Podcast appearances and mentions of bridget bowman

Polls, surveys and statistics. The NBC News Political Unit looks at the final numbers before the vote comes in on Election Day. Chuck talks with Mark Murray, senior political editor, and national political reporters Bridget Bowman.

In February, Mark Murray, Bridget Bowman and Ben Kamisar joined Chuck to pick their top prospects from the 2024 Senate races. Now they're back to see which picks stand up for the general election, and which races have changed.

Chuck sits down with Mark Murray, Bridget Bowman and Ben Kamisar to talk about who has an edge among the 2024 Senate races.Plus, the new NBC News Politics newsletter goes live this week. Sign up here: https://link.nbcnews.com/join/5cj/nbc-news-politics-signup  ChuckMarkBridgetBenRound 1 - Toss upsOhio GOP (picked 1st)Nevada Dem RosenMontana GOPMichigan DemRound 2 - Lean / LikelyMaryland DemNew Jersey DemWisconsin Dem Baldwin (picked 1st)Florida GOP ScottRound 3 - Lean / LikelyPennsylvania Dem CaseyPennsylvania GOPTexas DemTexas GOP Cruz (picked 1st)Round 4 - LongshotNew Mexico GOP DomeniciW Virginia GOP Justice (picked 1st)Missouri Dem KunceVermont Dem (not Sanders)TOSS UPS: Arizona, Montana, Ohio, Nevada, MichiganLEANS AND LIKELY: Pennsylvania, Florida, Maryland, Wisconsin, Texas, New JerseyLONGSHOTS / Special rules: California must pick a nameWest Virginia must pick a nameUtah must pick a name

Bringing the band back together — NBC News Chief Political Analyst Chuck Todd sits down with the political unit's Mark Murray, Bridget Bowman and Alexandra Marquez to discuss their top predictions for each quarter of 2024.

In this episode, Ben and Kate continues the conversation about the current presidential candidates running for the 2024 Election. This episode is part two covering the remainder of the republican candidates that are being tracked by nation-wide polling. Research/Resources: “Presidential candidates, 2024”. Published in Ballotpedia website and available on https://ballotpedia.org/Presidential_candidates,_2024 “Tracking the Trump criminal cases” by Politico staff. Published in Politico website 6/13/2023 and available on https://www.politico.com/interactives/2023/trump-criminal-investigations-cases-tracker-list/ “WSJ poll: Trump leads GOP primary field by 46 points as DeSantis drops” by Andrew Zhang. Published in Politico website September 2, 2023 and available on https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/02/donald-trump-leads-gop-primary-field-by-46-points-wsj-poll-finds-00113829“Biden gets low marks on economy and major concerns about his age as he looks to Trump rematch, new poll shows” by Kevin Breuniger. Published in CNBC website September 4, 2023 and available on https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/04/biden-2024-election-poll-trump-economy-old-age-concerns-inflation.html“Joe Biden Lied At Least 16 Times About His Family's Business Schemes”. Published in Committee on Oversight And Accountability House website August 24, 2023 and available on https://oversight.house.gov/blog/joe-biden-lied-at-least-15-times-about-his-familys-business-schemes/“Chris Christie: On the Issues” by Bridget Bowman. Published in NBC News Meet the Press Blog website June 7, 2023 and available on  https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/meetthepressblog/chris-christie-issues-rcna88149 Check out our website at http://artofdiscussing.buzzsprout.com, on Facebook at Art of Discussing and on Instagram @artofdiscussing.Got a topic that you'd like to see discussed? Interested in being a guest on our show? Just want to reach out to share an opinion, experience, or resource? Leave us a comment below or contact us at info@artofdiscussing.com!! We'd love to hear from you! Keep Discussing!Music found on Pixabay. Song name: "Clear Your Mind" by Caffeine Creek Band"

On Monday, a federal judge in D.C. set March 4, 2024 as the start date for the first of former President Trump's two federal criminal trials. The day after that is Super Tuesday. Mark Murray, Ben Kamisar, Bridget Bowman and Alexandra Marquez of the NBC News political unit join Chuck to explain how Trump's legal and political calendars may mix and combine in 2024.

A brand new NBC News poll shows that two-thirds of voters are uncomfortable with President Biden and former President Trump running for the White House again — and while Biden has not yet officially announced a run for re-election, a primary seems to be rearing up in earnest on the Republican side, with reports of fmr. Amb. Nikki Haley's bid to come in the next couple weeks. Mark Murray, Bridget Bowman and Dante Chinni of the NBC News political unit join Chuck to break down the latest on Decision 2024.

As the new year settles in, giving us a hint of the issues that will shape our political landscape for the foreseeable future, the pollsters with NBC News are hard at work taking the temperature of voters. Mark Murray and Bridget Bowman of the NBC News political unit join Chuck to preview how their next poll will inform us of America's zeitgeist with a new election cycle now heating up.

Chuck sits down with Mark Murray, Bridget Bowman and Ben Kamisar from the NBC News Political Unit to discuss Tuesday's midterm results and look forward to the races that haven't been called yet.

Primary results last night in South Carolina, Nevada and across the country seem to show — once more — Trump's undying influence over the Republican Party. Jon Ralston, CEO of the Nevada Independent, and Bridget Bowman, NBC News political deputy editor, join Chuck to preview some of the midterm's marquee general elections — now just taking shape.

Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of Inside Elections and Bridget Bowman, deputy editor at the NBC News Political Unit, join Chuck to talk about primary races across the country, from Pennsylvania and Ohio to Georgia … even Oklahoma. 

2021 was a year of big accomplishments — and big disappointments — for the Biden administration. Mark Murray, Ben Kamisar and Bridget Bowman from the NBC News Political Unit join Chuck to look ahead to 2022. 

The weather outside might not be so frightful, but Congress' inability to do anything on time sure does suck. Here we are in December, and, as usual, there is a mess of legislative business to attend to. That makes the most wonderful time of the year, at least on Capitol Hill, not so wonderful. It also begs the question: Is working on Capitol Hill worth it? As the parties work furiously to recruit stars to run for the House and Senate, what's their selling point? Here to discuss on Political Theater are CQ Roll Call's own Niels Lesniewski and Bridget Bowman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The weather outside might not be so frightful, but Congress' inability to do anything on time sure does suck. Here we are in December, and, as usual, there is a mess of legislative business to attend to. That makes the most wonderful time of the year, at least on Capitol Hill, not so wonderful. It also begs the question: Is working on Capitol Hill worth it? As the parties work furiously to recruit stars to run for the House and Senate, what's their selling point? Here to discuss on Political Theater are CQ Roll Call's own Niels Lesniewski and Bridget Bowman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Senate was left without any Black women when Vice President Kamala Harris left the chamber to join the White House. CQ Roll Call's Bridget Bowman reports that activists are eying two Senate races in North Carolina and Florida as opportunities to fill the void Harris left behind.

