Podcast appearances and mentions of Paul Begala

Veteran political strategist Paul Begala joins the Hot Dish to discuss how the Democratic Party can reconnect with rural Americans. He offers straightforward actions each of us can take to respond to the challenges of chaos in Washington and State Capitals and to help our neighbors get past the misinformation and propaganda to see the truth about the dangerous impacts of the Donald Trump / Elon Musk administration on rural and small-town values.But first, Joel speaks with Isaac Wright, founder of the Rural Voter Institute, about Democrats' communication challenges and the need to speak about values like personal faith.This episode is packed with political strategies, insights into rural issues, and suggestions on how to make political messaging that resonates with middle America. Listen for a deeper understanding of our country's current political dynamics and practical suggestions for making an impact.Join hosts Joel and Heidi Heitkamp on The Hot Dish every other week to learn about the economic and cultural issues pertinent to rural constituents and the importance of effective messaging. The Hot Dish is brought to you by the One Country Project. To learn more, visit https://onecountryproject.org.   One Country Project is a growing movement dedicated to providing honest analysis and serious conversation about issues affecting rural and small-town communities. The fact is mainstream platforms are becoming less reliable. So One Country is expanding to new channels. We're starting with Substack,  where we share articles, essays, videos, and the Hot Dish podcast. We're joining journalists and experts from places like the New York Times, the Washington Post, and CNN to help you make sense of things in these challenging times. Go to onecountryproject.substack.com to learn more. That's onecountryproject.substack.com.

In this look back episode...Paul Begala was on the Bill Maher show on and Bill had some questions and comments about Bill Clinton and his relationship with Epstein. Of course, in usual fashion, the Clinton apologist deftly avoided any answers of substance.(Commercial at 9:28)To contact me:Bobbycapucci@protonmail.comSource:https://www.thedailybeast.com/bill-maher-mocks-horny-bill-clinton-over-creepy-jeffrey-epstein-tiesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

CNN's Michael Smerconish examines the potential political risk behind President Trump's pardon for all defendants in the January 6th insurrection. Then, David Urban and Paul Begala join Smerconish to breakdown President Trump's first week back in office and his response to the nation's recent natural disasters. After that, Brad Meltzer, co-author of the New York Times Best Seller "The JFK Conspiracy," details in his new book a lesser-known 1960 assassination plot against John F. Kennedy before he started his presidential term. Lastly, Michael Oren, a former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., applauds the release of additional Israeli hostages but warns that freeing convicted terrorists through negotiations with Hamas will only incentivize kidnapping more hostages.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paul Begala is a CNN political commentator, consultant and NY Times best-selling author. Along with his partner James Carville, he was one of the masterminds behind Bill Clinton's winning presidential campaign in 1992 and later served as Counselor to the President, serving as one of President Clinton's closest aides, and coordinating policy, politics, and communications. In the 2012 campaign, Paul was a senior adviser for the pro-Obama Super PAC, making Begala one of the few people to play a critical role in electing two different presidents. Paul's back in THE BACK ROOM for an election post-mortem, Trump's crazy cabinet nominations, what lies ahead for the Democratic Party, and more! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

I'll be honest; I had a guest lined up today and a late cancellation (no worries! We're re-booking) so today was a lot of me "winging it," but I'm not unhappy with the result. Your opinion may vary. :) Instead, the over-arching theme for this episode: "the American voter doesn't want to hear the truth." We can't handle reasons why student loan forgiveness triggers white working class voters - even more so when they're informed loan forgiveness assists students and graduates in marginalized subsets of the population. We can't grapple with the real reasons immigrants are on the move to our southern border. How our economic polices (sanctions, embargoes) are part of the problem. That our cozier, first-world lifestyle impacting climate change impacts lifestyles in at-risk countries elsewhere. We altogether avoid a true reckoning of our nation's history on bias and oppression and how it continues to impact our economy, educational outcomes and crime. So how do Democrats work to craft their messaging to be truthful to voters when voters (to borrow from 'A Few Good Men') "can't handle the truth? I overheard an NPR News segment yesterday featuring Paul Begala, Adrianne Shropshire and Waleed Shahid discussing this, actually. I came away particularly impressed with Shahid, a former staffer for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and DNC delegate for Bernie Sanders in 2016. He spoke of Democrats "delivering real economic results to working-class Americans and not shying away from real societal changes that are happening around us that we can't just pivot away from.." He added, "we need to humanize trans Americans. We need to contextualize trans Americans. We need to do the same thing that we did in the struggle for gay rights, which is fight these battles and persuade not just in election season but in the years before election season. And I think we lost to the oldest playbook in human history, which is divide and conquer. " Bingo. Ezra Klein, on 'Pod Save America' earlier this week, also provided some sobering words for the party, honing in on Democrats losing ground in America's big cities, and the Biden/Harris triangulating on immigration woes, crime in the cities, and so on. Again, there are some hard truths voters need to hear, but - I repeat - the American voter doesn't want to hear the truth.

