Pennsylvania Kitchen Table Politics

With less than 230 days to go in this historic election cycle, we are back! In this mini-episode get to know our new co-host, Kyle Sammin, Managing Editor of Broad + Liberty, and hear about our new partnership with PoliticsPA.com. 

School board races across Pennsylvania are more expensive and contentious than ever before. We sit down with Joshua Levinson of the East Penn School District in Lehigh County. He shares what he is hearing in the final days of this historic campaign and what it might mean for next November. 

We sit down with Superior Court Judge Dan McCaffery. This proud son of Irish immigrants shares his passion for fighting for justice and why he wants a seat on Pennsylvania's Supreme Court.

We sit down with the Deputy Controller who is running unopposed this November for Controller. She provides a granular discussion not just about city finances, but also unique insight on Democratic organizing in and around Pittsburgh.

The Bucks County Commissioners are on the ballot and the race is attracting national attention. A victory by the Democrats will be historic. We sit down with Kunal Atit - the campaign manager for the Democratic incumbents. He talks GOTV plans for this November and what this campaign means for next November. 

This season, we talk with the candidates and operatives focused on this November and what results might mean for next November. Join Harrison Cann, senior reporter for City and State PA, for an introductory overview. 

Join a Pennsylvania fundraising expert for her analysis of Federal Election Commission reports from across the Congressional delegation. The money map provides important insight at this early stage of the 2024 cycle. 

This Independence Day, we sit down with award winning journalist, Neil King Jr. His book, American Ramble, chronicles a 330 mile walk from Washington, DC to NYC. Much of this journey traverses Pennsylvania. Neil provides us unique perspective from diverse Pennsylvanians and unforgettable history lessons from corners of the Commonwealth too often overlooked.

We do a deep dive into what happened Tuesday night in Philadelphia with the top vote getter on City Council. Councilman Thomas also shares perspective on the new city budget, priorities for next year, the race to be Council President and who should be the next coach of the Sixers.

We do a deep dive into what happened Tuesday night in Allegheny County with the Majority Whip of the State House Dan Miller. We discuss the County Executive and District Attorney races as well as his dynamic podcast, At the Table. 

We conclude our in-depth conversations with the candidates for Allegheny County Executive.  Dave Fawcett has taken on big challenges in the courtroom. He reflects on his time years ago in Allegheny County government and lays out his vision for the next four years. 

We continue our in-depth conversations with the candidates for Allegheny County Executive.  John Weinstein has served as County Treasurer since 1999. He has been endorsed by the County Democratic Party and the Central Labor Council. 

We sit down with the candidates for Allegheny County Executive. Michael Lamb discusses lessons learned from his years as Pittsburgh City Controller and vision for running Pennsylvania's second largest county. This includes his background of innovative policymaking "from press conference to practice". 

In this new season, we sit down with the candidates for Allegheny County Executive. State Rep. Sara Innamorato shares with us her background, reflects on her first run for office, what she is hearing at the doors and previews key policy initiatives she hopes to tackle if elected. 

Daniel Pearson is a lifelong Philadephian. He is member of the Inquirer's editorial team. He walks us through developing coalitions, turnout models and more in advance of the May primary.

With 12 weeks to go to a historic citywide election, we sit down with Ali Perelman and Jon Geeting. These Philadelphia civic leaders are from different neighborhoods and backgrounds. They share their nuanced perspective on the race for Mayor and Council. They run an innovative organization - Philadelphia 3.0 - which aims to make the city more competitive through a government that works for residents and businesses.

We sit down with the Chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus. State Representative Donna Bullock shares her personal thoughts on the historic diversity in the new legislature.  With an eye to May's elections, she provides insight on what she is hearing from across different Philadelphia neighborhoods.

In this new season, we explore the May primary race for Mayor, Controller and City Council in Philadelphia. State Representative Jared Solomon isn't afraid to speak his mind. He shares what he's hearing from his diverse constituents in Northeast Philly. He also previews the 2024 election.

The Montgomery County race between Todd Stephens and Missy Cerrato was the closest contest in Pennsylvania. Planned Parenthood Advocates played a critical role in the Cerrato victory which ultimately flipped the State House. Executive Director Signe Espinoza takes us behind the scenes. 

In the most purple district in the Commonwealth, the newly reelected Congresswoman discusses what went into her victory. She talks in detail about meeting new Carbon County voters, engaging naturalized citizens, sky-high student turnout and more.

Ben Forstate, campaign manager for Dr. Arvind Venkat's historic State House campaign, explains recent Democratic inroads in the North Hills. He discusses how the campaign raised record sums and flipped the seat. Ben also predicts what all this means for the open County Executive race next year. 