The Senate was left without any Black women when Vice President Kamala Harris left the chamber to join the White House. CQ Roll Call's Bridget Bowman reports that activists are eying two Senate races in North Carolina and Florida as opportunities to fill the void Harris left behind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a busy few years for Rep. Madeleine Dean, the Pennsylvania Democrat elected to the House in 2018. The lawyer and professor was part of a historic wave of women elected who put the chamber back in Democratic control. She wrote a book with her son about his opioid addiction. She served as an impeachment manager for the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump. And she is now being mentioned as a possible Senate contender for the seat that retiring Republican Pat Toomey is vacating in 2022. Jim Saksa talked to Dean and her son Harry Cunnane about their new book, “Under Our Roof.” And then we discuss with Saksa and Bridget Bowman about where Dean fits into Pennsylvania politics on the latest Political Theater podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a busy few years for Rep. Madeleine Dean, the Pennsylvania Democrat elected to the House in 2018. The lawyer and professor was part of a historic wave of women elected who put the chamber back in Democratic control. She wrote a book with her son about his opioid addiction. She served as an impeachment manager for the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump. And she is now being mentioned as a possible Senate contender for the seat that retiring Republican Pat Toomey is vacating in 2022. Jim Saksa talked to Dean and her son Harry Cunnane about their new book, “Under Our Roof.” And then we discuss with Saksa and Bridget Bowman about where Dean fits into Pennsylvania politics on the latest Political Theater podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite the high drama and hard feelings associated with the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, it’s unclear it will have an effect on the political coin of the realm: The next election. Senior politics correspondent Bridget Bowman and Political Editor Herb Jackson discuss some of the remaining questions about whether their votes during this latest impeachment round will come back to haunt any senators or members of the House. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite the high drama and hard feelings associated with the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, it’s unclear it will have an effect on the political coin of the realm: The next election. Senior politics correspondent Bridget Bowman and Political Editor Herb Jackson discuss some of the remaining questions about whether their votes during this latest impeachment round will come back to haunt any senators or members of the House. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Technology increasingly defines modern life, and that is especially so in political campaigns. But for all the sophisticated polling models and ways of raising money in politics, a new organization is betting that a very old school way of doing things will help boost turnout. Senior staff writer Bridget Bowman joins Political Theater to talk about Vote Tripling, a group that's using behavior science to drive voter turnout for Democrats, and how it might affect some key races in the battle for Congressional majorities in the Senate and House. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We thought we were in the home stretch of the 2020 campaign season, with the primaries over and early voting beginning, and then on Sept. 18, another political earthquake shook us when Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died. Niels Lesniewski and Bridget Bowman discuss what we know, what we don’t know and what we’ll be watching in the coming days and weeks about the latest Supreme Court news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We thought we were in the home stretch of the 2020 campaign season, with the primaries over and early voting beginning, and then on Sept. 18, another political earthquake shook us when Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died. Niels Lesniewski and Bridget Bowman discuss what we know, what we don’t know and what we’ll be watching in the coming days and weeks about the latest Supreme Court news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paige Cohen '21 speaks with Bridget Bowman '13 about her career as a political reporter, and how the Holy Cross mission has influenced her approach to connecting with voters and reporting the news. Recorded September 23, 2019 --- Transcript sHour, then how did you get from NewsHour to Role Call? Bridget: So the politics editor of the NewsHour at the time, her name is Christina Belintoni, she had been the political editor at Role Call and then while she was at the NewsHour, was then hired to go back to Role Call as the Editor in Chief and she encouraged me to apply to a paid internship that they had and I was kind of nervous about it. I didn't have a ton of newspaper experience outside of writing for the Holy Cross paper, but I knew that it would be a great opportunity to learn from seasoned journalists like Christina, to get my own experience reporting and writing. So I applied to that internship and I've basically been there ever since. Bridget: I interned for several months and then was hired as a full time reporter. I've kind of done different beats in Role Call throughout the last almost six years, five and a half years at this point. So it's been a really great experience, but that's kind of how I ended up there. Paige: So since you didn't have the print experience that maybe some other applicants had had, was there anything that you said in your interview that you think like really made you stand out or ... Bridget: That's a good question. I'm trying to remember, but that was a little while ago. I'm trying to remember my interview. I remember talking about specific races that I thought were interesting, like congressional races that were going on. So I think the political knowledge, and I also did get some writing experience at the NewsHour writing for their morning newsletter that they had, doing some stories for the website. So I did have that experience. I can't remember exactly what that interview was like. I remember who it was with, but I do sort of remember talking about the individual races so maybe that might've been helped. Paige: Yeah. General like political knowledge. I felt like, so I spent last summer in DC interning at the State Department and it was, I just felt like in DC there's this culture of everybody knows every political thing up to the minute. So just trying to keep up with that, but I feel like that's the way to stand out there. Bridget: Yeah. People in DC are very focused on, it's kind of a funny world. Paige: Yeah. Bridget: But it's interesting, for sure. Paige: I know. I'm trying to like get back on my podcast here at Holy Cross and I'm like, you know, keep up, keep up. So have there been any stories that you've worked on at Role Call or anything, any big highlights that were your favorite to write or research? Bridget: Sure. I think anytime that I've traveled, so I've been on the campaign team for the last two and a half years, jumped into the politics team covering the midterm elections last cycle, which was kind of wild. There was a lot. It was so closely watched and so much going on. But anytime I've had a chance to travel has been really interesting and just getting of DC and talking to voters has been fun. I covered the Alabama Senate special election where a Democrat Doug Jones won and upset the Republican candidate, Roy Moore, who had, you know, sexual misconduct issues and there was a lot of stuff going on in that campaign. And I remember being in Alabama and the days leading up to the race and writing stories about who are the Republican voters that were supporting Doug Jones because that was why that race was competitive. Bridget: And also writing about how both candidates were using religious networks to kind of reach out to communities. Jones, focusing on African American churches. Moore, focusing on rural churches throughout the state. So I think that race was really kind of fun. It was kind of my first big election that I covered and just we ended up going to Doug Jones election night party. We had no idea of which candidate was going to win. It was so close. People I was talking to in both parties, nobody knew what was going to happen. We kind of made the choice to go to Jones because we figured if he were to win that would be the place to be. And just kind of being there when the race was called and scrambling to write follow up stories was just a really interesting experience. Bridget: And yeah, like I said, being able to travel and see parts of the country has certainly been really interesting. Paige: Do you think, you know, Holy Cross has such a focus on the community and you said you were involved in Spud, so I'm curious, did any of that start to come back to you? Like that kind of community learning component? I don't know. It might be fishing. Bridget: Yeah. I think so. I mean, you're always trying to tap into different communities and figure out what voters are thinking and what's motivating people, what's driving them to the ballot box, what messages are working. So that has a lot to do with going into different communities and talking to regular people. I've literally stood outside of Walmart's and asked people as they go to shop, what are you thinking about? Who are you going to support? And things like that. So I don't know that answers your question. Paige: Yeah. No, it does. It just, yeah. So, and then what is the most difficult story that you might've had to cover? Was there anything, I don't know, difficult and it could be in different ways. Bridget: Right. Paige: Hard to write or maybe troubling to write. Bridget: Sure. That's a really, there's been so many things going on. I think one story that took me a really long time to write actually was an earlier story I wrote at Role Call on the, so my first beat was covering the Capitol campus, which is like the kind of the local news of Capitol Hill issues impacting staffers, legislative branch agencies, which includes the Library of Congress. And I had heard from some folks about, concern about diversity and discrimination issues for Library of Congress staffers, that staffers of color were seeing some barriers in being able to advance up. Bridget: So that took a long time to kind of report out and kind of at the same time, the first African American Librarian of Congress was nominated and being confirmed. So there was, you know, history being made at the highest level of the library, but those are the lowest level were still seeing a lot of barriers to advancement. Bridget: So people, especially regular workers, don't always want to talk to a reporter or go on the record, but it involves a lot of talking to people, digging through court documents, seeing discrimination cases that have been filed, talking to the unions and talking to them, going back and forth with the library about their diversity plans and things like that. So that was a huge, a big lift. Bridget: But it also led to another story about diversity among senior Senate staff when I was on the Senate beat. After that story came out, then Senate staffers are reaching out saying we're having some similar issues in the Senate. Bridget: So that's always kind of a really sensitive issue to talk to with people. But it was a really good experience in how you bring together interviews and legal documents and all of that. So that was definitely, that was a lot of work. Paige: Well, and it strikes me like that's the kind of what you're talking about, the essence of your mission, like the finding the truth. I mean, literally digging through and getting all these interviews together and bringing all these different, you know, people from different walks of life all together. So. Paige: All right. This is kind of a big question. What does it mean to you to live a meaningful life and how is your work a part of this meaning and maybe how is it not? Bridget: That is a big, very big question. Paige: Yeah. Bridget: Critical thinking at Holy Cross. I think when I think of what it means to have a meaningful life, I think of what kind of impact have you had on people. I think professionally, when I think of what kind of impact I'd like to have, I'd like to kind of be able to look back and say I told stories of people who hadn't been heard before or I shed light on a problem that hadn't been noticed before. I think that that's kind of what I like to think about in terms of my career. Bridget: Kind of personally, a meaningful life can be how you are impacting the people around you. And I tend to think of that Maya Angelou quote where she said people don't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel. And so, am I making the people around me feel loved and respected? Paige: I love that. You answered it, I think. All right. So we want to do a little Holy Cross speed round to go off of the big question, into Holy Cross questions. All right, so speed round. What was your favorite dorm at Holy Cross? Bridget: So I lived in Figge my senior year, which was beautiful and awesome. But I probably have to say Hanselman for the sentimental value because that was my freshman dorm and a lot of my friends are friends that I've met in Hanselman. Spent a lot of time doing homework in the Hanselman basement. So I think that even though Figge was newer and nice and beautiful, I think I have to say Hanselman. Paige: Do they call it Hanselfam when you were here? Because now it is the Hansel family. Bridget: Hanselfam? Paige: Hanselfam. Bridget: I love that. Paige: So it has continued. Yes. Bridget: That's great. That's so great. Paige: Okay. Favorite Cool Beans order. Bridget: I love their chai. My friend called it Christmas in a cup, which is so accurate. So good. I also love the pumpkin bread at Cool Beans. So good. Paige: So good. Bridget: So good. Paige: All right. And then Kimball meal? Bridget: Kimball meal. Oh, I'm trying to remember. Wasn't there like an Apple Fest thing? Paige: There is, in the fall. Yes. Bridget: Where they have a ton of apples. I remembered that was always really exciting. Paige: Yes. The caramel apples. Bridget: Yes. Paige: Very good. Bridget: I also remember having a lot of the stir fry station. Paige: Yes. Bridget: But that was ... Paige: Love the stir fry station. Bridget: That was a good one too. Paige: Favorite class? Bridget: That's so hard. I thought meaningful life was going to be the hardest question. I mean, I loved taking classes outside of my major too. I took American Sign Language, which was really interesting. I did love a lot of my poli sci classes though. Bridget: One actually I still kind of think about is my senior year I took a seminar called politics and technology and we kind of went through historically how technology had impacted politics. And even then we're talking about campaigns micro targeting people like very specific digital ads aimed at people. And today, I deal with that all the time and I find myself kind of thinking back to that seminar where we could, I kind of wish I could just sit around and talk to people about it for awhile like we did then and that was really interesting. Paige: Favorite professor? Bridget: That's also really hard. I can't just choose one. My freshman year I had Professor Stephanie Yule from the history department. She was fantastic. She actually I think might've been the only professor that I had that made us learn every person's name in the class. Like she would call us to the front of the class and we'd have to identify everyone. Paige: That's some pressure. Bridget: Which was scary but also awesome because the next four years, I knew, we all knew each other so well. So she was fantastic. All the political science department professors were fantastic. Daniel Klinghard, Ward Thomas, Donald Brand, Lauren Cass, just a really great team. I can't. I don't think I can pick just one. Paige: Yeah. Yeah. Bridget: But that's an amazing part of Holy Cross. The access that you get to your professors, to go into office hours and the small classes is definitely something I really enjoyed about this place. Paige: Well, and it's good to hear all of those names because they're still here for the most part. Bridget: Right. That's true. Paige: So I was just walking down the political science department hallway, seeing their names, so I hopefully be in their classes. Bridget: Nice. Would recommend. Paige: And then favorite Holy Cross memory? Bridget: That's a really good question. I mean, there were so many big events, graduation, the night before graduation is always a really fond memory. I feel like my favorite memory is not a specific thing, but just thinking about my friends just hanging out in our dorm room, a couple of my friends played guitar and stuff and that just all being together and just relaxing in a dorm is something I really miss. Bridget: I think when you're here at Holy Cross and kind of in the moment, you don't realize how fortunate you are to just be surrounded by your friends and to be learning all the time. And we're all, a lot of us are spread out, so I definitely miss that a lot. Paige: Yeah. Your friends like downstairs or just a meal at Kimball. Bridget: Right. We used to think like going from Figge to Carlin is so far. Paige: Such a long walk. Bridget: Right. Paige: And now in DC and they're Connecticut or Boston, it's a little farther. Bridget: Oh my gosh. All right, and then last question. What is the best part about being a Holy Cross alum? Bridget: Oh my goodness. I think just the community that alums have. Our alumni network is so active. When I was, as I mentioned, I think when I was applying to jobs, I was using the Career Advisor Network, talking to alums, asking for as much advice as I could. And in DC, cities have different chapters of alums. In DC, we get together about once a month and when I tell other people that my college does that, they're kind of surprised. Like what? Like you still, you ... there's that connection? Paige: Yeah. Bridget: But that's been a really great part of it. And whenever you meet another Holy cross alum, you have that instant connection, whatever it is about this place that kind of bonds people together is definitely a really great part about being an alum. Even though I miss being a student here, that's like something you can probably look forward to. Paige: That's good to know. I'm glad it doesn't end here. Bridget: Right. Exactly. Last pumpkin bread unfortunately, but ... Paige: You have to make that yourself. Bridget: Exactly. Not as good. It's not as good. Paige: Well, Bridget, thank you so much for talking to me today and I hope to talk to you more in the future. Bridget: Sure. Thanks Paige. This has been really fun. Paige: Thank you. Maura: That's our show. I hope you enjoyed hearing about just one of the many ways that Holy Cross alumni have been inspired by the mission to be men and women for and with others. A special thanks to today's guests and everyone at Holy Cross who has contributed to making this podcast a reality. If you or someone you know would like to be featured on this podcast, please send us an email at alumnicareers@holycross.edu. If you like what you hear, then please leave us a review. This podcast is brought to you by the Office of Alumni Relations at the College of the Holy Cross. You can subscribe for future episodes wherever you find your podcasts. I'm your host, Maura Sweeney, and this is Mission-Driven. In the words of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, now go forth and set the world on fire. --- Theme music composed by Scott Holmes, courtesy of freemusicarchive.org.

