Politics and Polls

The GOP is often seen as "the party of the rich," enacting policies that benefit the wealthy and leave the poor behind. However, a new book by historian Lily Geismer reveals that Democrats also played a significant role in deepening American inequality. In this episode, she and Julian Zelizer discuss the Clinton-era policy decisions that led to skyrocketed inequality and poverty in the U.S. today. Her book, "Left Behind: The Democrats' Failed Attempt to Solve Inequality," was published in March 2022 by PublicAffairs. Geismer is an associate professor of history at Claremont McKenna College. Her research and teaching focuses on 20th century political and urban history in the United States, especially liberalism and the Democratic Party. * We apologize for any sound-quality issues in this episode. (Headphone microphones can be unkind.)

Big questions are coming up as the midterm elections inch closer. Where does the GOP stand in the post-Trump era? How severe is political polarization? And how will President Biden and his team tackle some of the country's biggest challenges from responding to the war in Ukraine to getting a handle on inflation? Former Congressman Will Hurd — and self-described “idealist” — proposes a blueprint for getting things done in Washington, all of which is explained in his new book, “American Reboot: An idealist Guide to Getting Things Done,” published this week by Simon & Schuster. He discusses this and more in a lively conversation with Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang in this week's episode. Hurd represented Texas's 23rd Congressional District from 2015 to 2021. He previously worked for the CIA stationed primarily in Washington, D.C., including a tour of duty as an operations officer in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India.  

Russia's attacks on Ukraine are getting closer to NATO countries and striking civilians trying to flee. Negotiations for a resolution have been attempted, but all have failed so far. Nuclear weapons seem as though they loom large, as the world watches how the conflict continues to unfold. Julian and Sam discuss the current state of the war in Ukraine, how the media is responding, and what might lie ahead in this week's episode.

Following Russia's invasion into Ukraine, the world finds itself again in a moment of war. As gunfire and bombings continue, it's unclear whether Putin will give up this fight, leading to questions about how to achieve an end to the conflict. Moving into a successful post-war peace will require thoughtful and deliberate leadership — characteristics that President Abraham Lincoln displayed during and after the Civil War.   A new book by author John Avlon provides a groundbreaking, revelatory account of Lincoln's approach to peace — one that's inspired many famous leaders including Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Avlon joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang in this week's show to talk about the book, “Abraham Lincoln: Fight for Peace,” published by Simon & Schuster in February 2022.   Avlon is a senior political analyst and anchor at CNN. He is an award-winning columnist and the author of Independent Nation, Wingnuts, and Washington's Farewell. Previously, he was the editor-in-chief and managing director of The Daily Beast and served as chief speechwriter for the Mayor of New York during the attacks of 9/11.

COVID-19 restrictions are being dropped around the country as the U.S. enters what feels like a state of normalcy, at least to some. Oncologist and health expert Ezekiel J. Emanuel joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang to discuss how the nation will continue to live with the virus. As Sam described on his Twitter feed: “What's out: surface transmission. What's in: air quality, HEPA filters.” Tune in to learn more.   Emanuel is the vice provost for global initiatives, the Diane v.S. Levy and Robert M. Levy University Professor, and co-director of the Healthcare Transformation Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. From January 2009 to January 2011, Dr. Emanuel served as a special advisor on health policy to the director of the Office of Management and Budget and National Economic Council. He is the most widely cited bioethicist in history. Emanuel visited the Princeton campus on Feb. 7-8 as part of the SPIA Leadership through Mentorship Program.  

Taking readers from Ground Zero to the Capitol Insurrection, Karen Greenberg describes the subtle tools that were forged under George W. Bush in the name of security — all of which had profound effects on democracy. She details these tools in a new book, "Subtle Tools: The Dismantling of American Democracy from the War on Terror to Donald Trump," which she discusses with Julian Zelizer in this episode. Greenberg is director of the Center on National Security at Fordham Law, an international studies fellow at New America, and a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations.  This recording debuted as a virtual book talk sponsored by the Princeton Public Library on Jan. 6, the anniversary of the insurrection. This interview was first recorded as a virtual public book talk sponsored by the Princeton Public Library Library. 