Trinity University's 2024-25 Distinguished Lecture Series will feature political strategists Michael Steele and Paul Begala on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m.in Laurie Auditorium, 1 Trinity Place in San Antonio. Steele, former Republican National Committee chairman, and Begala, Democratic consultant and CNN commentator, will explore the future of American political leadership, focusing on partisanship and unity. Trinity's David Lesch, Ph.D., will moderate the event. The event is free and open to the public, though registration is required. For more information and to register for this event, visit events.trinity.edu/event/distinguishedlecture series.Article Link

In a television exchange that has since become legendary, Jon Stewart confronted Tucker Carlson in a manner that transcended the usual decorum of late-night television. The encounter, which took place on CNN's "Crossfire" in 2004, is often euphemistically referred to as Stewart "calling out" Carlson. However, the reality of that interaction was far more impactful and scathing, marking a significant moment in television history where the lines between entertainment and serious political discourse were vividly blurred.Jon Stewart, then the host of "The Daily Show," was ostensibly invited to "Crossfire" as a guest. However, from the outset, it was clear that Stewart had no intention of playing the typical promotional role expected of late-night television hosts in guest appearances. Instead, he seized the platform to deliver a powerful critique, not just of Tucker Carlson, but of the show's format and its contribution to the increasingly divisive political climate.Stewart accused Carlson and his co-host, Paul Begala, of performing "partisan hackery" and not living up to the journalistic responsibility of genuinely informing the public. He lamented that "Crossfire," a show that was ostensibly designed to present political debates to help inform the public, was instead contributing to the rising tide of cynicism within American political discourse. Stewart argued that the show's approach to presenting political issues in a strictly confrontational, binary manner was doing a disservice to its viewers. One of the most memorable moments of the exchange was Stewart directly addressing Carlson, saying, "You're as big a dick on your show as you are on any show." This line, though laced with humor, underscored the seriousness of Stewart's critique, highlighting the personal animus that often colored political reportage on "Crossfire." The directness and seriousness with which Stewart delivered his criticism were unusual for a figure who was primarily known as a comedian, and it took Carlson and the audience by surprise.The fallout from this encounter was significant. Not long after Stewart's appearance, CNN announced the cancellation of "Crossfire," with the network's then-president Jonathan Klein referencing Stewart's criticism as a factor in the decision. Klein noted that the confrontational format Stewart critiqued had indeed been a disservice to the network's viewers.The Stewart-Carlson face-off remains a watershed moment in the intersection of politics, media, and entertainment. It showcased the power of satirical comedy as a form of serious commentary and heralded the rise of figures like Stewart as influential voices in political discourse. The encounter also exemplified the growing disillusionment with traditional forms of political media and their role in a changing society, inspiring a generation to look beyond traditional news sources for their information.Stewart's "calling out" of Carlson was more than just a memorable television spat; it was a direct challenge to the status quo of political reporting and entertainment. It forced a reckoning within the industry about the role of media in shaping political discourse and underscored the responsibility of those who occupy these influential platforms. Furthermore, it highlighted Jon Stewart's unique position in American culture as a comedian who could offer incisive political critique, bridging the gap between entertainment and serious political engagement in a manner that was both unprecedented and profoundly influential.

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will meet face to face on the debate stage on Tuesday. Jonathan Freedland speaks to Paul Begala – who helped Al Gore in the lead-up to his 2000 debate against George W Bush – about what the 2024 candidates will be doing to make sure they're ready. What can they do to increase their chances of coming out on top, and will this debate be as election-defining as the last? You can support the Guardian at theguardian.com/fullstorysupport

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump will meet face to face on the debate stage next Tuesday. Jonathan Freedland speaks to Paul Begala – who helped Al Gore to prepare for his 2000 debate against George W Bush – about what the 2024 candidates will be doing to prepare. What can they do to increase their chances of coming out on top, and will this debate be as election-defining as the last?

The Washington Roundtable discusses the surge of enthusiasm for the Harris-Walz campaign among Democrats in relation to Bill Clinton's bid for the White House in 1992. They're joined by the Democratic strategists James Carville and Paul Begala, whose work as architects of that Clinton campaign was portrayed in the 1993 documentary “The War Room.” Plus, a look ahead at next week's Democratic National Convention.This week's reading: “Kamala Harris's Best Campaign Surrogate Is Donald Trump,” by Susan B. Glasser “Tim Walz and the Lessons of High-School Football,” by Louisa Thomas “Kamala Harris's Youth-Vote Turnaround,” by E. Tammy Kim To discover more podcasts from The New Yorker, visit newyorker.com/podcasts. To send in feedback on this episode, write to themail@newyorker.com with “The Political Scene” in the subject line.