Everything is bigger in Texas, and Texas is even bigger when it's part of Super Tuesday. And while the Democratic presidential primary gets a lot of attention, we like congressional politics even better. Bridget Bowman discusses the most influential and interesting Democratic and Republican primaries coming up on March 3, including what she learned in her recent reporting trip to the Lone Star State and what else we should pay Super attention to among the more than 100 contests that day. Among the highlights: $200 sheet cake, the fate of Jeff Sessions and the un-gerrymandering of North Carolina. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elissa Slotkin is one of 31 House Democrats who represents a district Trump won in 2016. Nearly all of them voted to impeach Trump this week. But Slotkin’s decision is not sitting well with some of her constituents, which republicans hope will hurt her in the next election. CQ Roll Call reporter Simone Pathe reports from Slotkin's district. Then, CQ Roll Call reporter Bridget Bowman, who covered the impeachment vote, joins the podcast to explain what comes next.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One year out from Election Day 2020 and Senate Republicans and House Democrats find themselves in parallel universes. The GOP is on defense in Senate races, where more Republicans are on the ballot, and it's the opposite in the House, where many Democrats who won in hostile territory in 2018 find themselves in tough races. CQ Roll Call’s campaign team, Simone Pathé, Bridget Bowman and Stephanie Akin, run through the 10 most vulnerable members of both the House and Senate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CQ Roll Call senior political reporters Bridget Bowman and Simone Pathé explain the political ramifications, if any, on the conclusion of the Russia election interference report of Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Chris, Bryan, and Melanie take a broad look at the administration's FY2020 defense budget request. They discuss whether or not it is the "masterpiece" that Pat Shanahan promised, and agree (!) that the budget process is in need of serious reform. They ask whether it aligns with the National Defense Strategy, what Congress (especially the Democratic House with many domestic priorities) will think of it, and how it will be paid for in a time of ever-growing deficits. Finally, Chris takes the secretary of state to task, Melanie is irritated with what's going on in higher ed, and Bryan welcomes a friend home.   Links "Defense Budget Overview: United States Department of Defense Fiscal Years 2020 Budget Request" Marcus Weisgerber, "2020 Budget Request Reveals Slow Shift Toward Great Power War," Defense One, March 2019 John McCormack, "Why Did Ben Sasse Vote to Uphold the National Emergency?" National Review, March 2019 Claude Berube, United States Naval Acadamy "Overseas Contingency Operations Spending Would Be 2nd Largest Federal Agency," Taxpayers for Common Sense, March 2019 Fred Kaplan, "Trump's Record-Setting Military Budget is Bloated, illegal, and Doomed," Slate, March 2019 Daniel Larison, "Pompeo's Obnoxious Yemen Lies," American Conservative, March 2019 Daniel Larison, "The WSJ's Despicable Defense of the War on Yemen," American Conservative, March 2019 Bridget Bowman and Simone Pathé, "Meet the 12 GOP Senators Who Voted to Terminate Trump's National Emergency," Roll Call, March 2019 "Clear and Present Safety: The World Has Never Been Better and Why That Matters to Americans," CATO Institute, March 2019 "Two Roads to War: How (and Why) America and Britain Decided to Invade Iraq," CATO Institute, April 2019 Patrick Porter, Blunder: Britain's War in Iraq, (Oxford University Press, 2019) Michael Mazarr, Leap of Faith: Hubris, Negligence, and America's Greatest Foreign Policy Tragedy, (Public Affairs, 2019) Nicholas Kristof, "This 8-Year-Old Chess Champion Will Make You Smile,"New York Times, March 2019 Samuel Abrams, "When A Student Mob Came For My Job, My College Did Not Support Me," Spectator, March 2019 Steven Elbow, "UW Student Alleging Bias in Political Science Prof's Syllabus Now Expects Class to Be Objective," Cap Times, January 2019 Ben Leonard, "Admission Scandal Rocks Higher Education," Duke Chronical, March 2019   Music and Production by Tre Hester

