

4:50 PM ET | 10-31-2008 | permalink

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Political Rewind: 2 Stump Speeches, 1 Obama-mercial, and a Handful of Independent Groups

A mere long weekend is all that stands between us and Election Day. After nearly 21 months of hardcore politicking, a respite awaits us. As you savor that thought, sample the best of NPR's political coverage from the last 72 hours. Here's what's queued up: Mara Liasson examines the DNA of a pair of stump speeches; David Folkenflik discusses the "Obama-mercial"; and Peter Overby reports on the relatively minor role of independent groups in this election cycle.

Take a listen...

-- Sean Bowditch

6:14 PM ET | 10-30-2008 | permalink

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Political Rewind: Gettin' Down To The Brass Tacks

Even as we hurdle toward Election Day like a runaway train, we ask you to pause for a moment and take in the best of NPR's political coverage from the last week. Shameless, we know. On today's menu: Ina Jaffe reports on McCain's recent caution to voters; Audie Cornish covers Obama as he stumps in the battleground state of Virginia; and David Greene takes us into the bowels of two campaign rallies. Now buckle up! And hurdle on...

Open your ears...

-- Sean Bowditch

7:33 PM ET | 10-27-2008 | permalink

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It's All Politics: Ain't Over Till It's Over Edition

Some polls show Obama with a substantial lead, but is it too soon to say the race is over? If McCain does lose (and even if he wins), is Sarah Palin the future of the Republican Party? And what's up with all this talk of real versus unreal America? Everyone's favorite political podcast team is back with a new episode of It's All Politics to answer these questions and more:

-- Thomas Pierce

10:25 AM ET | 10-24-2008 | permalink

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Political Rewind: Southern Races and Bluegrass Places

This week we've got a deep-fried version of the Political Rewind highlighting NPR's political coverage from southern states. Linda Wertheimer reports from North Carolina where Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole fights to stay alive in a tough bid for re-election; Audie Cornish brings us another rough battle from Louisiana where Democrat Mary Landrieu struggles to hold her senate seat; and finally we travel with David Green to the "Mountain State", West Virginia where democratic voters struggle with issues of race and campaign rumors.

Pour yourself a glass of sweet iced tea and listen here:

or download it here and take it with you.

--Kyle Gassiott

11:54 PM ET | 10-21-2008 | permalink

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Political Rewind: You're Too Thin and You Never Call!

Three weeks until Election Day and we've got you covered with this week's best political coverage from NPR. On the docket: Don Gonyea introduces us to a union man on a mission to bridge a racial divide. Mara Liasson explores the Bradley Effect and what it might mean for the Obama campaign. And Greg Allen previews the "The Great Schlep" by speaking with Jewish grandmothers in Florida.

You can listen here (just not too loud!):

or download it here.

--Kyle Gassiott

8:22 PM ET | 10-15-2008 | permalink

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Political Rewind: What One Mouth Sayeth, Another Sayeth Nay

The Political Rewind podcast is back with NPR's finest and shiniest political stories from the last few days. This week, we truth-squad the second presidential debate, party with undecided voters in New Mexico, and discuss the Hoosier state's political identity crisis. Check it out:

-- Thomas Pierce

9:11 AM ET | 10- 9-2008 | permalink

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It's All Politics: Speak Softly Edition

In this week's It's All Politics podcast, NPR's Ken Rudin and Ron Elving look at the outcomes from the McCain-Obama town hall debate (that one!) and check the forecast for an October Surprise. They also discuss the polls in unexpected battleground states (North Carolina, New Hampshire...Missouri?) and check in on tightening Senate races, including the third-party candidate in Minnesota who could help elect Al Franken:

You can also download it here.

--Laurel Wamsley

6:16 PM ET | 10- 8-2008 | permalink

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Remember That Group Behind DVD About Radical Islam?

NPR's Peter Overby has done some new shoe leather reporting on the Clarion Fund, the 501(c)(3) charity that distributed a DVD on radical islam across 14 battleground states the weekend after the 9/11 anniversary. The DVD caused some buzz because voters received it as an insert in their newspapers...and because no one was sure who was behind it. The video was also shown at a free screening in Dearborn, MI, a city with a large Arab-American population.

Now Peter writes:

Critics of the video suspect that it's being deployed as a partisan campaign tool, to play on the false rumors that Democrat Barack Obama is sympathetic to radical Islam. Clarion declined to say if it targeted particular demographic groups in mailing the DVD...And we still don't know how closely Clarion is tied to Aish HaTorah, an international Jewish educational organization with offices in New York. Clarion's incorporation papers share the same address; the PR firm says that's no longer the case.

