Big Shot!

In Part 2 of Big Shot's Iowa Caucus coverage, we hear from current and veteran Iowa Caucus campaign staffers and learn about what it's like to play a role in shaping America’s future. We also hear from a former winner of the Iowa Caucus on what it took to secure victory on Election Night. What are Iowans like? Is the Iowa Caucus overrated? What would our Founding Fathers think of the Iowa Caucus process? Listen to hear their answers to these questions (and more)! Special thanks to Sascha Owen, Nicole King, and Sarah Paden for sharing your experiences on the campaign trail with us. And thank you to former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum for sharing your Iowa Caucus story with our listeners. Make sure to follow Senator Santorum on Twitter at @RickSantorum.

Nancy Pelosi is the current Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and Leader of the House Democratic Caucus. The first and only woman to be nominated Speaker, she is the highest-ranking elected woman in U.S. history and one of the most powerful leaders in American politics. Born and raised in Baltimore to a political family, Pelosi was involved in Democrats politics from an early age. Her father served as a Democratic Congressman from Maryland for nearly a decade and became Mayor of Baltimore when Nancy was seven years old. Growing up, she helped her father at his campaign events and supported her mother’s efforts to organize Democratic women. Upon moving to San Francisco after she graduated college, Pelosi started working her way up in the Democratic Party. She was elected as a Democratic National Committee member from California in 1976 and was selected to head the California Democratic Party only five years later in 1981. Pelosi was first elected to Congress in 1987 in a special election, narrowly defeating San Francisco Supervisor Harry Britt. She won reelection in the regular election in 1988 and has since been reelected 16 times with no substantive opposition, winning an average of 80 percent of the vote each election. In 2003, after Democratic House Leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri’s resignation, Pelosi took over as Minority Leader and became the first woman to lead a major party in the House. Following the 2006 midterm election, in which Democrats took control of the House, she became the first woman, the first Californian, and the first Italian American to hold the speakership. In President Bush’s second term, Pelosi distinguished herself as a major opponent of the Iraq War as well as the President’s attempt to reform Social Security. She strongly opposed the 2007 troop surge, joining with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to write a letter to Bush in which they claimed, “there is no purely military solution in Iraq. There is only a political solution. Adding more combat troops will only endanger more Americans and stretch our military to the breaking point for no strategic gain.” Pelosi also helped successfully defeat Bush’s Social Security plan, imposing intense party discipline to coordinate near-unanimous Democratic votes of opposition to the proposal. When President Obama took office in 2008, Pelosi played an instrumental role in passing many landmark bills. She spearheaded the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010 despite widespread concern from other Democratic leaders that the bill could not pass, leading President Obama to call her “one of the best speakers the House of Representatives has ever had.” Additionally, she provided key leadership in passing the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and 2010 Tax Relief Act. In the Trump era, Pelosi has led Congressional opposition to the President’s agenda. She thwarted his attempt to build a wall on the U.S./Mexico border during the 2018-2018 shutdown and has aggressively sought to expand federal gun control laws. Additionally, she has led efforts to investigate Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and Trump’s role in the scandal. While controversial among Republicans and Democrats alike—Republicans for having passed key progressive legislation and Democrats for having worked to rein in the progressive wing of her party—Pelosi is widely recognized as one of the most important and effective Congressional leaders in modern American history. As written in a well-known 2010 Christian Science Monitor article, “make no mistake: Nancy Pelosi is the most powerful woman in American politics and the most powerful House Speaker since Sam Rayburn a half-century ago.”

It's the first test of political strength in any presidential election contest, and Iowans take it seriously. Candidates take Iowa seriously too – knowing that the state can make or break their chances to become President. But what do Iowans think about all of this? How do they process this very important role they have in shaping American's future? Big Shot sent our senior editor (and native Iowan), Greg Drilling, to reconnect with his home state and its people to get a view into how the Iowa Caucus process is playing out.