We sit down with Kunal Atit who served as Congressman Matt Cartwright's campaign manager. He takes us behind the scenes going county by county of NEPA and department by department of the campaign. 

As the dust all but settles from last Tuesday, two ace Harrisburg reporters go region by region discussing hot races and turnout.  John Micek and Justin Sweitzer also share perspective on what results could mean for future PA elections.

In our last episode before Election Day, Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon talks turnout. We discuss the Phillies, 2018 vs. 2022 and preview the 2023 House Judiciary Committee.

Less than a week out from this historic election, we recap the key developments in the Keystone State. 

One week out from Election Day, we go race by race reviewing the hottest State House contests. We sit down with the co-founder of Turn PA Blue to discuss the GOTV plans of their grassroots army and what to look for on Election Night.

We review the key political developments in the Keystone State two weeks out from this historic election. 

We unpackage the flurry of statewide polls with Professor Chris Borick who spearheads the Muhlenberg Institute of Public Opinion. He also walks us through their latest survey on the Wild-Scheller race and previews their latest survey in the field now.

We unpackage the dynamics in Bucks County in the final few days of this historic cycle. Our discussion in this purple county explores Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick's reelection prospects and the hottest State House races in the Commonwealth

We review the key political developments in the Keystone State three weeks out from this historic election. 

We review the key political developments in the Keystone State four weeks out from this historic election. 

Daniel Marans is the senior politics reporter at the Huffington Post. He recently traveled throughout NEPA to report on Congressman Matt Cartwright's contentious reelection race. Daniel takes us behind the scenes from Honesdale to Pittston. 

We review the key political developments in the Keystone State five weeks out from this historic election. 

 In the final sprint of this historic campaign, organized labor in and around Pittsburgh is busy. Darrin has served our country in the Navy and serves Pittsburgh as a fire fighter. He is the President of the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council since 2018 and takes us through labor's GOTV plans. 

State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta came up short in the US Senate primary, but he has not slowed down.  He takes a break from long days and late nights crisscrossing the Commonwealth to share what he is hearing and what he is planning for the weeks ahead.

We review the key political developments in the Keystone State six weeks out from this historic election. 

We review the key political developments in the Keystone State seven weeks out from this historic election. 

The conversation with Chair of the County Commissioners and former Senate candidate, Dr. Val Arkoosh, ranges from infrastructure spending to grassroots political organizing. We go behind the scenes at the Women for Fetterman rally and hear her thoughts on two county residents running for statewide office. 

We review the key political developments in the Keystone State eight weeks out from this historic election. 

Largely under the radar, the independent expenditure Forward Majority is investing heavily in several Pennsylvania State House races. They have one goal - to flip the chamber from red to blue.  From Erie to Bucks County and points in between, we get granular on the state of play in each race.

As tens of thousands of Pennsylvania children go back to school, we sit down with two former teachers. They are spearheading an innovative non-partisan effort to raise awareness amongst candidates for the State House and State Senate. 

We review the key political developments in the Keystone State nine weeks out from this historical election. 

State House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton takes us behind the scenes as this historically "hot" summer began. She gives her perspective on two of her colleagues and this November.   As she celebrates her birthday, she shares a wish for the future. 

Each week, new polls are coming out that provide perspective on the state of the marquis races in Pennsylvania. We sit down with Professor Chris Borick of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion. Our discussion focuses on the methodology that differentiates a good poll from a great poll...and how to spot the many bad polls.

Every weekend, dozens of Marylanders visit the doors of Pennsylvania voters. These grassroots volunteers call themselves Allies for Democracy. We sit down with them to learn about their plans for the final three months of this historic election. 

We sit down with Frederick Clarkson who wrote a lengthy piece in Salon Magazine about the history of State Senator Mastriano's religious faith. 

We unpackage the Federal Election Commission filings and discuss the record fundraising across Pennsylvania this cycle. 

Dating to before 1776, there has been a thriving Jewish community in Pennsylvania. In November, Pennsylvania could very well elect a Jewish Governor. We sit down with the leadership of DJOP, a grassroots statewide organization, for an in-depth overview of their efforts in the final 115 days of this historic campaign. 

Over Memorial Day weekend, David Siders from Politico visited rural Franklin County. He wanted to see the community where State Senator Doug Mastriano lives. We go in depth with David about his extensive reporting from that trip. 

We sit down with three elected leaders in Harrisburg to discuss the policy and political landscape ahead. They each flipped seats in the Philadelphia suburbs in 2018 and reflect on the campaign trail then versus now. 

We sit down with CeasefirePA - the Commonwealth's leader advocating for an end to gun violence. We talk about the latest debates over gun violence prevention in Harrisburg, the Supreme Court decision and the first federal legislation in a generation.