For more details, check out Vox Politics' sister blog at the Secret Money Project.

-- Nancy Cook

7:59 PM ET | 10- 7-2008 | permalink

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Political Rewind: Folks in Pennsylvania Sure Know How to Swing

The Political Rewind is back with the best of NPR's political stories from the last few days. Up this week: David Greene profiles the white ethnic voters of Pennsylvania who just might swing that state. And Mara Liasson offers her take on a changing electoral map and what that means for Barack Obama. Check it out:

-- Thomas Pierce

5:48 PM ET | 10- 6-2008 | permalink

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It's All Politics: Great Debates Edition

In this week's It's All Politics podcast, NPR's Ken Rudin and Ron Elving break down what worked for the candidates--and what didn't--in the debates so far. They also give an update of how national events are making for some surprisingly close Senate races (Liddy Dole? Mitch McConnell!) and take a look at the latest polls, which show Obama pulling ahead in some battleground states:

You can also download it here.

--Laurel Wamsley

3:42 PM ET | 10- 4-2008 | permalink

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Political Rewind: Dude, I'll Give You Concert Tickets For That Vote

It's time for another edition of the Political Rewind, a podcast that selects the best of NPR's political stories from the last few days. This installment is packed with gems: Ina Jaffe looks ahead to tomorrow's debate... and nods to VP debates of the past; Jeff Brady reports on the political ads that are now saturating the Colorado airwaves; and Robert Smith takes us to Ohio, where early voting came with a few surprises.

Open your ears:

Or download it here.

-- Sean Bowditch

6:42 PM ET | 10- 1-2008 | permalink

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Political Rewind: You Might Need a Shovel for that Bailout

We're out with another edition of the Political Rewind, a podcast that looks back at the best of NPR's political coverage from the last few days. On tap today: Mara Liasson submits a debate post-mortem; NPR road warriors Don Gonyea and Scott Horsley report on how Barack Obama and John McCain view the proposed economic rescue plan; and Barbara Bradley Hagerty explores the delicate relationship between politics and the pulpit.

Take a listen:

Or download it here.

-- Sean Bowditch

5:00 PM ET | 09-29-2008 | permalink

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The Spin Begins

In the last minutes of the debate, the spin rooms assemble. As if conjured by Jim Lehrer's question about whether another 9/11 is possible, Rudy Giuliani emerges and sets up shop right next to our workspace, where he'll offer responses to the arguments made tonight. The bright TV lights are on him, a group of journalists huddles around, and we radio folk get ready for the post-debate special (on a member station near you, or streaming live from our website!).

For Obama, the spinning signs say Axelrod, Plouffe, Gibbs, and Douglass.

-- Laurel Wamsley

10:32 PM ET | 09-26-2008 | permalink

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More Pre-Debate Reading

NPR's Corey Flintoff describes some of the topics the candidates will likely be asked about tonight. This debate will officially focus on foreign policy, but we suspect the economy will find its way onto the agenda somehow.

-- Evie Stone

7:59 PM ET | 09-26-2008 | permalink

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Watch This Space

Tonight during the debate, your good pals here at Vox Politics will be fact-checking the candidates in real time with the help of NPR's beat reporters. Our posting will include but is not limited to: changes in rhetoric, mistakes, problems, half-truths, and truthful but controversial statements on a range of issues.

The debate starts at 9pm Eastern (that's 8pm Oxford, MS time). So while you're waiting for the fun to begin, you can prepare with a little reading: NPR's Linton Weeks got a political scientist, a fashion writer, and a TV critic to weigh in on what they're looking for from the candidates tonight.

Linton also provides a few guidelines for a debate drinking game (lemonade, of course). We'd add to his list that you should eat an entire lemon, peel and all, if either of the candidates compares the plight of Wall Street to that of Main Street -- the latest in a series of campaign cliches that makes us seriously consider chucking it all and becoming back-to-the-landers.

-- Evie Stone

6:02 PM ET | 09-26-2008 | permalink

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Politcal Rewind: Get To Know Your Candidates' Temperaments

The latest edition of the Political Rewind podcast is up with some of NPR's best political stories from the last few days. This week: Mara Liasson takes a closer look at the presidential candidates and their temperaments.