In this episode of Big Shot, host Charlie King and co-host Tom Allon of City & State NY sit down with special guest Anthony Scaramucci. This live episode features a discussion with Mr. Scaramucci on the state of the Republican Party, how "Trumpism" will shape the future of the GOP, and how President Trump would stack up against our list of fantasy candidates, among other topics. Featured Guest: Anthony Scaramucci, Founder & Managing Partner, SkyBridge; Former White House Communications Director https://www.salt.org/bio-scaramucci-anthony Follow Anthony on Twitter @Scaramucci Co-Host: Tom Allon, President and Publisher, City & State https://www.cityandstateny.com/author/tom-allon.html Follow Tom on Twitter @TomAllonCSNY Make sure to follow City & State NY on Twitter @CityAndStateNY on online at https://www.cityandstateny.com/ Special thanks to Feedspot, who recently named Big Shot! one of Top 15 2020 United States Presidential Election Podcasts! https://blog.feedspot.com/presidential_election_podcasts/

There are few people with the credentials of Theodore Roosevelt, even fewer Presidents. Entering the Presidency following the death of President McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt would go on to create the national parks, forge the Panama Canal, and strengthen the national economy through antitrust legislation. Roosevelt, moving past incredible personal hardships, would forever change the power of the Presidency and show the world the strength and resolve of America. Born into the wealthy, dynastic Roosevelt family in 1858, Theodore, or “Teddy” was the second child of Marth Bulloch and Theodore Roosevelt Sr. He first entered public life in 1882 when he won election to the New York State Assembly. His work in the statehouse was focused on anti-corruption measures, a stance that he kept up for the rest of his political life. After “retiring” from politics after the death of his wife and mother, he returned from North Dakota to accept a position in the Civil Service Commission and after that, the President of the New York Police Department Board of Commissioners. In both of these roles, he continued to fight against corruption and the extreme poverty faced by the poor immigrants in New York City. After the election of William McKinley in 1896, Roosevelt went through three powerful offices. The first was Assistant Secretary of the Navy before he resigned to fight in the Spanish American war. The second was after the War when he decided to run for Governor of New York. The third was the Vice Presidency, which he took over after the incumbent died. This set up Roosevelt to become President in 1901. Roosevelt built his brand of politics around anti-corruption and pro-economic growth with social reforms. His trust-busting days were never anti-business in nature, Roosevelt would only go after companies that got too large and stifled economic growth. In addition to his actions on conservation, Roosevelt established food standards nationwide to protect people from foodborne diseases. He reinforced the Monroe Doctrine with the Roosevelt Corollary, essentially telling the world that any “trouble” in the Western Hemisphere would be dealt with by the United States. Theodore Roosevelt left his marks on politics, writing, and conservation just to name a few. His bold personality allowed him to always keep attention on him and away from his enemies. His personal strength of will, coupled with a firm belief in doing what is right would make him a fierce opponent, regardless of who was running against him.

Robert Francis “Bobby” Kennedy was a former U.S. Senator from New York and U.S. Attorney General. A member of the prominent Kennedy family, he is best known for his activism in the civil rights movement and his advocacy for marginalized communities. Robert F. Kennedy was born in 1925 in Brookline, Massachusetts. He served in the Navy before graduating from Harvard University and the University of Virginia School of Law. Early in his career, Kennedy managed the successful U.S. Senate campaign of his brother, President John F. Kennedy, and served as chief counsel to the Senate’s McClellan Committee. Following the election of John F. Kennedy to the Presidency, Bobby was appointed U.S. Attorney General. He became known as a crusader against organized crime and advanced desegregation throughout the country. After the assassination of President Kennedy, Robert was elected as the U.S. Senator from New York and became a staunch advocate for gun control and social justice issues. He was also a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War. Poised for a successful political career, Kennedy announced his campaign for the Democratic nomination for president in 1968. After winning the California primary, he was tragically assassinated by Sirhan Sirhan, a 24-year old Palestinian who opposed Kennedy’s support of Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War. His legacy has been revered by both sides of the aisle and has inspired a variety of tributes, including the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights and the renamed Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building. Kennedy was survived by his wife Ethel (née Skakel) and nine children. He is laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

