Campaign HQ with David Plouffe

In the West, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is always seen as one of two things: KGB spy or judo master. But to anyone who’s ever lived in the Soviet Union, Putin is something else entirely: a street kid. Join journalist Julia Ioffe as she explores how Putin’s childhood taught him lessons that shape his thinking and actions to this day. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 4 October 2023

No question too big, no question too small. On Search Engine, host PJ Vogt answers the kinds of questions you might ask the internet when you can't sleep. If you find the world bewildering, but also sometimes enjoy being bewildered by it, Search Engine is here for you. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 7 July 2023

David unpacks the 2022 midterm election cycle and discusses what it means for the parties, the 2024 presidential election and democracy as a whole. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 10 November 2022

David is joined by Anna Staver of the USA Today Network's Ohio Bureau to talk about the key races and what the voting results that come in early evening on election night will tell us about how the night is going to go Then, Dave Chase, campaign manager for Tim Ryan for Ohio, on why Ohio voters are aligned with his candidate's views - and the importance of getting as many Republican and Independent voters to cross-over, even in areas Ryan might not win. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 3 November 2022

Evan Smith of The Texas Tribune discusses what it would take to turn Texas blue, and why the demographics of the state suggest the Dobbs decision may not be as much of a driving factor for Democratic votes as it is in other states. Then Nick Rathod, campaign manager for Beto O’Rourke, discusses the state of the Governor’s race, what they are seeing on the ground and how they are tackling the need for big Democratic turnout. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 27 October 2022

David is joined by Will Doran who covers North Carolina politics for the News & Observer. Will provides a look at some important races including the crucial State Supreme Court races, which could have ramifications for years to come Then, Travis Brimm, campaign manager for Cheri Beasley discusses the challenges of getting to 50% and the importance of voter turnout in an important Senate race that hasn’t caught the national attention but could be pivotal. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 20 October 2022

Wisconsin, as always, is a pivotal state.David is joined by Patrick Marley who writes about voting issues in the Upper Midwest for The Washington Post and looks not only at the governor’s and U.S. senate campaigns, but some of the other races and what the aftermath of this election could mean for 2024. Then, Sam Roecker, senior advisor and spokesperson for Governor Tony Evers discusses their campaign’s strategy to keep the governor’s office - and the particulars of an 1849 law that is preventing any abortions from being performed in the state. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 13 October 2022

Jonathan Oosting is the Michigan Politics Reporter for Bridge Michigan. Jonathen takes us on a tour of all the key races and how the abortion issue is playing in the state. Then, Preston Elliott, campaign manager for Gretchen Whitmer, takes us inside the Governor’s race, including how an incumbent Governor is navigating the perceived economic political headwinds. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 6 October 2022

Yvonne Wingett Sanchez is the Democracy Reporter in Arizona for the Washington Post. Yvonne takes a look at how some Republican voters are taking a long hard look at the Democratic candidates, how the abortion topic could motivate voters, and whether or not we could see contested elections. Then, Emma Brown, campaign manager for Mark Kelly joins David and discusses keeping her eye on the prize and not assuming the other side's candidates are unelectable when history shows otherwise. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 29 September 2022

Jon Ralston, expert on all things Nevada, takes us on tour of the many key Nevada races , discusses how Nevada has changed electorally and some of the nuances in Nevada elections. Then David is joined by Sam Barrett, campaign manager for Governor Steve Sisolak . Sam talks about running against a law and order candidate when crime is up and the opponent is the sheriff, and the importance the Dobbs decision on abortion has had in Nevada. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 22 September 2022

Greg Bluestein is a political reporter and author who covers Georgia politics for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and is a MSNBC analyst. Greg joins David for an overview of key Georgia races including those of Stacey Abrams and Raphael Warnock. Then, David is joined by Quentin Fulks, campaign manager for Reverend Raphael Warnock for U.S. Senate. He gives us the ground level view of their campaign against an unconventional candidate in Herschel Walker. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 15 September 2022

First, Julia Terruso, political reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, gives us an overview of the key Pennsylvania races. Then, Brendan McPhillips campaign manager for John Fetterman with his thoughts on Dr Oz, social media and the lay of the land in this pivotal U.S. Senate race Finally, Berwood Yost, Director of the Center for Opinion Research at Franklin & Marshall on how these Pennsylvania races could become a lot closer than they appear now. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 8 September 2022

David Plouffe, former President Barack Obama’s campaign manager and White House Senior Advisor, returns for a new season on September 8th with a deep dive into key states in the crucial midterm elections - and what it will take to win them. Plouffe’s guests are key operatives, local political reporters and independent pollsters, who don’t just have opinions about what is happening–they know what is happening, because they are the ones in the arena. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 7 September 2022

Description: As Joe Biden’s campaign manager in 2020, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon became the first woman to manage a winning Democratic Presidential campaign. She and David discuss some of the logistical challenges the Biden campaign faced because of the pandemic, what goes into winning a battleground state and her thoughts on what the electoral map could look like for Democrats heading forward. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 13 November 2020

