Matt Mackowiak's Mack On Politics

China's influence operations in the United States is the topic for the 257th episode.Our returning guest is New York Times best-selling author and investigative journalist Peter Schweizer, author of the new book, “Red-Handed: How American Elites Get Rich Helping China Win”. In this conversation we explore how China identifies influence targets, which industries are most valuable, what China really wants, whether this problem is truly a bipartisan one, and what can be done about it.You can buy the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Red-Handed-American-Elites-Helping-China/dp/0063061147.

In the 256th episode, we explore a building movement that is not receiving the national focus that it deserves: The National Popular Vote Compact (nationalpopularvote.com). Our guest is former State Senator Ray Haynes (R-CA), president of the Institute for Research on Presidential Elections and a national spokesman for the National Popular Vote movement.Enough states have banded together to provide 195 electoral votes for the national popular vote, and once they hit 270, the national popular vote winner will be elected President of the United States as the sole determining factor for the first time in American history. Hear how the movement is progressing, how they answer critics, and when this may actually happen.

Award-winning author and journalist Toby Harnden is the guest for the 285th episode. He is the author of the new bestseller, “First Casualty: The Untold Story of the CIA Mission to Avenge 9/11”. On the 20th anniversary of 9/11, in this conversation we look back to how the war in Afghanistan began, what role the CIA played, what the war cost, and how the war ended. The “Mack on Politics” podcast is available on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify. Interview subjects can be pitched by emailing matt@potomacstrategygroup.com.

In this episode we speak to author and journalist Michael Shellenberger, whose next book is “San Fran Sicko”, which examines how our major cities are objectively failing.

The war on small business is the subject pf the 283rd episode.Our guest is Carol Roth, bestselling author and small business advocate. Her new book is, “The War on Small Business: How the Government Used the Pandemic to Crush the Backbone of America”.In this episode we discuss how CDC guidelines and state and local emergency orders made big business essential and small business discardable, whether PPP was sufficient, how small businesses can prepare for the next pandemic and whether cryptocurrency is an option small business access to capital in the future.Email matt@potomacstrategygroup.com if you have guest ideas for a future podcast episode.

Longtime MSNBC “Hardball” anchor and bestselling author Chris Matthews is our guest for the 282nd episode.His new memoir is entitled, “This Country: My Life in Politics and History”. In this conversation we explore:His career path from the Peace Corps to being a Capitol Police officer to working in the U.S. Senate, the White House, for Speaker Tip O'Neill and then 20 years as a cable news TV hostWhether the U.S. Senate remains the “world's greatest deliberative body”Whether the filibuster should be eliminatedHis assessment of President Biden's first termWhat he learned after 20 years hosting “Hardball” Please give us a 5 star rating in the iTunes store and subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify.Guest ideas? Email: matt@potomacstrategygroup.com.

The Middle East is the subject of episode 281.Our guest is former Trump White House Envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt. In this episode we discuss:- The state of the cease fire- Egypt’s role in negotiating it- President Biden’s role- Why Hamas is doing this- How Iran is involved- How Iron Dome protects Israel- Whether the Abraham Accords are holding up- What we can make of Bibi’s future- Whether there is any reason for hope for Middle East peace Please give us a 5 star rating in the iTunes store and subscribe on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify.Guest recommendations? Email: matt@potomacstrategygroup.com.

Ohio is the subject of the 280th episode.Our guest is former U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci (R-OH), who was the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018.In this conservation:Is Ohio a battleground state?Why did Trump win Ohio decisively twice?What our guest makes of the legacy of Ohio Gov. John KasichOur guest’s view of the COVID response in OhioWhether our guest thinks the U.S. Senate race in 2018 was winnable in retrospectWhether our guest will run for Governor or U.S. Senate in 2022What he thinks when he looks back to his time in Congress Subscribe to the “Mack on Politics” podcast on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher and Spotify.Email comments, feedbacks, complaints and guest ideas to: matt@potomacstrategygroup.com.

