Can’t get enough of the US election? Listen up…
Charles Miller
edits this blog. Twitter: @chblm
If you can’t get enough of the US presidential election – and the TV debates starting on Monday will either increase or depress your appetite – there’s plenty more in depth discussion available on political podcasts.
Here’s a quick run-down of some of the best:
If you’re into numbers, this one’s for you. 538 was founded by Nate Silver, the statistician who famously predicted the result of the 2008 presidential election in 49 of the 50 states. 538 is the number of members of the US Electoral College, who, technically, elect the President. As a website, 538 was first independent, then part of the New York Times, and is now owned by the sports network ESPN – because Silver also uses his analytical skills to predict results in sports such as baseball and basketball.
NPR – National Public Radio – is the closest you’ll find to BBC Radio Four in the USA. Its podcast features three senior journalists from NPR News and is a breezy overview of the latest political developments, together with answers to questions about politics sent in by listeners.
The New York Times’ election podcast is an authoritative, high level production – more like a radio documentary than a thrown-together chat. It’s hosted by New York Times politics reporter Michael Barbaro, and produces two editions a week.
Two pollsters, one Republican and one Democrat, discuss polls on diverse issues, and interview guests with a cheery, chatty style combined with expertise and the latest polling details. A great example of what a podcast can do that wouldn’t feel quite right on radio.
Gabfest is the only podcast on this list that warns listeners that it contains “explicit language”. But it’s also an authoritative, media-focussed political discussion with good talkers analysing political issues.
This podcast features investigative work about politics by the Scripps News Washington Bureau. Scripps began in newspapers in Ohio in the 19th Century and today owns a string of TV stations and some new digital businesses. The podcast is serious stuff: the latest episode details research on legal aspects of the public disclosure or otherwise of donors to Clinton and Trump charities.
This is an openly pro-Democrat podcast, hosted by four former aides to President Obama, but includes guests with opposing views. 1600 refers to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the address of the White House in Washington.
Perino & Stirewalt: I’ll Tell You What…
Dana Perino, former White House press secretary to President George W. Bush and co-host of Fox News Channel’s “The Five” and Fox News digital politics editor Chris Stirewalt rap entertainingly with occasional impressive titbits of insider information thrown in.
There’s friendly rivalry between these podcasters. In its latest edition, 538 canvassed the views of its competitors on the question they’d like to see Trump asked first in the opening TV debate.
Sam Sanders of NPR came up with “Is there anything you’ve said that you’d take back?” Kristen Soltis Anderson of the Pollsters suggested: “You want to go back to an era where America was the undisputed big kid on the block running the globe. But on the other hand, you are critical of the idea of meddling in other countries. So which is it?” My favourite came from David Plotz of Slate’s Gabfest: “What steps should the US take to end the conflict between Rohan and Gondor?"
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