David takes a look at Tuesday Night’s election, when Joe Biden received the most votes in history. Why was there a difference between polls and turnout, and what trends are we seeing that could affect future elections. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 November 2020

Beto O’Rourke is organizing on the ground in Texas and joins David while on his way to join Senator Harris on the campaign trail. Beto discusses the importance of the next five days, never making an assumption about a voter and what political direction Texas might head in the future. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 29 October 2020

Cindy Lin is a field organizer for the Biden campaign’s efforts in Michigan. Cindy discusses the challenges and opportunities of doing volunteer recruitment and connecting with swing voters while working remotely, and reminds us that election day is not the first day of voting, it is the last. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 22 October 2020

Kate Bedingfield is the deputy campaign manager and communications director for Biden For President. Kate and David discuss how Biden supporters can help the campaign in the close, the campaign’s primary communications challenges and opportunities, what Trump will show up at the last debate and planning for post Election Day. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 15 October 2020

Dr. Michael P. McDonald heads The United States Elections Project and discusses what we can learn so far from early vote turnout, how different states count those votes, and what overall voter turnout may be by the end. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 8 October 2020

Barton Gellman’s recent piece in The Atlantic, The Election That Could Break America, opened eyes to the lengths Donald Trump could go to stay in power. Gellman, a bestselling author and longtime journalist, joins David to talk about his piece, what we should be most concerned about, and how to mitigate the worst scenarios. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 1 October 2020

Karine Jean-Pierre, Kamala Harris’ Chief of Staff discuses the upcoming debate vs. Mike Pence, her campaign approach and the Supreme Court fight To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 24 September 2020

Fernand Amandi is the President and CEO Bendixen & Amandi International. Their recent poll in Miami-Dade County showed Donald Trump and Joe Biden in a tight battle for Hispanic voters in that key county in Florida. David and Fernand discuss the poll, and also take a look at the influence of the hispanic vote in Arizona, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania and other battlegrounds. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 17 September 2020

Claire McCaskill, a two term U.S. Senator from Missouri and now a political analyst for MSNBC, talks voters the midwest, how Joe Biden should approach the upcoming debates and how Democrats should govern if the win back the White House and the Senate. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 10 September 2020

David Axelrod was a senior strategist to Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign and later a Senior Advisor to the President. Currently David is director of the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics, co-host of the Hacks On Tap podcast and CNN’s senior political analyst. Axe and Plouffe have experience getting candidates ready for Presidential Debates and take a look at what Joe Biden needs to do. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 3 September 2020

Bob Bauer was general counsel of both Obama for America presidential campaigns and served as White House Counsel. He presently serves as a senior advisor to the Biden campaign, responsible for voter integrity and protection. We talk mail balloting, Trump attacks on the rule of law and post-election scenarios. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 27 August 2020

The former ambassador to the United Nations and National Security Advisor to Barack Obama discusses the damage which the Trump administration has caused to the United States on the world stage, what a Biden administration will need to do to fix that damage while leading us out of the pandemic, and what the Black Lives Matter movement said to the world about what is special about America. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 20 August 2020

President Obama offers his take Joe Biden’s choice of Kamala Harris as his running mate and what it says about his decision making as a potential president. And he talks about the close of the campaign and the role each of us has to play in deciding it’s outcome To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 14 August 2020

Scott Fairchild is the Executive Director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Scott and David take a tour of the top Senate races and talk about the path to 50 seats. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 12 August 2020

As chief strategist for Bill Clinton’s 1992 campaign, Paul Begala helped Clinton become the first Democrat to occupy the White House in twelve years. His new book is YOU’RE FIRED! The Perfect Guide to Beating Donald Trump. David and Paul take a look at the last time the American voters decided to fire the President, and what it means for Joe Biden’s campaign. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 6 August 2020

Veteran strategist Stephanie Cutter is in charge of producing this year’s Democratic National Convention. David and Stephanie discuss how this year’s Democratic Convention will be unique, what the GOP shitshow may look like and how the fall is shaping up. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 30 July 2020

Is Biden at his ceiling? Does he have more room to grow? Does Trump have a path back with seniors? David is joined by John Anzalone, one of the nation’s top pollsters, who has conducted research for the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama (2008 & 2012) and Hillary Clinton (2016) and is currently polling for Joe Biden (2020). To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 23 July 2020

John Heilemann is the Executive Editor of The Recount and host of Showtime’s The Circus. John and David discuss how Trump’s inclination to be divisive does not help his chances and how Trump’s team will not be able to successfully position Joe Biden as some scary version of The Other. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 July 2020

Jon Favreau is one of the hosts of Pod Save America and the former speechwriter for Barack Obama. Jon discusses what Joe Biden needs to accomplish in his upcoming major speeches, the debates and his ideas for how to maximize this year’s Democratic National Convention. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 July 2020