Yes, the 2020 race for President is exciting and Democrats are itching to get rid of Trump. But let's not forget that there are important House and Senate races underway and those are SO important! The stories of Trump manipulating security clearances for Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump are extremely disturbing. How widespread was this practice? Why is it such a problem?Guest host Chris Lu hosts the show and talks to Bridget Bowman from Roll Call, Julie Zebrak from Yes Moms Can and Director of Workforce Policy at Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Harin Contractor

Sure, as one cable news talking head says, Michael Cohen’s congressional testimony on Wednesday is “very, very explosive” and spread out over “several, several hours” but does it change the political parties’ 2020 strategy? Roll Call political reporters Simone Pathe and Bridget Bowman discuss.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  The National Endowment for Democracy is a private foundation - that receives millions of our tax dollars - that pays groups to work to change the governments of other countries. In this episode, hear highlights from a hearing during which the president of this creepy organization and the presidents of two organizations that it funds - which are controlled entirely by members of the Republican and Democratic parties - will give you some insight into what kind of work they are doing manipulating information and interfering in elections in other countries around the world. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links Click here to contribute monthly or a lump sum via PayPal Click here to support Congressional Dish for each episode via Patreon Send Zelle payments to: Donation@congressionaldish.com Send Venmo payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send Cash App payments to: $CongressionalDish or Donation@congressionaldish.com Use your bank's online bill pay function to mail contributions to: 5753 Hwy 85 North, Number 4576, Crestview, FL 32536 Please make checks payable to Congressional Dish Thank you for supporting truly independent media! Recommended Congressional Dish Episodes CD175: State of War CD172: The Illegal Bombing of Syria CD167: Combating Russia NDAA 2018 LIVE CD117: Authorization for Limitless War CD113: CISA is Law CD102: The World Trade Organization: COOL? Main Hearing Hearing: Democracy Promotion in a Challenging World, Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, June 14, 2018. Full Hearing Transcript Watch on YouTube Witnesses: Carl Gershman: National Endowment for Democracy: President Daniel Twining: International Republican Institute: President Kenneth Wollack: National Democratic Institute: President Timestamps & Transcripts 15:35 Representative Edward Royce (CA): At home, we must maintain the decades-old bipartisan consensus that democracy is a core element of U.S. foreign policy. That is why it’s important to have the National Endowment for Democracy, the International Republican Institute, and the National Democratic Institute here today, and that’s why it’s important that Congress continues to adequately fund these institutions.   24:30 Representative Edward Royce (CA): I’m pleased to welcome our distinguished guests here on the panel, including Mr. Carl Gershman, who has served as president of the National Endowment for Democracy since its founding in 1984. He’s a long-time friend of this committee. He’s respected worldwide for his work, especially in his efforts to help peaceably end the Cold War and transition countries from behind the Iron Curtain to democracy, and he’s done this through nongovernmental action. Before his time at NED, he was the senior counselor to the United States representative to the United Nations, where he worked on international human rights issues.   25:21 Representative Edward Royce (CA): Mr. Daniel Twining is the president of the International Republican Institute, and previously he served as the counselor and director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. He also worked here in Congress. He worked here as a foreign policy advisor to Senator John McCain.   25:45 Representative Edward Royce (CA): And we have Mr. Kenneth Wollack. He is president of the National Democratic Institute, and he has co-edited the Middle East Policy Survey and written regularly on foreign affairs for the Los Angeles Times.   27:26 Carl Gershman: I’d call your attention, for example, to some recent events, among them the remarkable democratic transition in Gambia; the fall of the corrupt Zuma government in South Africa; the stunning victory of democracy in Malaysia, and the freeing of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim; the equally stunning triumph of democracy in Armenia; and the successful local elections in Tunisia that are, in my view, a decisive step forward in the Arab world’s first democracy. These are just a few of the examples that I could give of recent democratic advances. There is Slovakia, interesting developments in Ethiopia. Even in a country like Uzbekistan, we can see some glimmerings of some opening.   31:07 Carl Gershman: Other examples include the support that NED has given in Ukraine to the Anti-Corruption Action Center that has tirelessly led the campaign for the establishment of an independent anti-corruption court. And I’m pleased to report that just last week the Ukrainian parliament at long last approved legislation to create such a court.   37:25 Daniel Twining: In Europe, the Kremlin is deploying a sophisticated information-warfare campaign to undermine democratic institutions, erode citizen trust in democracy, and wedge apart the transatlantic alliance. This form of warfare is particularly insidious—this political warfare—because it uses core features of democracy against us—exploiting our free media, manipulating false information, undermining confidence in electoral systems. IRI’s Beacon Project is engaged in a big line of work to leverage our relationships for European political parties and civil-societies groups to track Russian misinformation, including in many local languages, and then to coordinate political responses to that.   31:46 Carl Gershman: The last example is the nonpartisan training conducted by four NGOs in Tunisia of new candidates who participated in last month’s local elections. Of the 235 individuals who were trained, 112 won seats, and 25 were at the heads of their electoral lists.   41:46 Kenneth Wollack: Authoritarian regimes are using digital tools to advance their interests, including electoral espionage and the dissemination of disinformation, to skew electoral outcomes, disrupt democratic discourse, discredit democratic institutions, and fuel ethnic and social divisions. NDI has responded by providing cybersecurity support; assisting efforts of civic, media, and political groups to detect, expose, and combat this information; and conducting new types of public-opinion research to identify populations that are most susceptible to Russian disinformation and develop messages that can build resilience. In cooperation with IRI and NED, NDI is helping to launch a new effort with democracy groups, civil-society organizations, civic-tech partners, political parties, and a global network of four million citizen election monitors to interact more regularly with the technology companies.   44:23 Kenneth Wollack: Ukrainians can point to concrete achievements in recent years. These include the emergence of new political parties that have national reach and are focused on citizens they represent rather than on oligarchs who would finance them. Brought together by NDI in partnership with the European Parliament, party factions in the Rada are overcoming deep fragmentation to agree on procedures that will make it easier to build consensus around reforms. In NDI programs alone, more than 45,000 citizens have engaged directly in the national reform process and reaching more than 1.3 million citizens through the media.   45:05 Kenneth Wollack: Another story of democratic resilience is unfolding in Syria. In northern Syria, citizen groups are prioritizing community needs, and local administrative councils are responding by providing critical services. Fifty NDI governance advisors are working each day in 34 locations to advise citizen groups and administrative councils, and bringing them together to solve problems.   49:19 Carl Gershman: But you’ve got to build a defense against it, and a lot of the groups that we helped stop fake news Ukraine and other groups like that are being able to identify fake information. We have a dialogue—a very ongoing dialogue—with the Internet companies to take down a lot of incitement, a lot of fake news. We’re connecting our grantees with the Internet companies. We have groups like Bellingcat, which is an investigative journalist group. They use open-source information. But they’ve identified the Russian general who provided the missile that shot down the Malaysian airliner.   51:30 Kenneth Wollack: But this a daily fight on the ground. Representative Edward Royce (CA): A social media fight? Wollack: Yes. To give you one example, the Democratic Party of Serbia, two weeks before the local elections, the Russians—presumably the Russians—had hacked their Facebook page, put horrible content on it. The hackers then contacted Facebook, told them to look at the site. Facebook immediately took down the Facebook page. Now, the party didn’t know who to contact. They had no contact with Facebook. They were able to contact us. Our office in Silicon Valley managed to reach the Facebook executives. They immediately took it down.   54:04 Representative Eliot Engel (NY): The budget proposal for fiscal year 2019 requested a $67 million for NED, which is a 60 percent cut from the amount which is $170 million that Congress has appropriated yearly since FY ’16.   54:59 Carl Gershman: I mean, there are, obviously, two fundamental problems with the OMB budget request for fiscal 2019: the amount and separating us from the four institutes. And both of these are devastating. I don’t even want to get into now what we would have to cut. They’re devastating—utterly devastating. It would virtually kill the whole program.   