Laura Coates '01, CNN anchor and legal analyst and, believes in education as a form of activism. This led her to write her new book, "Just Pursuit: A Black Prosecutor's Fight for Fairness," a groundbreaking account of bias in the courtroom. In this episode, Julian and Sam talk with Laura about the essays in her book, which document her time as a prosecutor in the Department of Justice, and reveal how she experienced both racism and sexism in the courtroom. Despite her best intentions, she quickly realized that the "pursuit of justice creates injustice." Considered a constitutional expert, Laura is a former federal prosecutor who served as assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, as well as a trial attorney in the Voting Rights Section of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. In private practice, Laura was an intellectual property litigator with an expertise in First Amendment, defamation and media law. In addition to her role with CNN, she is also a SiriusXM Talk Show Host and an adjunct professor at the George Washington University School of Law. Her book, “Just Pursuit,” was published Jan. 18, 2022, by Simon & Schuster.

On the anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection, this week's episode focuses on the strains placed on American democracy. From voter suppression to wreckage at the U.S. Capitol, many of our political processes feel under attack, leaving some hopeless and others searching for solutions. Julian and Sam dive into the subject with scholar Carolyn Shapiro, an expert on the Supreme Court and its role in our constitutional democracy. She provides a primer on the Guarantee Clause, which provides Congress with the authority to ensure that each state's internal governance meets a minimum standard of republicanism. This was the subject of a paper she penned for the Arizona Law Review.

It's the end-of-the-year broadcast for Politics & Polls! Julian and Sam recap the year, beginning with a discussion on the Jan. 6 insurrection and a seemingly under-the-radar fight for democracy. They also chat about the supply chain, inflation and jobs, as well as some of the biggest news stories of the year. Hint: COVID-19 continues to ravage, sparking anxiety and fear, but vaccine rates are going up. This is why the pair gives kudos to science and scientists at the tail end of the episode. Thanks, as always, for listening, and see you in 2022!

Omicron, a new variant of COVID-19, is making its way around the globe, shuttering international flights and bringing back former restrictions. How will the U.S. react? Julian and Sam discuss this moment and how it's a big test for the Biden administration. They also chat about polarization, redistricting, and — looking ahead to 2022 and 2024 — how we can maintain our faith in elections.

Is it too early to talk about the 2022 Midterm Elections? Julian and Sam don't think so, which is why they unpack some of the issues that may threaten Democratic power next year. They discuss the role redistricting will play and the complexities of gerrymandering — an issue that's always on Sam's mind. Thanks for tuning in!

Abraham Joshua Heschel was a Polish-born American rabbi, theologian, and civil rights and anti-war leader. To this day, Heschel remains a symbol of the fight to make progressive Jewish values relevant in the secular world. Julian Zelizer wrote a biography on Heschel's life from childhood to death, detailing his position at the intersection of religion and progressive politics in mid-20th-century America. Sam Wang interviews Julian about the new book in this week's episode. 

Pro-Trump extremists seem to have a tight grip on the Republican Party at both state and national levels. With elections around the corner, traditional Republicans are now calling for party officials to move the GOP away from "Trumpism." Some are even wondering whether a new center-right party may be needed — as a last resort.   These concerns were expressed by Gov. Christine Todd Whitman and Miles Taylor in a recent Washington Post op-ed. They join Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang in this week's show.   Todd Whitman is the former governor of New Jersey (1994 to 2001). Taylor served at the Department of Homeland Security from 2017 to 2019, including as chief of staff, and was the anonymous author of a 2018 guest essay for The Times criticizing President Donald Trump's leadership.

Since President Joe Biden pulled U.S. troops out of Afghanistan, many are sorting through whether a withdrawal was really necessary. Regardless, the decision marks a decided end to a long and protracted war, which began during 9/11. Amb. Robert Finn joins Julian Zelizer in this week's episode to analyze the decision and its effects in this week's episode. A former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, Finn is a former lecturer on Turkish literature at Princeton University's Department of Near Eastern Studies and Ertegun Professor of Turkic Studies. His distinguished foreign service career includes posts at U.S. missions in Turkey and as ambassador to Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

Big government is often attacked. In the 1960s and 1970s, social advocates like Ralph Nader and Rachel Carson led the charge in the form of public interest groups. While they disrupted a number of government plans, some unintended consequences emerged: the undermining of big government liberalism, which is the alliance between government, business, and labor. A book by academic and author Paul Sabin traces the history of the public interest movement, showing the ways in which American liberalism has been at war with itself. Sabin is professor of history and American studies at Yale University where he teaches U.S. environmental history; energy politics; and political, legal, and economic history.