Barack Obama's campaign mantra is 'no drama Obama.' He's seen as cool and cerebral but can come across as detached. His rival, John McCain, is said to be both bold and aggressive. But he's also called reckless and is famously rumored to have a hot temper.

How will these two match up tonight? This podcast is a pre-debate must-listen:

-- Thomas Pierce

5:37 PM ET | 09-26-2008 | permalink

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It's All Politics: Don't Suspend Me Edition

Everyone's favorite podcast is back with a brand new episode. This week, NPR's Ron Elving holds the show together as Ken Rudin suspends his role in the podcast to devote his attention to our nation's economic woes. Other topics include: McCain's return to Washington, Obama and what could be his loneliest debate, and a look at Senate seats up for grabs.

-- Thomas Pierce

6:43 PM ET | 09-25-2008 | permalink

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Political Rewind: How About Some Relief With That Bailout?

The latest edition of the Political Rewind podcast is up, featuring NPR's political reporters on some of the best stories to emerge over the last few days. First up: Congressional Democrats say they're willing to help shore up the financial markets, but they want a bill that includes relief for homeowners and taxpayers, too. We also hear about the dirty tricks arriving in Florida voters' mailboxes, as well as battles on the latest front in the immigration debate: attack ads en espanol.

Click to listen:

Or download it here.

--Laurel Wamsley

6:00 PM ET | 09-22-2008 | permalink

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Political Rewind: 'It's Still The (Failing) Economy, Stupid'

We have a new addition to our podcast family: Political Rewind. We select some of NPR's best political stories from the last few days and package them together for your listening pleasure. Muthoni Muturi, one of the network's editors, hosts the twice-weekly cast. In this edition, we look at how the Wall Street meltdown is influencing the race for the White House, what the two VP nominees are talking about these days, and the tricky task of submitting a ballot from overseas.

Click to listen:

You can also download it here.

-- Sean Bowditch

10:40 AM ET | 09-19-2008 | permalink

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It's All Politics: Fundamentals Edition

The latest installment of the It's All Politics podcast has rolled off the audio presses. On today's show: Ken Rudin and Ron Elving pledge to make no jokes, what with the economy. McCain and Obama both claim to be the change Wall Street needs. Tina Fey shows America how a Sarah Palin accent is done. And those purple states begin a-leanin'...

Click to listen:

You can also download it here.

--Laurel Wamsley

6:41 PM ET | 09-18-2008 | permalink

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It's All Politics: Don't Blink Edition

With the eagerly anticipated Sarah Palin interviews now airing on just about every news show in the ABC lineup, Ron Elving and Ken Rudin offer their analysis in this week's edition of everyone's favorite political podcast, It's All Politics. She may not blink when staring down world leaders or deciding whether to take the VP-spot, but how did Palin fare in her sit-down with ABC's Charlie Gibson? And how did Charlie Gibson fare as the first journalist to interview her as a VP-nominee? Find out by listening below.

Or you can download the episode and keep it for your very own.

-- Thomas Pierce

4:02 PM ET | 09-12-2008 | permalink

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It's All Politics: "The Slasher" Emerges Atop The VEEPstakes Pile

A new edition of the It's All Politics podcast is ready for a listen. NPR's Ron Elving and Ken Rudin plunge into the abounding speculation about the candidates' vice presidential picks. Plus: The candidates spar on national security, and a judge rules that Sen. Ted Steven (R-AK) will have to face a jury of his peers.

You can also download it here.

-- Vox Politics

12:48 PM ET | 08-22-2008 | permalink

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It's All Politics: Georgia On Their Minds Edition

A new edition of the It's All Politics podcast is ready for a listen. NPR's Ron Elving and Ken Rudin talk this week about the new book that's attempting to swift-boat Obama, as well as discussing why John McCain knows so much about Georgia. They also interpret what the Dem convention speaking schedule means for the veep shortlist, and take a look at the tradition of placing vanquished candidates' names in nomination:

You can also download it here.

-- Laurel Wamsley

12:04 PM ET | 08-15-2008 | permalink

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Secret Money Blog

NPR's Secret Money Project has launched a new blog. The project is a joint venture between NPR and the Center for Investigative Reporting that will be tracking the hidden cash that influences this election cycle.