58:22 Daniel Twining: But in Malaysia, IRI’s been working with the opposition there since 2002. Malaysia was essentially a one-party majoritarian state. The ruling party had ruled since 1957. It had gerrymandered all the districts, given itself every advantage. But in this last election a month ago, the opposition won for the first time in 60-something years, and that was an example of playing the long game, right? We, the United States, supported a democratic opposition that is now in charge of this very strategic country right there on the front lines of the South China Sea, right there on the front lines of the Islamic world’s intersection with the rest of Asia, and that’s good for America.   1:09:12 Representative Gregory Meeks (NY): And Mr. Gershman, I’m a former board member at NED, so I’ve seen firsthand the work that you and your dedication and the bipartisan board of NED collectively working together to try to make sure that we have a better world for all of us.   1:12:20 Kenneth Wollack: Our engagement is not to spread falsehoods. It’s not to create fake news. It’s not to try to disrupt the process. It’s not to try to spur conflict in countries. What we’re trying to do is promote the principles, values, processes, and institutions that are enshrined in an intergovernmental organization. And our work is to try to help people engage in the political process.   1:16:34 Representative Dana Rohrabacher (CA):... did we or did we not involve ourselves heavily to undermine the democratically elected government of Yanukovych in Ukraine? And what did it bring us? It brought us turmoil and conflict—that if we’d have waited and let that government be elected, because of its flaws unelected, we would not be in this situation today where the world is more likely to go into conflict because of that. I don’t believe the Russians would’ve invaded Ukraine had we not arrogantly involved ourselves to overthrow that democratically elected government in Ukraine.   1:18:39 Representative Dana Rohrabacher (CA): So, I’ve had my say. I know I’m making everybody mad at me, but I had to say it.   1:25:59 Representative Brad Sherman (CA): And I want to turn our attention to Yerevan and Armenia. NED has allocated $1.3 million last year. Now we’ve seen a real move toward democracy. Are you going to do more, given the fluid situation there? Carl Gershman: Thank you very much for that question, Mr. Sherman. Yes. The answer is yes. Our board, which meets later this week, is making Armenia what we call a country eligible for contingency funds, which are funds set aside for new situations and, obviously, what’s happened in Armenia is very, very new. And we—I think there are several priorities that have to be addressed. There are going to be quick elections that have been called in Armenia, and those elections have to have integrity to them to give legitimacy to the current Pashinyan government. There is a parliament that oversees this, and government officials are really new to the governing game. The system has been controlled by a centralized authority for a number of years and so a lot of training is going to have to be necessary for some of the new government officials. And then, finally, there’s going to be a big information war, the kind of issue raised by Congressman Royce, and it is very essential in this period—and this is what the groups that we help are doing—is to get people reliable and independent information so they don’t make the judgments based upon the disinformation that is going to be promoted by the forces that have just been removed from power.   1:49:40 Representative Karen Bass (CA): Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I want to welcome my colleagues from NED and IRI and NDI. And I’m a member of the NED board, for my colleagues that are here on the committee, and I have to say the work that NED does around the world is really tremendous.   2:07:52 Representative Ted Poe (TX): Globally, what do you personally see is the number-one entity that is a threat to democracy worldwide? Is it China? Is it Russia? Is it North Korea? Is it ISIS? Is it Iran? Pick one. Pick the one you think is the threat. Carl Gershman: China. Rep. Poe: China. Gershman: China. Rep. Poe: Mr. Twining. Daniel Twining: China. Rep. Poe: Mr. Wollack. Kenneth Wollack: Russia. Rep. Poe: Russia. Russia and China.   2:35:00 Carl Gershman And I think it should not be forgotten: NED was created as an independent institution so that even when you have problems, whatever the problems are with the executive branch, our work continues consistently. And I think that was a brilliant idea, and it’s in the National Endowment for Democracy Act adopted by the Congress by Dante Fascell in 1983, and I think it was brilliant to give the NED that kind of independence so that we can go forward, regardless of what the policies of the executive branch are at any particular time.   2:47:46 Carl Gershman: I take pride in the fact that when we make grants to groups abroad, I take pride that it’s with American taxpayer money. We try to protect that money. We try to make sure that every single dollar is spent well. But I take pride in the fact that that’s a demonstration of the support coming from the American people. Sound Clip Sources News Interview: The Rules-Based International Order Created by the U.S. is Being Torn Apart by the U.S., CNN, June 10, 2018. 2:30 Sen. Diane Feinstein I mean we have helped support this whole Democratic Atlantic community and more or less forged it into a single entity. And I’ve been very proud of that as an American. Speech: Madeleine K. Albright Gives Keynote Remarks at 2018 Albright Luncheon, National Democratic Institute, YouTube, May 10, 2018. 10:50 Madeline Albright We are employing every tool at our disposal from the use of focus groups to the collection of more accurate data, to connections made through social media, to the design of election observer missions, to the drafting of model laws, to partnerships with regional bodies and the United Nations, to the mobilization of public opinion from around the equator and from pole to pole. Discussion: Foreign Affairs Issue Launch with Former Vice President Joe Biden, Council on Foreign Affairs, January 23, 2018. Speakers: Joe Biden Richard Haass - President of the Council on Foreign Relations Joe Biden: I’ll give you one concrete example. I was—not I, but it just happened to be that was the assignment I got. I got all the good ones. And so I got Ukraine. And I remember going over, convincing our team, our leaders to—convincing that we should be providing for loan guarantees. And I went over, I guess, the 12th, 13th time to Kiev. And I was supposed to announce that there was another billion-dollar loan guarantee. And I had gotten a commitment from Poroshenko and from Yatsenyuk that they would take action against the state prosecutor. And they didn’t. So they said they had—they were walking out to a press conference. I said, nah, I’m not going to—or, we’re not going to give you the billion dollars. They said, you have no authority. You’re not the president. The president said—I said, call him. (Laughter.) I said, I’m telling you, you’re not getting the billion dollars. I said, you’re not getting the billion. I’m going to be leaving here in, I think it was about six hours. I looked at them and said: I’m leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you’re not getting the money. Well, son of a bitch. (Laughter.) He got fired. And they put in place someone who was solid at the time. Hearing: Facebook, Google and Twitter Executives on Russian Election Interference, House Select Intelligence Committee, C-SPAN, November 1, 2017. Witnesses: Kent Walker Google Senior Vice President & General Counsel Colin Stretch Facebook Vice President & General Counsel Sean Edgett Twitter Acting General Counsel 59:39 Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL): I submit to you that your efforts have to be more than just about finding malicious and deceptive activity, that you have a responsibility—all of you have a responsibility—to make sure that we are not adding to the problem by not being as rigorous and as aggressive as we can in terms of vetting the content and in terms of making sure that we are being really dynamic in doing that.   1:57:39 Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA): RT, Russia Today, on your platform, has 2.2 million subscribers. Fox News, on your platform, has 740,000 subscribers. CNN has 2.3 million subscribers. The Intelligence Community assessment that was made public in January spoke about RT, and it said, “RT conducts strategic messaging for Russian government. It seeks to influence politics and fuel discontent in the United States.” So my question to you is, why have you not shut down RT on YouTube? Hearing: Facebook, Google and Twitter Executives on Russian Disinformation , Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, October 31, 2017. Witnesses Colin Stretch - Facebook Vice President and General Counsel  Sean Edgett - Twitter Acting General Counsel  Richard Salgado - Google Law Enforcement & Information Security Director 38:25 Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI): And I gather that all of your companies have moved beyond any notion that your job is only to provide a platform and whatever goes across it is not your affair. Colin Stretch: Senator, our commitment to addressing this problem is unwavering. We take this very seriously and are committed to investing as necessary to prevent this from happening again. Absolutely. Whitehouse: Mr. Edgett? Sean Edgett: Absolutely agree with Mr. Stretch, and this type of activity just creates not only a bad user experience but distrust for the platform, so we are committed to working every single day to get better at solving this problem. Whitehouse: Mr. Salgado? Richard Salgado: That’s the same for Google. We take this very seriously. We’ve made changes, and we will continue to get better. Whitehouse: And ultimately, you are American companies, and threats to American election security and threats to American peace and order are things that concern you greatly, correct? Stretch: That is certainly correct. Edgett: Agree. Salgado: That’s right.   