Pressure is building for President Joe Biden to quit the race, and yet he's made it clear he's not giving up on his campaign for re-election. Speaking for almost an hour at a NATO press conference Thursday, President Biden put on a competent show, but his blunders remain the most memorable take away, like accidentally referring to his own Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump,” and calling Ukraine's President Zelensky “President Putin.” Now at least 18 Democrats in Congress are calling for Biden to withdraw from the White House race, including Jim Himes, the widely respected ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee. Long-time political analyst Paul Begala joins the program to discuss the Democrats' unprecedented challenge.  Also on today's show: Rescued Israeli Hostage Andrey Kozlov; Charlie Sykes, Founder, The Bulwark  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As Americans celebrated Independence Day, Democrats scrambled after a pretty disastrous week for the party – and arguably US democracy. On Monday, the supreme court handed Donald Trump a victory by ruling that former presidents are entitled to some degree of immunity from criminal prosecution. Stemming from this, the judge overseeing the former president's criminal case in New York postponed his sentencing from next week to 18 September. This falls against the backdrop of Joe Biden trying to convince the public and members of his party that he is still fit to run for president. This week, Jonathan Freedland and Paul Begala, a former adviser to Bill Clinton, discuss how the Democrats can regroup

As Americans celebrate Independence Day, Democrats are scrambling after a pretty disastrous week for the party – and arguably US-democracy. On Monday, the US supreme court handed Donald Trump a victory by ruling that former presidents are entitled to some degree of immunity from criminal prosecution. Stemming from this, the judge overseeing the former president's criminal case in New York postponed his sentencing from next week to 18 September. This falls against the backdrop of Joe Biden trying to convince the public and members of his party that he is still fit to run for president. This week, Jonathan Freedland and Paul Begala, a former adviser to Bill Clinton, discuss how the Democrats can regroup

SERIES 2 EPISODE 191: COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN A-Block (1:44) SPECIAL COMMENT: The polls continue to underscore it. Trump's conviction, just twelve days ago, is already half as important in voters' decision-making process as where the candidates stand on immigration. 28% tell CBS the convictions are a "major factor" for them, yet this number is dismissed because it isn't by itself decisive. A separate Morning Consult poll says Trump's net favorability is now four points below that of Biden's - because of the trial.  And yet the President, and his advisors, and the old men of the Democratic Party continue to contrive to keep Joe Biden from saying the truth in public. He says the impact of the convictions is for the public to decide. No! That's for the public to decide? This isn't an American Idol vote. This isn't Coke versus Pepsi. This is democracy or dictatorship and most people don't know and YOU, Mr. President, have to make the case. You don't have to sink to Trump's brain-damaged rhetorical level but “that's for the public to decide?” HELP THEM DECIDE. TELL THEM THE TRUTH. Part of the problem is: the campaign seems to be incapable of realizing it can do multiple attacks on Trump - from criminality to dictatorship to the price of orange juice. I'll give some examples of the variety of ads they could run. MEANWHILE: KNOTTED BY WINDSOR. Justice Alito makes a fool of himself as my friend the investigative journalist Lauren Windsor records him agreeing that either the right or left will "win" - and he had a much better visit with her than did his wife. Martha-Ann Alito promises to get revenge against everybody, fly an anti-LGBTQ flag, and sue the bunch of them. It turns out everything we thought about them was comparatively positive. AND JUST FOR LAUGHS: Jonathan Turley has declared Trump "elderly." B-Block (34:44) THE WORST PERSONS IN THE WORLD: Alleged Democratic governor Hochul of New York, after freezing NYC congestion prices, apparently bails out on fundraiser hosted by auto dealers. Marge Barney Rubble Greene thinks electric cars run on gasoline. Politico with the typo of the year, about a fabulous "head of head." C-Block (40:21) FROM THE SPORTS CENTRAL CENTER NEWSDESK TONIGHT: I moved this last in case you are NOT a baseball fan of 57 seasons' duration whom the game is losing. The Athletic publishes its survey of current players and guess what! Turns out they all invented the game, and anybody who played before about 2010 was incompetent and irrelevant. Worse yet, somebody grabs my personal third rail, insulting Babe Ruth. Which means I have to go through mediocre reliever Adam Ottavino's 2018 contention that he would strike Babe Ruth out every time he faced him. If you brought Babe Ruth into baseball 2024 and gave him its tiny ballparks and elaborate video scouting and training regimens, he would hit 255 homers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest host Paul Begala joins Al to analyze the factors driving the ‘24 election and the dangers of another Trump term before speaking with UC President Emeritus Mark Yudof.  They discuss where the pro-Palestine protests fit in the history of campus movements, how an oppressor/oppressed schema contributes to anti-Israel and anti-Semetic sentiment, why support for Israel is a liberal position, and where the line is between constitutionally protected speech and threatening action.  With no end to the chaos on campuses in sight, they consider the best way to restore order and turn recent events into a teachable moment.    Email your questions to James and Al at politicswarroom@gmail.com or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city, we love to hear where you're from! Watch James Carville Explains on YouTube Playlist James Carville & Al Hunt have launched the Politics War Room Substack Get More From This Week's Guests: Paul Begala: Twitter | University of Virginia Center For Politics | CNN | Author Mark Yudof: Twitter | Berkeley Law | UT System | Academic Engagement Network | Facebook Please Support Our Sponsors: Ladder: Go to ladderlife.com/warroom today to see if you're instantly approved for term coverage life insurance Kalshi: Make predictions and trade on current events you care about with a $20 bonus on a $50+ deposit when you sign up using the link: kalshi.com/politicswarroom Total Gym: For an ADDITIONAL 20% off your order, head to TotalGymDirect.com/warroom 

This week Murphy and Gibbs were joined by the great Paul Begala, CNN contributor and former counselor to President Bill Clinton. The Hacks discuss the White House Correspondents Dinner, Trump's ongoing legal issues, CNN's newest poll, unconventional media opportunities, shooting puppies(???), and so much more!

Paul Begala is a CNN political commentator, consultant and NY Times best-selling author. Along with his partner James Carville, he was one of the masterminds behind Bill Clinton's winning presidential campaign in 1992 and later served as Counselor to the President, serving as one of President Clinton's closest aides, and coordinating policy, politics, and communications. In the 2012 campaign, Paul was a senior adviser for the pro-Obama Super PAC, making Begala one of the few people to play a critical role in electing two different presidents. Paul is back in The Back Room, and as always, he brings his inimitable wit and wisdom on a range of critical subjects including Trump and his existential threat to democracy; right-wing religious extremism and its Orange Jesus worship; RFK Jr and his VP pick Nicole Shanahan; Liz Cheney, the November election and the latest polling; the economy; and more. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Clip from Biden's J6 speech calling Trump a threat to democracy. Paul Begala says Biden should stop running on his record and just attack Trump. Who would you vote for in the Iowa primary? Liz Cheney says Trump and DeSantis are both unfit for office. MSNBC's Jonathan Capeheart cries over J6. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hospitalized and nobody noticed, Biden WH not told.Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clip from Biden's J6 speech calling Trump a threat to democracy. Paul Begala says Biden should stop running on his record and just attack Trump. Who would you vote for in the Iowa primary? Liz Cheney says Trump and DeSantis are both unfit for office. MSNBC's Jonathan Capeheart cries over J6. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hospitalized and nobody noticed, Biden WH not told.Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this look back episode...Paul Begala was on the Bill Maher show on and Bill had some questions and comments about Bill Clinton and his relationship with Epstein. Of course, in usual fashion, the Clinton apologist deftly avoided any answers of substance.(Commercial at 9:28)To contact me:Bobbycapucci@protonmail.comSource:https://www.thedailybeast.com/bill-maher-mocks-horny-bill-clinton-over-creepy-jeffrey-epstein-tiesThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5080327/advertisement

In this look back episode...Paul Begala was on the Bill Maher show on and Bill had some questions and comments about Bill Clinton and his relationship with Epstein. Of course, in usual fashion, the Clinton apologist deftly avoided any answers of substance.(Commercial at 9:28)To contact me:Bobbycapucci@protonmail.comSource:https://www.thedailybeast.com/bill-maher-mocks-horny-bill-clinton-over-creepy-jeffrey-epstein-ties

In this look back episode...Paul Begala was on the Bill Maher show on and Bill had some questions and comments about Bill Clinton and his relationship with Epstein. Of course, in usual fashion, the Clinton apologist deftly avoided any answers of substance.(Commercial at 9:28)To contact me:Bobbycapucci@protonmail.comSource:https://www.thedailybeast.com/bill-maher-mocks-horny-bill-clinton-over-creepy-jeffrey-epstein-tiesThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5080327/advertisement

In this look back episode...Paul Begala was on the Bill Maher show on and Bill had some questions and comments about Bill Clinton and his relationship with Epstein. Of course, in usual fashion, the Clinton apologist deftly avoided any answers of substance.(Commercial at 9:28)To contact me:Bobbycapucci@protonmail.comSource:https://www.thedailybeast.com/bill-maher-mocks-horny-bill-clinton-over-creepy-jeffrey-epstein-tiesThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5003294/advertisement