Here, NPR's money, power, and influence expert Peter Overby takes a look at a new liberal organization called Accountable America. Tom Matzzie, the former Washington director for Moveon.org, launched the group Friday. Its mission is to kneecap potential Swift-Boat style attacks against Barack Obama by threatening to expose the identities of donors that pay for the negative ads. It's a controversial plan. As Peter writes:

This raises all sorts of questions about First Amendment rights, of donors and of Accountable America. Conservatives call Matzzie's strategy McCarthyism. Judicial Watch, a usually conservative watchdog group, promptly suggested that Accountable America had violated a law originally enacted to stop Ku Klux Klan intimidation of African-American voters.

The Secret Money Project will be keeping an eye on this organization and others throughout the fall. You can click here for a list of several of the most influential outside groups and a rundown of the important players.

-- Evie Stone

4:08 PM ET | 08- 9-2008 | permalink

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It's All Politics: Lights Out Edition

A new episode of the It's All Politics podcast, featuring NPR's own Ron Elving and Mara Liasson, is ripe for a listen. This week: the lights go down on the House floor, but Republican Congressmen won't go home. Also, an ad for John McCain calls him "the original maverick." Obama campaign: "Cha...right!" McCain campaign: "F'reals!" And neither campaign has named a vice-presidential nominee. Maybe because it's hard to find one who both looks good on paper and has that je ne sais quoi:

You can also download the podcast.

--Laurel Wamsley

2:57 PM ET | 08- 8-2008 | permalink

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Obama Tells NPR McCain Camp Has 'Amplified' Race Controversy

NPR's Michele Norris interviewed Barack Obama for this afternoon's All Things Considered. The bulk of the conversation was about Obama's energy plan, but Michele also raised the recent back-and-forth between the two campaigns over charges of race-baiting. Obama's response, in part:

[I]n no ways do I think that the McCain campaign has targeted race issues, although I will say that the way that they've amplified this, you know, has been troublesome. And the eagerness with which they've done it indicates they think they can exploit this politically, but, in fact, what I have said, and there's no doubt about this, they've said it themselves, is that they want to make me appear risky to the American people.

And the fact that I am not a typical presidential candidate in that sense, you know, reinforces that sense of risk.

The full Q&A on the race debate is after the jump.

-- Evie Stone

Continue reading "Obama Tells NPR McCain Camp Has 'Amplified' Race Controversy" »

4:00 PM ET | 08- 1-2008 | permalink

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It's All Politics: Northern Exposure Edition

A new episode of It's All Politics--the favored podcast of good-humored citizens everywhere--is ready for a listen. This week, NPR's Ken Rudin and Mara Liasson discuss a sea change in Alaskan politics, with Sen. Ted Stevens indicted and Rep. Don Young under investigation for corruption. They also take on the talk-radio and late-night narratives of the week, as the campaigns hurl charges that McCain's gone negative and Obama's gone arrogant. And as the candidates get closer to choosing their number-twos, Ken and Mara pick their own (imperfect) veep favorites:

You can also download the podcast.

--Laurel Wamsley

11:52 AM ET | 08- 1-2008 | permalink

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It's All Politics: 'Ich Bin Ein Berliner' Edition

A new episode of everyone's favorite podcast is available for your listening pleasure. NPR's Ron Elving and Ken Rudin compare the candidates' weeks. Barack Obama visited Iraq, Afghanistan, Jordan, and Israel before flying to Europe, where he gave a speech to 200,000 Germans in Berlin yesterday. Meanwhile, John McCain took a golf cart ride with the 41st President; canceled a trip to an oil rig because of an untimely hurricane and oil spill; and had lunch at a German restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. But despite McCain's relatively lackluster week, he hasn't sunk the polls. In fact, he's even crept ahead in a few battleground states. Ken and Ron have a few theories:

Or maybe you'd rather download the podcast.

-- Thomas Pierce

11:51 AM ET | 07-25-2008 | permalink

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Summertime Pandering, the Art of Satire and Third Party Candidates

A new episode of everyone's favorite podcast, It's All Politics, is available for download. On the show this week NPR's Ron Elving and Ken Rudin talk about what summer is really all about: sunshine, vacations, and candidates pandering to conventions held by special interest groups who'd like to hear those candidates tell them exactly what they'd like to hear. Accordingly, Sen. McCain spoke at the NAACP Convention yesterday and had kind words for Sen. Obama. Plus, the infamous New Yorker magazine cover: was it funny? And more importantly, are there any funny Obama jokes out there to tell?

Ken and Ron tackle all this and more. Listen here:

Or perhaps you'd like to download the podcast.

-- Thomas Pierce

6:46 PM ET | 07-17-2008 | permalink

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