How are Congress and the courts exercising their powers on the issue of voting rights? Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang are joined by Wendy Weiser, vice president for democracy at the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University, for a conversation about voting rights from the Texas State legislature to the U.S. Supreme Court.  Weiser has appeared on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, PBS, and has written for The New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, and others. Before joining the Brennan Center, Weiser was a senior attorney at NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund and a litigation associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. 

New daily Covid-19 infections in the U.S. are reaching 100,000+, yet, not too long ago, that number was 11,000. With everyone asking ‘where do we go from here?', Dr. Leana Wen joins Julian and Sam to consider the path through the pandemic and the future of public health. The trio preview Wen's brand-new book, “Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health,” which chronicles public health's successful innovations through the lens of Wen's personal journey from young immigrant to Baltimore Health Commissioner. Throughout the pandemic, Wen's expertise has been front-and-center in her contributing columns for The Washington Post and medical analyses on CNN. She is an emergency physician, visiting professor of health policy and management at George Washington University, and a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Behind almost every U.S. President there has been a First Lady... but we don't always hear much about them. This week, author Julia Sweig joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang to discuss her book and podcast, “In Plain Sight,” which delves into the audio diaries of Lady Bird Johnson.  Julia Sweig is a New York Times bestselling author whose writing has appeared in the Washington Post, the Atlantic, the Nation, and more. She's a senior research fellow at the Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas-Austin. Her most recent book, “Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight,” was released in March 2021. Sweig is also the creator, host, and executive producer of In Plain Sight, a podcast developed with ABC Audio and Best Case Studios focused on the same topic. 

How are partisan identity and misinformation connected? Sam Wang is joined by Brendan Nyhan to discuss misinformation, partisan identity, and the stability of America's democratic norms. Nyhan is a professor in the Department of Government at Dartmouth College. He is a researcher on politics, polarization, and healthcare, with an emphasis on false beliefs. He's also a contributor to the Upshot from The New York Times and the co-founder of Bright Line Watch, a group that monitors the health of American democracy.

What in the world is going on? Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang catch you up on some of the biggest discussions happening in politics today: messaging about vaccines and the ongoing controversy about critical race theory and school curriculums.  

Julian Zelizer sits down with David Kushner to discuss his new podcast Alligator Candy, which is based on his memoir of the same name. The podcast tells the story of Kushner's family and how the community came together after the disappearance of his brother.    Kushner is an acclaimed author and journalist who serves as a contributing editor of Rolling Stone and Outside. He has also written for publications including Vanity Fair, Wired, The New Yorker, New York Times Magazine, GQ, and more.

How did Bill Barr alter the effectiveness of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) during his time as President Donald Trump's attorney general? Elie Honig joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang for a deep dive into the DOJ and a discussion of his new book, "Hatchet Man: How Bill Barr Broke the Prosecutor's Code and Corrupted the Justice Department,” released July 6.   Honig worked as a state and federal prosecutor for 14 years, trying cases including human trafficking and violent and organized crime. He's now a CNN legal analyst, a writer for the online news outlet CAFE, and a special counsel for the firm of Lowenstein Sandler, LLP.

Is there life on other planets? Are UFOs evidence of such life? Astrophysicist Adam Frank joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang to discuss his research of technosignatures — signs of past or present use of technology on other planets — and the search for evidence of life outside Earth. Adam Frank is professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Rochester. He's a regular contributor to NPR's All Things Considered, and he occasionally writes for The New York Times. Last year, he and several of his colleagues were awarded a grant from NASA to fund the study of technosignatures.

President Richard M. Nixon is perhaps best known for the Watergate scandal and becoming the first U.S. president to resign. But how much more is there to that familiar narrative? Kurt Andersen joins Julian Zelizer to discuss his new podcast, Nixon at War, and the behind-the-scenes story of the downfall of America's 37th President.  Kurt Andersen is a New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and radio host. Currently he's the host, writer, and co-producer of the new PRX podcast Nixon at War, a seven-episode series that tells the story of America's 37th President.