A discussion of how political campaign tactics can help you grow your business — that’s the subject of the 279th episode. Our returning guest is Go BIG Media CEO and bestselling author Phillip Stutts, author of the new book, “The Undefeated Marketing System: How to Grow Your Business and Build Your Audience Using the Secret Formula that Elects Presidents”. In this conversation we examine how tactics used by winning campaigns can be quickly and thoughtfully utilized in business.

Leadership and mentorship are the subjects of the 278th episode. Our guest is my longtime friend Dana Perino, former White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush and author of the new bestseller, “Everything Will Be Ok: Life Lessons for Young Women”. In this episode we discuss why she wrote the book, the importance of mentorship, how to manage relationships and how to get the career you want.

How the PPP program saved Main Street is the subject of the 277th episode.Our guest is former Acting Associate Administration of the Small Business Administration Bill Briggs, who administered the PPP program.In this conversation we review what the program was, how and why it worked, what it was like at SBA over the past year, and how we government can better support small business in the future.

The US-China relationship is the subject of the 276th episode.Our guest is Josh Rogin, foreign policy columnist for The Washington Post and author of the new book, “Chaos Under Heaven: Trump, Xi, and the Battle for the 21st Century”. In this conversation we examine the state of the bilateral relationship, whether tariffs worked, how the US is attempting to decouple its economy from China’s, whether TPP could be revived, how COVID broke the US-China relationship and whether a new bipartisan consensus on China has developed on Capitol Hill.

Our subject for the 275th episode is the U.S. Senate.Our returning guest is U.S. Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN).In this conversation we size up the recently passed COVID stimulus bill, evaluate vaccine deployment, and discuss Biden’s Cabinet, security at the U.S. Capitol and energy issues.

The Biden campign is the subject of the 274th episode. Bestselling co-author Jonathan Allen, an NBC News analyst, wrote “Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency” along with The Hill’s Amie Parnes. In this conversation we look back to the Democratic primary, how close Biden came to dropping out in NH, how he came back, how he chose Harris, how he won and where things stand today.

The energy crisis in Texas is the subject of the 273rd episode.Our guest is Jason Isaac, director of Life: Powered at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and a former four-term State Representative from central Texas.We discuss why the electric grid failed, to what extend wind and solar contributed to this failure, how Texas can prevent this from happening in the future, how the Governor and legislature might respond, and where the story goes from here.

Virginia and the economic recovery are the subjects of our 272nd episode. Our guest is my old friend Pete Snyder, investor, businessman and Republican candidate for Governor of Virginia. In this conversation we discuss his business career, his recent experience helping save small businesses during the economic shutdown, why he’s running for Governor, why he wants to immediately reopen the schools, and where he wants to lead the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Congress is the subject of the 271st episode.Our guest is freshman Congressman August Pfluger (R-TX), a member of the Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs Committees.In this conversation, we discuss the first two weeks of the Biden administration, dive deep on the energy industry, and look back at the Jan. 6 domestic terrorism event at the U.S. Capitol.

The electoral college is the subject of the 270th episode. Our guest is 35-year veteran of the conservative movement Pat Rosenstiel, who serves as senior advisor to the National Popular Vote Compact (http://www.NationalPopularVote.com). In this conversation we explore arguments for and against a national popular vote, examine how it would work, consider misperceptions, and take stock of when (or if) it will become a reality.

In the 269th episode, we examine the events of the week and consider how things have changed.My guest is Ron Christie, former senior advisor for Vice President Dick Cheney, former Capitol Hill aide, and senior fellow at Harvard’s Institute of Politics. We discuss the domestic terrorism event at the Capitol, Trump’s role in it, the prospect of impeachment, the question of how the effects his legacy, and look forward to the Bide administration, the 2022 midterms and ponder the next presidential race.

COVID in New York nursing homes is the subject of our 268th episode.Bestselling author Janice Dean, senior meteorologist for Fox News channel is out guest. She’s become a reluctant activist in New York State after Gov. Cuomo’s policy of sending COVID positive patients into nursing homes harmed her own family. In this discussion we examine what happened to her family, what questions she has now, whether she wants to meet with Gov. Cuomo, and what the response has been.

The Trump election legal challenge and the Georgia U.S. Senate runoffs are the subjects of the 267th episode. Our returning guest is Georgia statewide radio host Erick Erickson. In this conversation we begin by talking about what makes good radio and what he’s learned these past few years. Our conversation continues with an examination of the claims made by Trump’s legal team and our guest’s own conclusions based on conversations and reviewing the evidence. We finish by looking at the U.S. Senate runoffs in Georgia and take the measure of Trump’s presidency.

Longtime Republican consultant Mike Murphy, an NBC News analyst and co-host of the “Hacks on Tap” podcast returns as our guest.In this conversation we look back at the 2020 election, consider how Trump performed, discuss the U.S. Senate runoffs in Georgia, the Biden transition, and look forward to the 2024 election.

The 2020 election and the Biden transition are the subjects of the 265th episode. Sirius XM chief DC correspondent Olivier Knox returns to our podcast. In this conversation we consider the Trump campaign’s election challenges, evaluate the Biden transition and legislative outlook for 2021, and discuss the urgent need for help at food banks across the country, a topic that is close to our guest’s heart.

The battle for the U.S. House is the subject of the 264th episode.Our returning guest is David Wasserman, House editor for the Cook Political Report.In this episode, we examine where current races stand, why the Democrats lost seats when the expectation was that they would gain seats, why polling was so bad, what lessons both parties can learn, and how Speaker Pelosi’s narrow majority will change things for the next two years.

The Georgia U.S. Senate runoffs are the subject of episode 263. Our guest is longtime GOP ad maker Fred Davis, who is producing ads for the reelection campaign of Sen. David Perdue. In this conversation we look back at the presidential campaign, consider whether Trump overperformed, examine whether Trump can maintain his hold over the GOP, and look ahead to the crucial Senate runoffs on Jan. 5.

The 2020 presidential race is our subject for episode 262.Our guest is Saul Anuzis, former Michigan GOP chairman and current president of the 60 Plus Association.In this conversation, we examine the current state of the presidential elections returns, where things stand in GA, PA, AZ and NV, consider whether Trump can still win, look ahead to the Senate map for 2022, and muse about how Washington will change with a President Biden and how the GOP will change in a post-Trump era.

This is our final episode before the presidential election.Our guest for the 261st episode is journalist Howard Fineman, an NBC News analyst and contributor to The Washington Post.In this conversation we take stock of the race, answer the question of whether Biden has earned a win, discuss the importance of unity, take a deep dive into Pennsylvania, discuss the electoral college map, consider a Biden presidency, and discuss the need that the losing candidate ultimately concede.

The 2020 presidential race is the subject of our 260th episode. Our returning guest is Brad Todd, Republican ad maker and co-author of “The Great Revolt”. In this conversation, we discuss whether Trump can win, the battle for the suburbs, the electoral map, the state of polling, key Senate races, one possible scenario and whether populism is here to stay.

The Mueller inquiry is the subject of the 259th episode.Our guest is former Trump deputy campaign manager Rick Gates, author of “Wicked Game: An Insider’s Story on How Trump Won, Mueller Failed, and America Lost”.In this conversation we talk to our guest about his early career, how he came to partner with Paul Manafort, who the final few months of the Trump campaign were like, how he got ensnared in the Mueller inquiry, what choice he faced, why he pled guilty, what he would do if he could do it all over again, and what he still wants to know.

The 2020 presidential campaign is the subject of the 258th episode. Our returning guest is Marc Lotter, director of strategic communications for the Trump-Pence campaign. In this episode, we discuss the VP debate, the state of the race, future presidential debates, and when President Trump can return to the campaign trail.

Cuba is the subject of the 257th episode. Our guest is David Landau, the author of “Brothers From Time to Time” about two brothers on opposite sides of the Cuban revolution in the 1950s and about what Cuba shows about socialism. In this conversation we examine why he wrote the book, how Castro was viewed in Cuba in the 1950s and since, who the two brothers were, how he wrote the book and fought to get it published, what the response has been from Cuban refugees in the U.S. and what Cuba’s experience can teach us about socialism.

Judge Amy Coney Barrett is our subject of the 256th episode.Our guest is her friend and colleague, Carter Snead, fellow law professor at Notre Dame.In this conversation, we discuss their friendship and her reputation, her time at Notre Dame, her likely selection for the Supreme Court, questions about her Catholicism, her views on Roe v. Wade, and the confirmation battle.

The Trump White House is the subject of the 255th episode.Our guest is former Trump White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, author of the new bestseller, “Speaking for Myself”.In this episode we discuss how she approached writing a memoir, a secret trip to Iraq on Christmas in 2018, what President Trump is really like, what she thinks about diplomatic efforts with North Korea, how she views the current media landscape, where she thinks the 2020 presidential race stands, why she thinks the debates will matter more than usual, and what lies ahead for her future.

For our 254th episode, we check in with U.S. Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), who is co-author of a new book, “Capitol of Freedom: Restoring American Greatness”. In this episode we discuss why he wrote the book and what he sees in the left’s efforts to change our Constitution, why he wrote a letter to DOJ about the funding of rioters in our cities, why he thinks Big Tech companies constitute a modern-day monopoly, and how he sees the 2020 election shaping up.

The U.S. Senate and the 2020 election are the subject of the 253rd episode. Our guest is U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), author of the new book, “The Mind of a Conservative Woman: Seeking the Best for Family and Country”. In this conversation we look back to August recess and the RNC convention, and look forward to the 2020 election, why she wrote this book, how the issue of abortion is viewed by women, why the Senate has devoted so much time to confirming judges, what she wants to see in the next COVID relief bill, why Nashville is a boomtown, and what she’s learned serving in the U.S. Senate.

The GOP convention is the subject of the 252nd episode. Our returning guest is Congressman Jim Banks (R-IN). In this conversation we examine the convention’s political impact, discuss President Trump’s speech which he witnessed at the White House, dig into new legislation he is proposing related to riots in our cities, explore whether violent riots could be classified as terrorism, and look ahead to legislative battles on COVID relief and government spending.

The 2020 race and the Democratic National Convention are the topics of the 201st episode. Our guest is Washington Post columnist Karen Tumulty. In this conversation we look back at the Democratic Convention, evaluate speeches by Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris and Joe Biden, look forward to the GOP convention, discuss the upcoming debates, and preview her new biography of Nancy Reagan.

Wisconsin is the subject of our 200th (!) episode. Our guest is former two-term Governor of Wisconsin Scott Walker. In this episode we explore the battleground status of his state for 2020, his thoughts on Biden’s VP choice, how he sees the economy rebounding, whether there are echoes to the violence in our cities and what he saw as Governor, whether the debates will decide the election, and what he is up to now.

The Constitution is the subject of the 199th episode. Our guest is UC-Berkeley law professor, Hoover Institution fellow and author John Yoo, whose new book is, “Defender in Chief: Donald Trump’s Fight for Presidential Power”. In this conversation we begin with our guest’s revelation that he just walked out of the Oval Office before our interview. Then we discussed his career, the Supreme Court’s DACA decision, the central thesis of his new book, rioting in American cities, his memo on enhanced interrogation during the Bush years, and what he makes of recent Supreme Court decisions.

Overcoming obstacles is the subject of the 198th episode.Our guest is Gov. Larry Hogan (R-MD), the co-author of the new book, “Still Standing: Surviving Cancer, Riots, a Global Pandemic, and the Toxic Politics that Divide America”. In this conversation we examine why he wrote a memoir and how he did it with his very busy day job, what it’s like to run as a Republican in Maryland, how he overcame challenges like his business going bankrupt and surviving cancer, and how he’s led during riots and a global pandemic. Finally, we explore whether his governing model is one that could work nationally.

