Woocast's Politics & Polls

Once all members are confirmed, President Joe Biden’s cabinet will be the most diverse group of advisers ever appointed. This team even includes Princeton’s Cecilia Rouse, who currently awaits a Senate vote. In this episode, historian Lindsay Chervinsky joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang to discuss Biden’s senior leadership team, as well as the history of presidential cabinets. Chervinsky is author of a new book, “The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution.” Chervinsky is the scholar in residence at the Institute for Thomas Paine Studies at Iona College, a senior fellow at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies, and a professorial lecturer at the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. She’s a historian of Early America, the presidency, and the government, especially the president’s cabinet.

From World War I to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, conflict has long been a part of American history. These events have molded society and culture,  producing effects that ripple through generations.  Author and historian Margaret MacMillan joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang in this week's episode to discuss how war is in our bones. She is author of the new book, “War: How Conflict Shaped Us" and a professor of history at the University of Toronto and emeritus professor of international history and the former Warden of St. Antony's College at the University of Oxford.

At the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, religious messaging echoed through the streets as Christian-right activists protested the 2020 presidential election. What role did the religious right play in the uprising at the Capitol? And will they continue to be emboldened despite President Donald Trump’s departure? Katherine Stewart joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang in this episode to discuss the religious right’s rise to power and its role in the insurrection. She penned an op-ed last month for The New York Times on “The Roots of Josh Hawley’s Rage,” which the trio disentangle on the show. Stewart has reported on the religious right for more than a decade. She is the author of “The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism.”

January has been a politically charged month. Georgia flipped blue in two runoff U.S. Senate races, followed by a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. A week later, President Joe Biden was inaugurated, and now debates in the U.S. Senate continue to thunder as a second impeachment trial for Trump approaches. Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang unpack all that’s unfolded so far this month in this week’s episode.

People often wonder what a U.S. President’s legacy will be — especially those who only serve one term in office — but the ways we remember Presidents can change over time. One such case is President Jimmy Carter who, to some, was considered the embodiment of a failed presidency. In retrospect, however, many of the ways in which President Carter governed were ahead of their time. Author and journalist Jonathan Alter joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang in this week’s episode to take a deep dive into President Carter’s legacy. Alter is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and author who has written three books about American presidents. The latest is “His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life,” published in 2020 by Simon & Schuster.

Today, many are examining leadership in American politics. Historians, biographers, and journalists are turning to the past to uncover how leadership, especially the presidency, has changed throughout the decades. Among those is historian Fredrik Logevall, who recently published a book on President John F. Kennedy, titled “JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956.” Logevall joins Julian Zelizer in this episode to dispel some of the myths surrounding John F. Kennedy, presenting a complex and sometimes vulnerable American leader.

Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang speculate on the Georgia Senate runoff election in this episode, which was recorded Jan. 5 — before the final outcome was known. They discuss what the results will mean for the U.S. Senate, Joe Biden's presidency, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. They also chat about how unusual and unprecedented this post-election period has been.

Anew generation in American politics is emerging as millennials are now taking up political offices. Emboldened and energized, these young leaders are challenging conventional party leadership in the hopes of moving beyond today’s deeply embedded divisions. Charlotte Alter joins Julian Zelizer in this episode to discuss this new generation of leadership, which she details in a new book: “The Ones We've Been Waiting For: How a New Generation of Leaders Will Transform America.” Alter is a national correspondent at TIME Magazine covering politics and social issues. She has covered the 2016, 2018, and 2020 campaigns, the Women’s March and anti-Trump resistance, and the rise in activism around gun violence and climate change. Her coverage often has a special focus on women in politics, social movements, and youth activism. *This episode was recorded on Oct. 26, 2020, as a virtual webinar sponsored by Princeton SPIA.

Presidents have a unique way of shaping polity, though government strength is also tested in other ways. Party polarization, money in politics, economic inequality, and other forces have all hindered the ability to govern. American legal scholar Jack Balkin joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang in this week's episode to help walk through these “constitutional cycles.” He explains how the rise and fall of parties, polarization and de-polarization, as well as episodes of "republic decay" and renewal have all shaped American polity over time. These are all subjects in his latest book: “The Cycles of Constitutional Time.” Balkin is Knight Professor of Constitutional Law and the First Amendment at Yale Law School. He is the founder and director of Yale’s Information Society Project, an interdisciplinary center that studies law and new information technologies. He also directs the Abrams Institute for Freedom of Expression and the Knight Law and Media Program at Yale. *This episode was recorded in September 2020.

The unique circumstances of this year's elections created quite a stir among state courts regarding mail-in ballots, with some requiring intervention by the Supreme Court. In these politically charged times, what is the role of the courts?  Sam Wang interviews Marin Levy in this week's episode about state court packing, state court expansions, and more. She's a professor of law at Duke University, and her interests include judicial administration, civil procedure, remedies, and federal courts. This episode was recorded prior to Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation to the Supreme Court.