This episode of Big Shot! features interviews with top Republican and Democratic leaders from across the country on the current state of the 2020 race. Participants include Tom Perez, Chair of the Democratic National Committee; Christine Pelosi, California political strategist and daughter of Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Tony Fabrizio, GOP pollster and strategist; Antjuan Seawright, Founder and CEO of Blueprint Strategy; and Jaime Harrison, Candidate for U.S. Senate in South Carolina. Featured Guests: Tom Perez; Chair, Democratic National Committee https://democrats.org/tom-perez/ Follow Tom on Twitter @TomPerez Tony Fabrizio; GOP Pollster and Strategist http://fabriziolee.com/about-us/tony-fabrizio/ Follow Tony on Twitter @TonyFabrizioGOP Antjuan Seawright; Founder and CEO, Blueprint Strategy https://blueprintstrategyllc.com/antjuan-seawright/ Follow Antjuan on Twitter @antjuansea Christine Pelosi, California Political Strategist Follow Christine on Twitter: @sfpelosi Jaime Harrison, Candidate for U.S. Senate in South Carolina https://jaimeharrison.com/ Follow Jaime on Twitter @harrisonjaime Also, make sure to learn more about Sunrise, a movement of young people fighting to stop the climate crisis. Visit them online at https://www.sunrisemovement.org/ Follow Sunrise on Twitter @sunrisemvmt

Sarah Palin is a former Mayor, Governor, Alaska Oil and Gas Commission Chair, and Vice Presidential candidate. Having started her political career in small-town Alaska politics, Palin was jettisoned to the national stage in 2008 when Republican Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain chose her as his running mate. Palin was born in 1972 to two teachers in Idaho before her family moved to Wasilla, Alaska. She got her start in politics in 1992 when she successfully ran for Wasilla City Council. Palin later successfully ran for Mayor on a pro-tax reform platform. As Mayor, she kept her promise by introducing a 2% sales tax and cutting property tax by 75%. Additionally, she proposed the construction of a municipal sports complex. Towards the end of her term, she was the subject of multiple ethics investigations, nearly all of which were dismissed. These investigations, according to her administration, had over-burdened her and kept her from doing the job the people of Alaska elected her to do. In 2008, then-Republican candidate Senator John McCain asked Sarah to visit his Sedona home, where he offered her the position of Vice-Presidential candidate. On the campaign trail, she proved to be a conservative firebrand, railing against the system and the mainstream media. However, she struggled in one-on-one interviews when interviewers asked nuanced policy questions. This lead to many speculate on McCain’s choice and if she cost him the election. Since 2008, Palin has continued her firebrand campaign-style, campaigning for Tea Party candidates around the country, most recently for-then candidate Donald Trump.

Harvey Milk is known for being the first openly gay public official in California and one of the first in the United States. A hero of the gay rights movement, many credit Milk with normalizing homosexuality in public life and giving many young, closeted gay Americans a beacon of hope to look for. Milk was born in 1930 in Woodmere, New York to a middle class, Jewish family. After his time in the Navy serving in the Korean War, Milk worked in finance. After living in New York for several years, he decided to move to San Francisco in 1972, where he opened Castro Camera on Castro Street. As Milk gained popularity within the community, he became a gay rights activist in the heart of an emerging gay rights movement. There, he became known as the “Mayor of Castro Street.” After several attempts in previous elections, Milk won a seat on the San Francisco City-Community Board in 1977. While in office, Milk advocated for civil rights for marginalized communities. Additionally, he worked to established daycare centers for working mothers and supported several initiates for affordable housing and improving the safety of the city. Milk’s term was tragically cut short when he was assassinated by fellow Board member, Dan White. White had resigned from office because he did not agree with the progressive changes being made by the city. Following court proceedings, White was charged with manslaughter rather than murder, which was attributed to the defense’s claims that White’s rage was caused by an unhealthy lifestyle and “junk food.” Milk’s assassination in combination with White’s lowered sentence caused demonstrations organized by gay rights activists to turn violent. Today, Milk is remembered by many and his life is depicted in several books and movies. Recently, Milk’s service in the Navy was recognized by the commission of the US Navy ship, the USNS Harvey Milk.

Ronald Reagan was the 40th President of the United States, serving from 1981 to 1989. He transformed American politics with his laissez-faire economic program, popularly known as “Reaganomics,” and played a major role on the world stage in leading the U.S. through the fall of the Soviet Union. Reagan’s first career was an unconventional start to his political legacy. Born into a working-class family in Illinois in 1911, Reagan became a Hollywood star and appeared in over fifteen films before serving in WWII. He was eventually elected President of the Screen Actors Guild, where he met and married his wife, Nancy Reagan. A former Democrat, Reagan’s charisma and outspoken opposition to welfare and anti-war activism led him to successfully run for Governor of California as a Republican in 1966. As governor, Reagan strengthened his conservative values and built a national profile before launching his candidacy for president in 1980. Reagan won the election in a landslide and became a stalwart for socially conservative values. He was the nation’s foremost advocate for state’s rights and deregulation. Conservatives lauded his tough foreign policy stances against the Soviet Union during the Cold War, which established his reputation for “preserving peace through strength.” Reagan easily won his second term in 1984 and became actively engaged in forming a number of demilitarization and peace agreements with Soviet Union Chairman Mikhail Gorbachev that deescalated Cold War tensions. His historic speech at the Berlin Wall in 1987 calling for Gorbachev to “tear down [the] wall” became a landmark in American foreign policy, and cemented Reagan’s place in history. After his Presidency, Reagan and his wife returned to California, where they opened the Reagan Presidential Library and Center for Public Affairs. He is a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and is often listed in the top ten of U.S. presidents. Reagan passed away in 2004 at the age of 93 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease for almost a decade.

Shirley Chisholm was the first black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the first woman to seek the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. A lifelong advocate for racial and gender equality, she is recognized as one of the 20th century’s greatest champions for civil rights. Chisholm was in Brooklyn in 1924 to a working-class Caribbean family and graduated from Brooklyn College in 1946 before receiving her master’s in elementary education from Columbia University. While working as a daycare director and educational consultant early in her career, Chisholm embedded herself in activism, becoming involved in local political clubs such as the Bedford-Stuyvesant Political League, the League of Women Voters, and the Brooklyn branch of the National Association of College Women. Chisholm's historic journey as a public servant began when she was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1965, where she served for three years. In the Assembly, Chisholm became known as a strong fighter for the civil rights of workers, immigrants, and women. In an upset victory, Chisholm was elected as the Democratic Congresswoman of New York’s 12th district in 1968. During her fourteen-year tenure in Congress, Chisholm was known as “Fighting Shirley Chisholm” and became a staunch advocate for healthcare, education, and social services issues. She befriended her ideological opponents, remained close to activist communities, and advanced the civil rights movement. Chisholm made history when she launched a campaign for president in 1971. Her campaign theme was “unbossed and unbought,” and promised to fight for social justice and economic issues that affected marginalized communities. Her campaign was met with prejudice from members of both political parties, and she was blocked from participating in televised primary debates. However, despite discrimination and an underfinanced campaign, Chisholm won 152 delegate votes at the 1972 Democratic National Convention. Although her campaign was unsuccessful, Chisholm continued to fight for progressive policies in Congress before retiring in 1983 to teach at Mount Holyoke College. Since her passing in 2005, Chisholm continues to serve as an inspiration and is credited as a trailblazer for women and people of color in politics. She was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Shirley Chisholm State Park opened in Brooklyn in 2019. Later this year, she will be portrayed in the upcoming film “The Fighting Shirley Chisholm” and television series “Mrs. America.”

Join host and longtime New York political insider Charlie King for the first episode of Big Shot! The Ultimate Fantasy Politics Podcast. This season, we're pitting larger than life leaders against President Donald Trump in a hypothetical 2020 Presidential race.    This episode features a live panel discussion of nationally-recognized experts on the life and hypothetical candidacy of John F. Kennedy Jr., in recognition of the 20th anniversary of his death. They include: Steven Gillon, Scholar-in-Residence, The History Channel; Author, “America's Reluctant Prince: The Life of John F. Kennedy Jr.” Rosemarie Terenzio, Director, Kivvit; former Chief of Staff to JFK Jr. at George Magazine and author of the book “Fairy Tale Interrupted: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Loss” on JFK Jr. Bryan Lanza, Managing Director, Mercury Public Affairs; Deputy Communications Director for the 2016 Trump-Pence Presidential Campaign

Big Shot! is the ultimate fantasy politics podcast - and we're ramping up for Season 2. This season, we're pitting larger than life leaders against President Donald Trump in a hypothetical 2020 Presidential race. Listeners will receive a behind the scenes look at how campaigns are run and won and where American politics is going in the age of Trump – hearing from political operatives, elected officials, voters, the press and more. Special shout out to impersonator Reggie Brown. Learn more about Reggie at www.PresidentialComedy.com

This season on Big Shot! The Ultimate Fantasy Politics Podcast, we're pitting larger than life leaders against President Donald Trump in a hypothetical 2020 Presidential race. Listeners will receive a behind the scenes look at how campaigns are run and won and where American politics is going in the age of Trump – hearing from political operatives, elected officials, voters, the press and more.