Bill Maher and his guests answer viewer questions after the show. (Originally aired 10/20/23)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bill's guests are Alexandra Pelosi, Paul Begala, and Bret Stephens (Originally aired 10/20/23)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Carville, America's best-known Democratic political consultant, has been on the scene for a very long time and has worked on just about a thousand campaigns—he's almost 80. But his most prominent victory was Bill Clinton's successful run for the presidency in 1992, which was documented in the incredible D. A. Pennebaker documentary War Room. Some people watch Notting Hill as a comfort movie. For me, it's War Room. So you can imagine my excitement when I met Carville at The Texas Tribune Festival and noticed that he was wearing the exact same iconic purple, gold, and green striped LSU polo that he wore in War Room. It was actually quite fitting, and symbolic: a whole lot has changed in American politics over the last 30 years. Carville's style—blunt, charming, unconventional, and usually right—has not.  The people closest to Carville have other ways of describing the political icon. His former business partner, Paul Begala, has said that “James lives in a border town between genius and madness. Now that he's rich and famous, he's eccentric. I knew him when he was just crazy.” His wife, Mary Matalin, who is a Republican Party consultant, has said: “He really is a nut.” Our conversation—which was recorded in a room full of three hundred Rachel Maddow die-hards—covered a range of political commentary, criticism, and diagnosis: whether or not he thinks Biden is too old to run again, why he thinks Kamala Harris is treated unfairly by the press, the direction of the Democratic Party, why he thinks wokeness “is over,” and, of course, Trump and the future of America.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this look back episode...Paul Begala was on the Bill Maher show on and Bill had some questions and comments about Bill Clinton and his relationship with Epstein. Of course, in usual fashion, the Clinton apologist deftly avoided any answers of substance.(Commercial at 9:28)To contact me:Bobbycapucci@protonmail.comSource:https://www.thedailybeast.com/bill-maher-mocks-horny-bill-clinton-over-creepy-jeffrey-epstein-tiesThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5003294/advertisement

James and Al take a moment to celebrate President Biden's strong negotiation of the debt ceiling and welcome master strategist Paula Begala to talk politics, sports, faith, and the lay of the land in Texas.  Does AG Ken Paxton's fall and Republican overextension create an opportunity for Democrats in the Senate there?  And more importantly, is Colin Allred the candidate to get it done? Email your questions to James and Al at politicswarroom@gmail.com or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city, we love to hear where you're from! Get More From This Week's Guest: Paul Begala: Twitter | University of Virginia Center For Politics | CNN | Author

This week Axe and Murphy were joined by Super Hackeroo and CNN Contributor Paul Begala. The Hacks discuss Tim Scott's announcement, the battle for the GOP primary, debt ceiling (default) negotiations, the x-factor that is the candidate gene, the No Labels Party, Mount Rushmore politicians, gold toilets, and refreshing smiles! Plus so much more! 

Dave Rubin of “The Rubin Report” talks about Tucker Carlson leaving Fox News; “The View's” Ana Navarro's shameless reaction to finding out about Tucker Carlson's firing; CNN's Anderson Cooper talking to Paul Begala about who he thinks should replace Tucker Carlson; how independent media outlets like Rumble keep getting stronger as mainstream media continues to collapse; “Timcast IRL's” Tim Pool and Savanah Hernandez discussing how big the Bud Light boycott triggered by Anheuser-Busch's partnership with Dylan Mulvaney has gotten; Don Lemon being fired from CNN; “Meet the Press'” Chuck Todd sharing some bad news for anyone supporting the Biden 2024 reelection; Ron DeSantis sharing a clue with Sean Hannity about a possible campaign announcement; and much more. WATCH the MEMBER-EXCLUSIVE segment of the show here: https://rubinreport.locals.com/

Paul Begala is a CNN political commentator, consultant and NY Times best-selling author. Along with his partner James Carville, he was one of the masterminds behind Bill Clinton's winning presidential campaign in 1992 and later served as Counselor to the President, serving as one of President Clinton's closest aides, and coordinating policy, politics, and communications. In the 2012 campaign, Paul was a senior adviser for the pro-Obama Super PAC, making Begala one of the few people to play a critical role in electing two different presidents. Paul is back in The Back Room sharing his inimitable wit and wisdom on a range of critical subjects including Trump, his mounting legal problems and the Republican Party's increasing and dangerous march towards authoritarianism; the '24 presidential race and his predictions for Ron "DeStuntis", Tim Scott, Pence and others; Lindsey Graham's unraveling; the "Tennessee Three" debacle; the big Wisconsin Supreme Court Democratic victory; racism; out-of-control gun violence; Hillary Clinton's support for Obama; and the huge accomplishment for President Biden of Finland joining NATO. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy and Matty Rosenberg @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Associate producer Jennifer Hammoud Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

This uneventful week Murphy and Gibbs were joined by gentleman Hack Paul Begala to discuss the first ever criminal indictment of a U.S. President. The Hacks break down the indictment, Trump's surrender, and his speech. Plus the Hacks are joined by their Midwestern correspondent to dive into the Chicago Mayor's race as well as the Wisconsin Supreme Court Race. 

You know David Axlerod...the chief strategist for President Obama, CNN commentator, and founder of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. The Obama years come up a bit in this conversation, but we focus mostly on his 20+ years as a working political media consultant before connecting professionally with then-State Senator Obama. We talk cutting his teeth in NYC, how the appeal of Chicago politics drew him to the Windy City, why he made the jump from political journalist to political operative, & stories, lessons, and insights from his 40+ years in and around politics.(To donate to support The Pro Politics Podcast, you may use this venmo link or inquire by email at mccrary.zachary@gmail.com) IN THIS EPISODE….David's early political memories growing up in NYC…The political appeal that drew David to Chicago for college…David tells the story of Chicago machine politics through 3 influential figures…What made David make the jump from journalism to become a political operative…The story behind David's first campaign working for Congressman Paul Simon…The Axelrod approach to political ads…David talks his time working for iconic Chicago Mayor Harold Washington…The historic 1992 Illinois Senate race that might not have happened without Axelrod agitation…How the 1992 Illinois Senate race foretold the 2004 rise of Senator Barack Obama…David's take on the “self doubt” present among many who work in politics… AND Jill Abramson, Paul Begala, Jessie Berry, Madison Brown, bullshit meters, Jane Byrne, Mike Calabrese, James Carville, cashing in stamps, the Chicago Tribune, chiseling, civilian review panels, Forrest Claypool, Cardiss Collins, George Collins, colorful Chicago lore, the Commissioner of Rodent Control, Rich Daley, Richard J. Daley, Bill Dawson, Alan Dixon, David Doak, Lloyd Doggett, dopes, Stephen Douglas, Rahm Emanuel, Carter Eskew, Jerry Finkelstein, Erwin France, gambling syndicates, Newt Gingrich, golfing with Dan Quayle, hammer-and-tong battles, Fred Hampton, Henry Henderson, Anita Hill, Al Hofeld, homespun wisdom, Hyde Park, impostor syndrome, Ben Lewis, John Lindsay, luminescent figures, JFK, RFK, the Jewish Kennedys, Vince Larkin, Jerry Liebner, Jim Ross Lightfoot, Abraham Lincoln, Little Rock, machine cogs, Jane Mayer, Mark McKinnon, Ralph Metcalfe, Kiki Moore, Carol Moseley Braun, Mike Murphy, Dr. Odom, Jesse Owens, PS 40, Deval Patrick, pastry and cash, Charles Percy, quixotic races, the Reagan Revolution, realpolitik, Republican golden boys, Dan Rostenkowski, Joe Rostenkowski, Mrs. Roth, secret sauces, Bill Singer, slate-making, Bob Squier, Andrew Stein, Stuyvesant Town, Tammany Hall, Clarence Thomas, unerring noses, the University of Chicago, Tom Vilsack, ward bosses, the wheel of history, David Wilhelm, the Wigwam, the Wizard of Oz Syndrome & more!

First, the U.S. military has shot down a third flying object in just over a week. Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Rep. Mike Turner joins to answer if these objects are a threat and what investments can be made to protect U.S. airspace. Next, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer sits down with Jake to answer if she's worried that polls show Democrats do not share her enthusiasm for a Biden 2024 presidential bid. Plus, now that Democrats have unified control of Michigan's government for the first time in nearly four decades, she outlines her top priorities.Then, as Democrats and the GOP spar over Medicare and Social Security, South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds answers if he agrees with Sen. Rick Scott's plan to sunset government spending programs.Finally, our panel debates how Republican contenders should challenge Trump in 2024 and whether President Biden can defeat them in a general election. Today's panel includes Commentators Scott Jennings, Ashley Allison, Alyssa Farah Griffin and Paul Begala.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

Bill's guests are Malcolm Nance, Kristen Soltis Anderson, and Paul Begala (Originally aired 02/10/23)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this look back episode...Paul Begala was on the Bill Maher show on and Bill had some questions and comments about Bill Clinton and his relationship with Epstein. Of course, in usual fashion, the Clinton apologist deftly avoided any answers of substance.(Commercial at 9:28)To contact me:Bobbycapucci@protonmail.comSource:https://www.thedailybeast.com/bill-maher-mocks-horny-bill-clinton-over-creepy-jeffrey-epstein-ties

In this look back episode...Paul Begala was on the Bill Maher show on and Bill had some questions and comments about Bill Clinton and his relationship with Epstein. Of course, in usual fashion, the Clinton apologist deftly avoided any answers of substance.(Commercial at 9:28)To contact me:Bobbycapucci@protonmail.comSource:https://www.thedailybeast.com/bill-maher-mocks-horny-bill-clinton-over-creepy-jeffrey-epstein-ties

Paul Begala is one of the most respected Democratic Strategists and Election Analysts in the country. Begala was a chief strategist for the 1992 Clinton–Gore campaign. As counselor to the President in the Clinton White House, he coordinated policy, politics, and communications. He is now a commentator CNN and author of You're Fired: The Perfect Guide to Beating Donald Trump. He and Bill are longtime friends and colleagues so there breakdown of the Midterms and what lies a ahead should be pretty damn interesting. Today, Bill features the campaign of Senator Raphael Warnock and his run-off election to keep the obviously unqualified Herschel Walker out of the Senate. Please help all you can by going to WarnockForGeorgia.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why do Democrats not want to talk about crime? Michael talks with CNN Democratic Strategist Paul Begala about his cnn.com piece "The slogan hurting Democrats' election chances." Original air date 24 October 2022.

Tim Miller had sterling credentials as a top GOP operative, working for the RNC, John McCain, Jeb Bush, Jon Huntsman and more...until he felt increasingly alienated as Donald Trump took over the party. In this conversation, he talks his path out of Republican politics - chronicled in his bestselling book WHY WE DID IT - and how the past several years of GOP politics led to the wholescale Trump takeover of the party. This is a great discussion with one of the most brutally honest observers of American politics, who's had a front row seat to the most important political phenomenon in decades.IN THIS EPISODE…Tim's path to working in politics…The early threads Tim saw of the Trump movement in the GOP…Tim talks his role helping write and promote the infamous post-2012 GOP autopsy…The moment Tim realized most of the GOP political class would throw in their lot with Trump…The Corey Lewandowski Theorem…Tim talks the rivalry between Jon Huntsman and Mitt Romney…Rumors of the negotiations of a possible 2016 Rubio / Cruz pact to stop Trump…Memories of Lindsay Graham's vitriolic anti-Trump sermons…The Breitbart Embassy…Tim talks the time he's spent around Steve Bannon…Tim best practices of placing political opposition research…Tim on the “ruthlessness” gap between the Democratic and Republican political class…The story of the Independent Journal Review as a glimpse into the GOP base...Tim's creative take on the various type of Trump apologists...Tim defines “nerd revengers”…Tim's level of optimism the GOP can pull back from the Trump brink…Tim's LSU football fandom…AND Greg Abbot, George Allen, amnesty, avatars, bags of hammers, Paul Begala, bets with Grandma, blocking and tackling, Dan Bongino, Bruce Braley, Buchaninites, the Bulwark, Jeb Bush, James Carville, Catalist, the Chicago Cubs, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, cloak and dagger, Scott Conroy, the cool kids table, Council Bluffs, Daily Caller, Mitch Daniels, Death Valley, Ron DeSantis, Bob Dole, dorks and nerds, Matt Drudge, the Everglades, Alyssa Farah, Mark Hanna, hatchet men, Chuck Johnson, Brian Kelly, Ted Kennedy, Charlie Kirk, love children, John McCain, William McKinley, H.R. McMaster, meme culture, Mother Jones, mutual fund managers, National Review, Ralph Northam, Ed Orgeron, Bill Owens, Sarah Palin, plutocrats, Reince Preibus, Ronald Reagan, Todd Ricketts, Nick Saban, Mike Shields, Alex Skatell, Sean Spicer, squishes, Elise Stefanik, George Stephanopoulos, Stuart Stevens, Tea Party weirdos, John Thune, Tiger Island, traffic hoses, Sean Trende, unique psychopathy, Upworthy, Dick Wadhams, Scott Walker, the Wall Street Journal, the World Series, YOLO mode & more!

Democratic specialist, Paul Begala trashes President Biden's decision to cancel student debt. Republicans are becoming increasingly hypocritical as they conveniently forget their forgiven debt. Trump wants his supporters not to hold back anymore. Mark Zuckerberg reveals that the FBI warned him not to post stories including Hunter Biden. Facebook allows graphic images of Russian air strikes, but not Israeli air strikes.Host: Ana Kasparian, Cenk Uygur*** The largest online progressive news show in the world. Hosted by Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian. LIVE weekdays 6-8 pm ET. Help support our mission and get perks. Membership protects TYT's independence from corporate ownership and allows us to provide free live shows that speak truth to power for people around the world. See Perks: ▶ https://www.youtube.com/TheYoungTurks/joinSUBSCRIBE on YOUTUBE: ☞ http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=theyoungturksFACEBOOK: ☞ http://www.facebook.com/TheYoungTurksTWITTER: ☞ http://www.twitter.com/TheYoungTurksINSTAGRAM: ☞ http://www.instagram.com/TheYoungTurksTWITCH: ☞ http://www.twitch.com/tyt

Our main focus this week is on President Biden's controversial decision to forgive student loan debt for millions of borrowers.  First, Dana Bash asks Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren whether Biden's plan is fair for those Americans who have already worked to pay off their debt.  Next, Dana goes one-on-one with Ohio Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Tim Ryan, who says his party needs a renewed "laser-like focus on the economic well-being of the average person."  Then, Republican Gov. Chris Sununu slams the student loan forgiveness program, calling it "a really, really bad idea."  This week's panelists: Democratic strategist Paul Begala, former Trump White House Communications Director Alyssa Farah Griffin, CNN Political Commentator Ashley Allison and CNN Political Commentator Scott Jennings weigh in on Biden's student loan plan and if Democrats will be able to hold on to their control of the House and the Senate after the midterms.To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

This week, formidable Hack and CNN contributor Paul Begala joins Gibbs and Murphy to discuss the unraveling of Build Back Better, the strategy of the 1/6 committee in advance of their highly anticipated hearing on Thursday, Trump's donor courting tour, and - in between Murphy swooning over big oil - we venture across the pond* to discuss UK politics.  *No horrible British accents were included in this recording of Hacks on Tap.