The arrest of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. sent the 1960 Kennedy Campaign into overdrive in the last nine days of a historic campaign for the presidency. But what happened during that lead-up to one of the closest elections of the 20th century?  Author Paul Kendrick joins Julian Zelizer in this episode to discuss his recent book “Nine Days: The Race to Save Martin Luther King Jr. and Win the 1960 Election.” Paul Kendrick is a writer and speaker whose articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Chicago-Sun Times, and many more publications. He's also an adjunct professor at National Louis University in Chicago. “Nine Days” is the third book that he has written with his father, Stephen Kendrick.

Online misinformation runs rampant on social media and is having tangible impacts on American society. What can be done to combat the spread of these untruths?   Jonathan Mayer joins Sam Wang in this episode to discuss misinformation, big tech, and online data-driven research, and where they intersect with U.S. government policy. He also discusses his newest endeavor, Rally, which is a collaboration with Mozilla. Mayer is an assistant professor in the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs as well as the Department of Computer Science. He studies the intersections of technology and law, focusing on online speech, consumer privacy, and national security.

We're living in a political disinformation era. Public opinion is sharply divided not just on the facts, but what actually constitutes fact or fiction. Two issues have made this dilemma crystal clear: the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines and the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. In this episode, Julian and Sam weed through the neuroscience of the brain and what makes people hold on to beliefs that may be factually inaccurate. They discuss the general distrust of institutions and how beliefs spread in our speedy social media ecosystem.

How much time does the Biden administration have until Republicans revitalize their strength or even expand in the midterms? This is a question brewing among Democrats who wonder whether they should go bold with legislation, or tread lightly to protect the slim majority of Democrats in the House and Senate. In this episode and article, Paul Starr argues that Democrats must be bold in the battles they fight but careful about those they choose. Perhaps above all else, the party must prove that government can work for ordinary people while improving election reform so democracy survives. Starr is professor of sociology and public affairs at Princeton University and Stuart Professor of communications and public affairs at Princeton's School of Public and International Affairs. He also serves as founding co-editor of The American Prospect, a liberal magazine that he co-founded in 1990 with Robert Kuttner and Robert Reich. Starr's work addresses a wide range of questions in politics, public policy, and social theory.

Catching up on the politics of the week, Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang discuss how Rep. Liz Cheney was ousted from her role as House Republican Conference chair by the GOP, a position she's held since 2017, and what it means for democracy. Sam uncovers some suspicious Census undercounting of Hispanics in New York City, and they both evaluate COVID-19 vaccine messaging — and how to reach herd immunity.

The Biden Administration is steadfastly pushing through a $4.1 trillion infrastructure plan, which some are comparing to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal of the 1930s. Moving beyond roads, bridges, and tunnels, Biden’s bipartisan bill includes improvements to broadband internet, climate change, and even racial justice. Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang examine the plan with journalist Matt Yglesias — who recently wrote about it in his newsletter “Slow Boring.” Yglesias co-founded Vox.com with Ezra Klein and Melissa Bell in 2014. In 2020, he moved to Substack, an email newsletter subscription platform, where he writes independently.

After the election of Donald Trump, rural America — which made up a good portion of Trump's base — quickly became a focal point. Authors like J.D. Vance and others wrote about their struggling hometowns in the hopes of understanding the Trump appeal. And despite his 2020 election loss, Trump’s foothold remains strong in many of these pastoral pockets. A native Nebraskan, author Ross Benes joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang in today's episode to discuss what made the Cornhusker State drift right in the 2016 election. Benes is the author of "Rural Rebellion: How Nebraska Became a Republican Stronghold," published by the University Press of Kansas. A journalist and research analyst, he has written for Esquire, The Wall Street Journal, Rolling Stone, and more.

Given today's anti-immigrant, nativist sentiments, is the American Dream even still possible for immigrants to the U.S.? For decades, the politics behind immigration control have undermined the idea of citizenship for all, making this a hard question to answer. In a new book, historian Sarah Coleman reveals the roots behind today's immigration policies. She shows how immigration politics was not just about building or tearing down walls, but about employer sanctions, access to schools, welfare, and the role of local authorities in implementing policies. She discusses this and more in this episode with Julian Zelizer, her mentor when she was a Ph.D. candidate at Princeton, and Sam Wang. Coleman is assistant professor of history at Texas State University. Her book, "The Walls Within: The Politics of Immigration in Modern America," was published by the Princeton University Press.

President Joe Biden is approaching his 100th day in office, yet his ultimate win against incumbent Donald Trump was never a foregone conclusion. In their new book, “Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency,” political reporters Jonathan Allen and Amie Parnes recount Biden’s perilous journey to the White House — from initial primary losses to the now-infamous first presidential debate.   Allen is a senior national political reporter with NBC News Digital, and Parnes is a senior correspondent for The Hill. The pair also are the authors of the New York Times bestseller “Shattered,” which debriefed readers on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. *This episode first debuted as virtual book talk hosted by Princeton SPIA.

An often-forgotten champion for racial justice in America is Thaddeaus Stevens, a 19th century statesman. He was a leader of the young Republican Party's radical wing, fighting for anti-slavery and anti-racist policies long before others endorsed them. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he saw the Civil War as a second American revolution — an opportunity to remake the country into a true multiracial democracy. In this episode, Sam Wang takes a deep dive into the life of Stevens with historian Bruce Levine, a professor emeritus of history at the University of Illinois and the bestselling author of four books on the Civil War era. They also discuss "Special Field Order 15," which later became known by the wartime phrase "40 acres and a mule," in which some freed Black families were given 40 acres of tillable land.

As America’s only Black prime-time anchor, Don Lemon's monologues on racism, antiracism, and the nation's systemic flaws speak for his millions of fans. In this episode, Lemon speaks candidly with Julian Zelizer about his new book, "This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism," which currently sits at number on The New York Times Best Sellers list.   In an urgent, deeply personal, riveting plea, Lemon shows us all how deep our problems lie, and what we can do to begin to fix them. This podcast originally aired as a virtual book talk on March 29 co-sponsored by the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and Labyrinth Books.

Conspiracy theories are embedded in American history, though today they circulate at speeds we haven't seen before. Qanon, or Q, is a modern-day example of the power of conspiracies in American political discourse. Loyalty to Q is a common theme among those involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang work to disentangle the web of conspiracy theories and their effects in this episode with two experts: Michael Butter and Nancy Rosenblum. Butter is author of "The Nature of Conspiracy Theories" and is professor of American literature and cultural history at the University of Tübingen. Rosenblum is author of "A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy" and is the Harvard University Senator Joseph Clark Professor of Ethics in Politics and Government emerita.

Within the first 100 days of Joe Biden’s presidency, he’s already signed a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package as the vaccine roll-out is accelerating. Meanwhile, the Democrats wrestle with advancing their priorities in the Senate, as Republicans continue to filibuster. There’s even talk of eliminating the filibuster, which could obstruct the Biden agenda. Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang unpack it all in this week’s episode.

John Marshall may be one of the most influential founders to never become President. As an early chief justice, he was a principal founder of the U.S. system of constitutional law. But more than that, his story is entwined with the entire founding of America. In this episode, Sam Wang discusses Marshall's legacy with historian and author Robert Strauss. The pair go into great detail on the American issues Marshall helped to shape, which is the subject of a new book by Strauss titled “John Marshall: The Final Founder.”

The story of liberalism isn't often told, especially as the conservative era has taken root. Yet, there was a key figure in the formation of modern-day liberalism who is indeed worthy of attention: the late Sen. Edward “Ted” Kennedy. Historian and writer Neal Gabler joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang in this week’s episode to discuss the early part of Ted Kennedy’s career. Gabler is the author of “Catching the Wind,” the first installment of a two-part volume on Ted Kennedy’s achievements, which include sponsoring nearly 700 bills that eventually became laws. Gabler is the author of several books, and his essays and articles have appeared in The Atlantic, Vanity Fair, Esquire, Playboy, Newsweek, and Vogue, and more. He is currently a professor for the MFA program at Stonybrook Southampton.

Nearly every major decision governing the country bears the stamp of the U.S. Senate. Yet, the current makeup of the Senate — which is predominantly white, conservative males — does not necessarily represent the majority of Americans. Some even argue that the U.S. Senate has become one of the greatest threats to democracy.   Senate insider Adam Jentleson joins Julian Zelizer and Sam Wang in this episode of Politics & Polls, which originally aired as a live virtual event Feb. 22 and was hosted by Labyrinth Books. Jentleson, public affairs director at Democracy Forward and former deputy chief of staff to Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), is author of "Kill Switch," which shows how the Senate has been transformed over the decades by a minority of white conservatives.

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.