The results are in: Joe Biden has won the presidency. However, President Donald Trump has yet to concede and is filing lawsuits in a number of states where he thinks voter fraud occurred.  It was good news for Republicans in the other races, though: The party gained seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and in state legislatures. Now, both parties await a double-runoff election in Georgia to determine which party will ultimately control the Senate. Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang reflect on all that's unfolded in this week's post-election episode.

On Election Day 2020, Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss which states they're keeping a close eye on and how things might shake out for this monumental presidential election. They harken back to the episode they recorded right before the 2016 election … and how much has changed since. This is an episode you don't want to miss. Also, get out and vote!

Election day is less than a week away, and early mail-in and absentee ballots account for more than 70 million votes to date. Given the unique circumstances of this year's election, will the returns that day reflect the final outcome? How will the media accurately cover this historic election day?   At the heart of every news network is the decision desk, a team of experts that analyzes and projects election winners. In this episode, Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang interview Arnon Mishkin, the Fox News analyst who leads the team that will call the election for the network.   Mishkin is director of the Fox News decision desk. Formerly a partner of The Boston Consulting Group and Mitchell Madison Group, he currently leads Mishkin Associates, advising clients on issues of core strategy, marketing, and targeting.

As the election inches closer, polling data seems favorable to the Democrats, especially in a number of Senate races. Yet some say the Democrats are being too optimistic and overly confident, mirroring some of the sentiments from 2016. In this episode of Politics & Polls, Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss what will happen next — and the problems that are different from 2020. They go into the uncertainty not just on Election Day, but after — even in the new Congress.

The Republican Party seems to be divided: Is it the old guard, advocating for small government and tax cuts? Or has it moved into more of an America-first, isolationist space under the leadership of President Donald Trump? In this episode, Jacob Hacker of Yale University joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang to discuss how the current combination of plutocratic economic priorities and right-wing populist appeals threatens the pillars of American democracy. This is the subject of Hacker’s latest book with Paul Pierson of the University of California at Berkeley: “Let Them Eat Tweets: How the Right Rules in an Age of Extreme Inequality.” Hacker is the Stanley B. Resor Professor at Yale University and director of the Institution for Social and Policy Studies. He is known for his research and writings regarding health policy, especially his development of the so-called public option.

After a Rose Garden ceremony last week, President Donald Trump, members of his staff, and several Republican senators have all tested positive for Covid-19. The news has sparked a fiery debate about how the administration is addressing the pandemic.   Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who was the youngest city health official in America at age 30 - leading the Detroit Health Department, joins this week's episode to discuss what he calls America's "epidemic of insecurity."  El-Sayed is a physician, epidemiologist, public health expert, and progressive activist. He ran for governor of Michigan in 2018. He is the author of "Healing Politics: A Doctor’s Journey into the Heart of Our Political Epidemic," which combines personal stories with history and science to show how inequality has created what he calls a political epidemic in the country.

Some criticize the way the media covers political issues, spurring conversations about how journalism can be improved, especially within the next generation of reporters. One 12-year-old — Jaden Jefferson — is already on his way to contributing to the news world through his local reporting efforts in Toledo, Ohio. Jefferson, who joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang in this episode, has already interviewed a number of prominent figures including Sen. Elizabeth Warren. He's been interviewed by Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, and others. You can find his stories on his YouTube channel at Jaden Reports.

Regardless of who wins the 2020 presidential election, American politics will be forever impacted by Trump's presidency. In this episode, author David Frum discusses how America can rebuild — the subject of his new book, "Trumpocalypse: Restoring American Democracy" — with Julian Zelizer. Frum is a senior editor The Atlantic. He virtually visited the School as a Leadership Through Mentorship guest; this episode was a live recording.

Young voters are notoriously criticized for not making it to the ballot boxes. What motivates young people to vote? And how we can ensure that more college-aged students make it to the polls this fall? In this episode, Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang are joined by Emma Parish ’21 and Kesavan Srivilliputhur ’23, two Princeton University undergraduate students who are part of the Vote100 initiative, which aspires for 100% of the Princeton  undergraduate body to engage civically, and for every eligible student to vote. The group engages in a lively discussion about what young people care about, their unique voting behaviors, and how older generations can help mobilize youth to vote.  This episode first aired on Facebook Live on Sept. 15. 

In honor of the 200th episode of Politics & Polls, Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang reflect back on the show’s history with the show’s producer, B. Rose Huber. Zelizer and Wang answer a series of questions from how they met/started to the show to their most embarrassing moments on air to which historical figure they’d most like to interview (Hint: They share the same answer!). Miss your chance to submit a question? Email us at politicspolls@princeton.edu.