Hearing: Subcommittee Hearing - The Collapse of the Rule of Law in Venezuela, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, July 19, 2017. Witness Luis Almagro Secretary General of the Organization of American States 07:15 Senator Marco Rubio: I also know this, and I do not speak for the president, but I’ve certainly spoken to the president, and I will only reiterate what he has already said, and I’ve been saying this now for a number of days: it is my—I have 100% confidence that if democracy is destroyed once and for all in Venezuela on the 30th in terms of the Maduro regime, the president of the U.S. is prepared to act unilaterally in a significant and swift way. And that is not a threat; that is the reporting of the truth. Confirmation Hearing: Defense Secretary Nominee General James Mattis Says Russia is Trying to Break NATO, US Senate, C-SPAN, January 12, 2017. John McCain: For seven decades, the United States has played a unique role in the world. We’ve not only put America first, but we’ve done so by maintaining and advancing a world order that has expanded security, prosperity, and freedom. This has required our alliances, our trade, our diplomacy, our values, but most of all, our military for when would-be aggressors aspire to threaten world order. Hearing: U.S. Strategy Against ISIS, Senate Armed Services Committee, C-SPAN, December 9, 2015. 2:28:14 Sen. Lindsey Graham Here’s what I’ve done. I make an offer to our president that I believe this war is going to go on for a long time after his presidency; I believe that they’re going to go wherever they can on the planet and that we should stop them wherever necessary; and when it comes to means, we should not limit this commander in chief or any other commander in chief when it comes to means. Speech: Gov. Howard Dean - DemTools 2.0 Launch, NDI's DemTools Launch Event, December 9, 2015. 9:55 Howard Dean I’m incredibly proud to be a member of the board of NDI, which is an incredibly sophisticated organization that does not shrink from bringing democracy to any corner of the Earth, including some we’re not allowed in. We get there anyway. Speech: Sen. Tom Cotton Says US Should Shoot Down Russian Planes Over Syria, YouTube, October 1, 2015. Conference: Is the United States at a Crossroads? Domestic and Global Dimensions, Wilson Center, May 15, 2015. 15:35 Jane Harmon Ukraine. You and I were there together. Madeline lead the delegation - of course she did - for the National Democratic Institute, which she chairs and the International Republican Institute was also there during the first Ukraine election in May of last year. And among other things we met with the presidential candidates including Poroshenko and Tymoshenko and we tooled around in Kiev and I also went to Odessa to see how the voting was going. Speech: Senator Dan Sullivan's Maiden Floor Speech, US Senate, C-SPAN, January 27, 2015. 9:05 Sen. Dan Sullivan If the executive branch continues to dither on America’s economic future, Congress can and should act to expe- dite such projects. That is what we are doing with Keystone, and that is what I will be pressing the Congress to do for Alaska’s and America’s next great en- ergy infrastructure project—the Alas- ka LNG project—which will create thousands of jobs and provide clean and affordable energy to Americans and our allies for decades. Speech: Vice President Joe Biden Opens 2014 NDI Democracy Award Dinner, National Democratic Institute, December 11, 2014. 32:40 Vice President Joe Biden That’s why in Ukraine, working alongside groups like NDI, with your leadership, we’re providing to the Ukrainians, as we had to the Iraqi’s, personnel from each of our departments teaching them how to literally, as I said, write a budget, expertise from our Justice Department, teaching them the tools that are available to ensure that the court systems are free and transparent. We’re helping Ukrainian officials develop laws and regulations that will establish anti-corruption institutions within the government, enable authorities to combat corruption more effectively. Our militaries are working together to improve Ukrainian capacity to provide it’s own defense and a military system that meets the standards of democracies, while providing security assistance to counter Russian aggression. Speech: Thomas A. Daschle's Speech to NDI's 30th Anniversary Dinner, National Democratic Institute, December 16, 2013. 1:30 Tom Daschle Like many of you, - by the mission of NDI. The realization that we have had one focus now for 3 decades. And that focus is very simply to empower people to be able to govern themselves more effectively. That’s what we try to do. Speech: Mitt Romney Foreign Policy Speech, Virginia Military Institute, C-SPAN, October 8, 2012. 17:25 Mitt Romney Fortunately, we had leaders of courage and vision, both Republicans and Democrats, who knew that America had to support friends who shared our values, and prevent today’s crises from becoming tomorrow’s conflicts. Statesmen like Marshall rallied our nation to rise to its responsibilities as the leader of the free world. We helped our friends to build and sustain free societies and free markets. We defended our friends, and ourselves, from our common enemies. We led. We led. News Interview: CIA Admits Orchestrating Syrian Coup of March 1949, BBC Interview, 1967. Additional Reading Article: Who will fix Facebook? by Matt Taibbi, Rolling Stone, November 26, 2018. Article: US, Ukraine in 'close discussion' for new lethal arms by Joe Gould, Defense News, November 18, 2018. Article: Facebook purge: Here is the list of pages deleted by Facebook by Patrick Brown, The Western Journal, October 13, 2018. Biography: George Catlett Marshall, United States General, by Forrest C. Pogue, Encyclopedia Britannica, last updated October 12, 2018. Article: Anti-Media shut down by Facebook and Twitter by Caitlin Johnstone, The Anti-Media, October 11, 2018. Article: Facebook purged over 800 U.S. accounts and pages for pushing politcal spam by Elizabeth Dwoskin and Tony Romm, The Washington Post, October 11, 2018. Article: Facebook tempts political backlash with massive purge of 810 pages and accounts by Rhett Jones, Gizmodo, October 11, 2018. Article: The survivors of the Rohingya Genocide by Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, August 9, 2018. Article: John McCain passes the torch at the International Republican Institute by Josh Rogin, The Washington Post, August 3, 2018. Article: Exclusive: IMF backs Ukraine anti-corruption court plan by Marc Jones, Reuters, July 25, 2018. Article: Ukraine anti-corruption court law needs amending - IMF chief by Reuters, June 19, 2018. Article: Independent candidates get most votes in Tunisia's municipal election by Tarek Amara, Reuters, May 8, 2018. Article: Trump is gutting the National Endowment for Democracy, and that's a good thing by Stephen Kinzer, The Boston Globe, March 14, 2018. Article: The Trump administration wants to dismantle Ronald Reagan's 'infrastructure of democracy' by Josh Rogin, The Washington Post, March 4, 2018. Article: House Foreign Affairs Chairman Royce announces retirement by Bridget Bowman, Roll Call, January 8, 2018. Article: What the United States did in Indonesia by Vincent Bevins, The Atlantic, October 20, 2017. Article: Is John McCain's pick to lead the International Republican Institute a strike against Donald Trump? by Timothy J. Burger, Town & Country Magazine, August 10, 2017. Article: Confront authoritarianism by defending democratic values by Carl Gersham , Journal Sentinel Online, October 22, 2016. Article: Russia adds International Republican Institute to growing list of "undesirable organizations", International Republican Institute, August 18, 2016. Article: Bernie Sanders is exactly right: The media is an arm of the ruling class of this country by Brian Hanley, Huffpost, March 28, 2016. Article: Pro-democracy nonprofit is banned in Russia by Ivan Nechepurenko, The New York Times, March 11, 2016. Article: Evil internet bill CISPA is back from the dead, cleverly titled CISA by Kelly Weill, Daily Beast, October 28, 2015. Article: National Endowment for Democracy is first 'undesirable' NGO banned in Russia by Alec Luhn, The Guardian, July 28, 2015. Article: Former Soviet states stand up to Russia. Will the U.S.? by Carl Gershman, The Washington Post, September 26, 2013. Article: Russia wields hard power over Armenia by Anne Applebaum, The Washington Post, September 20, 2013. Article: Covert plan for Panama may be wrong message to send the opposition, The Los Angeles Times, August 14, 1988. Article: U.S. assembled a force in 1964 for possible use in Brazil coup by David Binder, The New York Times Archives, December 30, 1976. Article: Oil discovery in Brazil expected to aid economy, The New York Times Archives, December 9, 1964. Resources About Page: International Monetary Fund, Destruction and Reconstruction (1945-1958), Cooperation and Recovery: The Marshall Plan About Page: German Marshall Fund About Page: National Democratic Institute - Who We Are Archived Form: National Endowment for Democracy For 990 (2002-2015) Board of Directors: International Republican Institute Board of Directors: National Democratic Institute Board of Directors: National Endowment for Democracy Donation Page: National Endowment for Democracy FAQs: International Republican Institute - Who We Are Joint Statement: Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2019, p. 406 Project Info: The Beacon Project, International Republican Institute Web Page: Democracy Assistance is Not Election Meddling: Distinguishing Support from Sabotage Letter: United States Senators to Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, December 20, 2017 OpenSecrets: Sen. Dan Sullivan - Alaska Website: Albright Stonebridge Group Website: Bellingcat YouTube Channel: National Democratic Institute Visual Resources Tweet: @ElliotHiggins February 6, 2017 Community Suggestions See more Community Suggestions HERE. Cover Art Design by Only Child Imaginations Music Presented in This Episode Intro & Exit: Tired of Being Lied To by David Ippolito (found on Music Alley by mevio)