First: Inflation skyrockets at home while abroad President Biden makes nice with a leader he vowed to make a "pariah." Was it worth the price? Top White House economic adviser Jared Bernstein joins Dana Bash to discuss.   Next: Republican primaries pit sitting governors against former President Trump, who says it's a matter of when, not if, he runs. What will the GOP look like in 2024? Dana speaks exclusively to Arizona Republican Governor Doug Ducey.  Then: January 6th committee member Elaine Luria tells Dana why she thinks Donald Trump committed a crime during the insurrection.  And: Former Trump White House Communications Director Alyssa Farah Griffin, Pennsylvania House Democratic Leader Joanna McClinton, former Trump campaign senior adviser David Urban and Democratic strategist Paul Begala talk about the effect of abortion restrictions and culture wars on future elections, and how former President Trump's re-election bid could affect voters in swing states. To learn more about how CNN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy

6:02-NEWS 6:10-Cost and supply of baby formula is at a crisis level  6:40-Republican voter turnout is expected to be higher now amid the Supreme Court leak regarding Roe v. Wade 6:45-A big announcement on the Zeoli Show!  7:01-NEWS 7:10-The third candidate for Senator of Pennsylvania that is catching attention for Republicans 7:32-The #MeToo movement amid the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation trial  7:43-Depp could lose the trial but win back Hollywood 7:45-CUT SHEET | criminal defense attorney Sara Azari doesn't believe Amber Heard's testimony is truthful | Joe Biden reminisces about eating lunch with segregationists |  8:02-Could a loss of a Trump-endorsed candidate be a repudiation of former President Trump  8:10-Elizabeth Warren confronted about forgiving student loans for people who already paid it off  8:15-Bill Mahr and Paul Begala mock Warren's plan to forgive or cancel student loans as a way to piss off the working class  8:23-NEWS 8:35-Candidate for Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania Clarice Schillinger joined Rich to discuss to role of the Lieutenant Governor in Pennsylvania   9:01-NEWS 9:10-The ultimate nap is only 10-20 minutes  9:14-How many friends does the average person really need?. 9:18-Dave Chappelle is not happy the LA Sheriff is not pressing federal charges against attacker  9:25-Elon Musk's plan to quintuple Twitter's revenue  9:43- CUT SHEET | Bernie Sanders slam Amazon for attempts to prevent workers unionizing | Speaker Pelosi pushes back on Governor Newsom's comments on Democrats going "missing" over abortion rights | Jen Psaki defends the ethical questions surrounding her move to MSNBC |  9:55-Final Thoughts Photo: Getty Images

Zeoli Show Hour 3:  In the third hour of the Zeoli Show, Rich discussed Senator Elizabeth Warren being confronted over students who have already paid off their student loans and are not being included in the "reimbursement" plan to cancel student loan debt.  8:02-Could a loss of a Trump-endorsed candidate be a repudiation of former President Trump  8:10-Elizabeth Warren confronted about forgiving student loans for people who already paid it off  8:15-Bill Mahr and Paul Begala mock Warren's plan to forgive or cancel student loans as a way to piss off the working class  8:23-NEWS 8:35-Candidate for Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania Clarice Schillinger joined Rich to discuss to role of the Lieutenant Governor in Pennsylvania   Photo by; Chip Somodevilla / Staff

Bill's guests are Chloe Maxmin, Paul Begala, and Michele Tafoya (Originally aired 5/06/22) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bill Maher and his guests answer viewer questions after the show. (Originally aired 5/06/22) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Begala, CNN contributor and former counselor to President Bill Clinton, joins Axe and Murphy to discuss rising consumer prices, the “some other dude did it” defense, Biden's budding immigration issue, and Trump's endorsement of Dr. Oz in Pennsylvania. 

The rabbi of a Texas synagogue where a gunman took hostages during live-streamed services said Monday that he threw a chair at his captor before escaping with two others after the hours-long standoff. The long-simmering tensions between former President Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) are reaching a boiling point ahead of a potential 2024 primary clash. Paul Begala said Democrats' problem is "not that they have bad leaders. They have bad followers." Congressional Democrats are joining Republicans in a last-ditch effort to undermine the newly implemented No Surprises Act, which bans surprise medical bills. Book bans in schools are catching fire. Black authors say uproar isn't about students. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.