John Solomon is our returning guest for the 197th episode. John is the co-author of the new book, “Fallout: Nuclear Bribes, Russian Spies, and the Washington Lies that Enriched the Clinton and Biden Dynasties”. In this conversation, we explore the purpose of the book, what the central revelation is, how Uranium sales and Ukraine fit in, what he’s learned about the Steele Dossier, what his reporting has found about Roger Stone, George Papadopoulos and Carter Page, what he expected from the Durham Report, what questions he still has about the false Russian collusion story, how he answers his critics, and why he started his own news site.

Iran is the subject of our 196th episode. Our guest is Alireza Jafarzadeh, deputy director in the US Representative office of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NRCI), their parliament-in-exile. In this conversation we examine how Iran is doing economically and with the coronavirus, how ending the Iran Deal has changed things, what life is like for the average Iranian, what NCRI hopes to accomplish with the Free Iran Summit on July 17, and how Iran will become a free country in the future.

The war in Afghanistan is the subject of our 195th episode.In this conversation, we talk to Rod Lurie, director of the #1 film in America, “The Outpost”, which profiles the Battle of Kamdesh in 2009.We explore how he came to direct the film, what techniques he tried to use, why the story was important to him, how, where and when the film was shot, how it was released, and what the response has been.

Tim Alberta, chief political correspondent for Politico magazine, returns as our guest for the 194th episode.In this conversation we take stock of the 2020 election, Trump’s polling disadvantage, the state of the GOP, the ‘law and order’ approach, the resignation of Black Democrats, and whether the 2020 race will likely tighten in the fall.

Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH) is our guest for the 193rd episode, and he joins us from Tulsa, OK, the scene of the Trump re-election campaign’s first rally in several months. In this conversation we discuss the protests, the current moment in our country, how rural America is surviving, what he expects from Congress for the rest of the year, what he hopes to see from the forthcoming Durham report on FISA abuse, how he sizes up Trump vs. Biden and what he sees as the stakes for the 2020 election.

The 202 presidential campaign is the subject for the 192nd episode.Our guest is Trump reelection campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh.In this conversation we discuss polls, protests, the economy, debates, and what will decide the 2020 race.

The George Floyd killing and resulting protests are the subject of the 191st episode.Our guest is social commentator and activist Toure, who hosts two podcasts, “The Toure Show” and “Democracyish”.In this conversation we take stock of this national moment, examine real solutions to police brutality, consider whether police union contracts are part of the problem, and probe the concepts of systemic racism and white privilege. Finally, we discuss how the protests will end.

The state of the Coronavirus is the subject of the 190th episode. Our returning guest is former HHS secretary Dr. Tom Price.In this conversation we examine the U.S. government response, the status of testing, treatment and a vaccine, the Gates Foundation’s financial commitment, whether a vaccine will be mandatory, how he views the risk of a second wave, and reflections on his time at HHS.

The Michael Flynn prosecution is the subject of the 189th episode. Our guest is Bloomberg Opinion columnist Eli Lake.In this conversation, our guest walks us through the Flynn prosecution, explains why he was charged with lying to the FBI, examines whether the interview was necessary or the lie was material to the investigation, whether Flynn knew Kislyak was being taped, how unmasking fits into all of this, whether Crossfire Hurricane was legitimate, and why the majority of the national media continues to advance the collusion narrative.

Investigating China is the subject of the 188th episode.Our guest is U.S. Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), one of 14 members of the appointed to the China Task Force in the U.S. House.In this conversation, we discuss the goals of the task force, how bilateral trade has been affected, what ag prices are going up, how we can decouple from China, what options exist to punish China, what risks exist in terms of their response, what our guest makes of the Phase 4 recovery bill and whether a compromise is possible.

China’s role in the spread of the Coronavirus is the subject of this episode. Our guest is U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. In this conversation, we discuss China’s role, what policy options exist to punish them, how we decouple China and the U.S. and bring back manufacturing and the supply chain, where he thinks COVID-19 stands, how we are doing in ramping up testing, whether he believes a phased re-opening of the economy is prudent, when the House may come back to work, and what the next economic recovery package may look like.