Our Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, is back from his trip to Saudi Arabia. He essentially held a grip and grin with the Saudi King. He reaffirmed the importance of our relationship with the Saudis and said he wants to give them room to conduct an investigation. It seems like we're allowing them time to concoct a story that will give them cover for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Our hands are dripping with the blood of this journalist. We're also VERY close to the midterms! Will Democrats get the pickups that they want?We talk to Alex Ward from Vox about Khashoggi and all things politics with Jason Dick and Bridget Bowman from Roll Call!

Three Republican House Appropriations subcommittee chairmen - Kevin Yoder of Kansas, John Culberson of Texas and John Carter of Texas - face tough re-elections, says Roll Call senior political reporter Bridget Bowman. A loss for Yoder and Culberson would mean that lame-duck lawmakers end up negotiating two vital spending bills — Homeland Security and Commerce-Justice-Science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A jawdropper of a news day on Tuesday as we saw Michael Cohen plead guilty while implicating Donald Trump in his crimes, but also Paul Manafort get convicted on 8 of his charges brought by Robert Mueller. Not only that, the second Congressman to endorse Trump, Duncan Hunter Jr, was indicted on several counts of fraud. This could very well define the Trump presidency. Guest host Jason Dick welcomes Todd Ruger, Bridget Bowman and Clyde McGrady all from Roll Call to tackle the insane news day.