As Joe Biden seeks to make the election a referendum on Trump, Robby Mook, Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager in 2016, joins David for a look at the similarities and differences between this campaign and 2016, Trump’s inability to communicate his case for re-election and reminds us that the campaign can turn on a dime. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 July 2020

Jennifer Palmieri, former White House Director of Communications from 2013 to 2015 and Director of Communications for the Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign provides unique insight into the differences between Joe Biden’s campaign and Hillary’s, and the additional pressure Biden’s VP pick will face. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 25 June 2020

Jen O’Malley Dillon is the campaign manager for Biden for President. She discusses the recent poll numbers, the battleground picture, campaigning during a pandemic and what concerns her the most. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 18 June 2020

Ballot delivery, automatic registration, and voter education: Michigan’s Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson discusses the ways we can have a successful election in a year with an expected increase in voting by mail. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 10 June 2020

Rick Perlstein, author of Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America, joins David for a comparison of Trump’s campaign tactics with those of Nixon. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 4 June 2020

Omar and Rafael Rivero are the founders of Occupy Democrats, a political organization and news website that aims to create a more equal society for all by working with progressives, labor unions, and the Democratic Party. They discuss some of their innovative ways they are using social media to reach their over 50 million followers to help Joe Biden win the election and tips on how regular citizens can contribute on their own. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2020

Candidates are finding they can run on gun safety and win elections. Shannon Watts is the founder of Moms Demand Action. The day after the Sandy Hook tragedy, Shannon Watts started a Facebook group with the message that all Americans can and should do more to reduce gun violence. Now Shannon is working with Everytown for Gun Safety to end gun violence and build safer communities. David and Shannon discuss the ways all of us can be actively influential in elections. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2020

Former Attorney General Eric Holder explains the ways we can make sure everyone has the opportunity to vote despite the pandemic, how the Supreme Court could be affected for twenty years by this election, and a behind the scenes look at the vetting process for the Vice Presidency. Eric is presently the chair of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, with the mission of building a targeted, state-by-state strategy that ensures Democrats can fight back and produce fairer maps in the 2021 redistricting process. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 13 May 2020

The Lincoln Project’s Rick Wilson joins David to discuss the Lincoln Project’s Mourning In America ad, and Trump’s reaction. The Lincoln Project’s mission statement is to “Defeat President Trump and Trumpism at the ballot box.” and adds that “electing Democrats who support the Constitution over Republicans who do not is a worthy effort.” To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2020

Presidential Historian Jon Meacham joins David for a look at what history tells us about the current election. Jon’s new podcast Hope Through History explores some of the most historic and trying times in American History, and how this nation dealt with these moments, the impact of these moments and how we came through these moments a unified nation. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2020

Dan Wagner, CEO of Civis and Analytics and Chief Analytics Officer on Barack Obama's 2012 election campaign joins David to discuss his take on the pathway to victory for Joe Biden in core battleground states and how the pandemic alters the tactics to achieve those vote goals. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2020

How bad will it get and what can be done to prevent the worst? What was smart about the CARES act, what was lacking and what needs to be in the next relief package. How should Joe Biden handle the crisis in the campaign? David is joined by Austan Goolsbee who served as the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers President Obama and currently serves on the Economic Advisory Panel to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as well as teaching economics at the University of Chicago. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 April 2020

Longtime Democratic strategist Jim Messina, who served as the campaign manager during Barack Obamas re-election bid in 2012, discusses the advantages of incumbency in presidential re-elects, what Biden needs to do to catch up and how the Covid-19 crisis may affect the contest.​ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2020

Is your candidate on Pinterest and TikTok? What about World of Warcraft? Stefan Smith was Pete Buttigieg’s online engagement director and has some great ideas for people to get more involved in the election digitally, where Democrats need to invest more and the advantages of being everywhere. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 April 2020

Will we vote in November, how will we vote, and what will it take to protect elections this year and in the future? David is joined by Marc Elias, the leading voting rights and election attorney in the Democratic Party, to discuss all that and more. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2020

Gangster Capitalism is back. This season, the NRA is in the crosshairs. This past year has rocked the country’s most powerful special interest organization like none other. Internal power struggles have exposed the group’s questionable, and possibly illegal practices which now threaten the nearly 150 year old nonprofit like never before. We’re pulling back the curtain to reveal that this has little to do with guns. It’s about money.​ To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2020

Ron Klain, chief of staff to two U.S. vice presidents – Al Gore and Joe Biden, served as the United States Ebola response coordinator where he worked on both stopping the epidemic and shaping the economic response. Ron shares what he feels must be done to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and where the failures have been so far. In the second half of the podcast, David and Ron speak about prepping Joe Biden for this year’s upcoming debates, a role he has played in the last 5 Presidential elections. Ron currently co-hosts the podcast Epidemic To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2020