Midterm elections typically have lower voter turnout than presidential ones. If that turns out to be the case in 2018, it won't be because of a lack of cash or candidates. In short, the midterm cycle is awash in campaign money. Breaking down some of the gobsmacking amounts and what it means for the control of Congress are Roll Call political correspondents Simone Pathé and Bridget Bowman on the latest Political Theater podcast.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After Sarah Huckabee Sanders was asked to leave a restaurant, Trump Republicans are asking for civility. It's pretty remarkable to hear the least civil humans call for civility. Guest host Jason Dick talks about the news of the day and the current state of politics! He's joined by Brandon Wetherbee, Editor of Brightest Young Things, Gideon Berger from the National League of Cities and Bridget Bowman from Roll Call!

Women were big winners in Tuesday's primaries as they are poised to change the midterm dynamics in states like Nebraska and Pennsylvania, explains Roll Call senior political reporter Bridget Bowman.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roll Call Political analyst Stu Rothenberg explains why GOP gains in a generic ballot represent just a part of the overall political picture and political reporter Bridget Bowman previews Arizona's upcoming special election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roll Call political reporters Simone Pathé and Bridget Bowman discuss the Senate Democrats up for re-elections in the 2018 midterms in states won by Donald Trump and how that dynamic played in the recent government shutdown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bill Press is out so Jason Dick (Roll Call) is filling in. He welcomes Brandon Wetherbee, Bridget Bowman and Charles Allen to discuss Donald Trump's public breakup with Steve Bannon, Trump's ties to the wrestling world, all the state races to watch in 2018 and a D.C. council member's resistance to Trump...and rats - the entire Thursday edition of the Bill Press Show!

Roll Call politics reporter Bridget Bowman, who is on the ground in Alabama, discusses how Democrat Doug Jones’ win is reverberating in the political sphere and how it could affect Congress in the coming year as lawmakers prepare for the 2018 midterm elections.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bill Press welcomes Bridget Bowman, Laura Durso and Hunter Walker to discuss the RNC's reversal on supporting Roy Moore, John Conyers' resignation, the Masterpiece Cakeshop LGBT case at the Supreme Court and Donald Trump's controversial decision to name Jerusalem the capital of Israel - the full Wednesday edition of the Bill Press Show!

While the Democratic surge in the off-year voting gives the party reason to smile, the midterm election is a long way off. Roll Call reporters Simone Pathé and Bridget Bowman detail what the results in Virginia, New Jersey and elsewhere mean for the Democrats' quest to take back the House.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roll Call political reporters Simone Pathé and Bridget Bowman explain how the primaries are shaping up ahead of the 2018 midterm elections amid a Republican Party civil war. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recent spate of lawmakers have announced they're retiring from Congress, and they are likely to be followed by others, says Roll Call elections analyst Nathan Gonzales. Senior political writer Bridget Bowman and leadership editor Jason Dick discuss who else might retire, and how will that affect Capitol Hill? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell likened his search for 50 senators willing to vote for the same repeal-and-replace legislation to solving a Rubik’s Cube, a task not helped by many GOP skeptics getting besieged back home this July 4 recess. Roll Call reporters Bridget Bowman and Niels Lesniewski see no reason to predict the health care impasse is about to be broken. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Republican effort to replace Obamacare has put some electorally vulnerable House Republicans on the defensive, CQ Roll Call political reporter Bridget Bowman says. And, health editor Rebecca Adams explains some members haven’t been accurate back home in explaining what would change. Meanwhile, the Senate debate looks to be long and complex, senior editor David Hawkings predicts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CQ Roll Call's leadership editor Jason Dick and senior political reporter Bridget Bowman explain the bumpy road ahead for Republican leaders as they try to sell their health care bill to their own members and the public.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

CQ Roll Call’s Money and Politics reporter Kate Ackley digs into President-elect Donald Trump's web of potential conflicts of interest and his pledge to hand over his empire to his children. Meanwhile, Trump’s entangled interests have spurred Democrats and watchdog groups into action, says Senate Leadership reporter Bridget Bowman.           Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republican lawmakers could use a decades-old procedural maneuver, known as reconciliation, to bypass Democratic opposition and accelerate Donald Trump’s legislative initiatives. That could include cutting taxes, repealing parts of President Barrack Obama’s health care law, privatizing Medicare or turning Medicaid into a block grant to the states.  All they would need is a simple majority vote in the Senate. CQ Magazine deputy editor Shawn Zeller, CQ Roll Call’s Senate leadership reporter Bridget Bowman and Managing Editor Adriel Bettelheim explain how it could take shape.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The outcome of tight Senate races in Indiana, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin will determine which party controls the Senate, says CQ Roll Call senior political reporter Alex Roarty. Also, if Democrats pick up four seats and Hillary Clinton wins, it would make New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer the Senate majority leader, who could reach out to Republicans on issues such as immigration and an overhaul of the tax code, reports Senate leadership reporter Bridget Bowman.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices