Category: Politics
Running Mates: Episode 14 – 2016 – Pence v. Kaine (Part 1)
In the part one of our 2016 election episode, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton taps Virginia Senator Tim Kaine as her running mate, while reality television star and businessman Donald Trump is nominated by the Republican Party and picks ...
Running Mates: Episode 13 – 2012 – Ryan v. Biden
With America still recovering from the Great Recession, Republican nominee Mitt Romney chooses “mini-Mitt” Wisconsin Congressman and House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan to hit incumbent President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden on the big issue of the day: ...
A Last Look at the VP Picks as Biden’s Decision Looms
We’re finally at the precipice of the moment we’ve spent the entire year talking about: presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s vice presidential pick. It’s been a wild year, beginning with a competitive Democratic primary, where we talked about our ...
Running Mates: Episode 12 – 2008 – Biden v. Palin
As unpopular wars rage on, the economy collapses and Lars and Michael delve into Republican nominee John McCain’s miscalculation as he seeks a game changing vice presidential pick in Sarah Palin to counter the historic nomination of Barack Obama, who ...
Running Mates: Episode 11 – 2004 – Edwards v. Cheney
Amidst the War on Terror, President George W. Bush and his VP, Dick Cheney, are up for reelection against Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. In what turns into a presidential contest over their respective military records, patriotism, and foreign policy credentials, ...
An Obituary for NAFTA
This week, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will resolve into the new United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), ending a 26-year-old pact that was once the largest free trade agreement of its time. In these 26 years — and in ...
Running Mates: Episode 10 – 2000 – Cheney v. Lieberman (Part 2)
In the part two of our 2000 election episode, Lars and Michael discuss who Democratic candidate Al Gore should have put on the ticket instead of Joe Lieberman. They conclude with a broad analysis of the 2000 election, the direction ...
Running Mates: Episode 9 – 2000 – Cheney v. Lieberman (Part 1)
In the part one of our 2000 election episode, the impeached president Bill Clinton’s Vice President Al Gore runs for the presidency and picks Joe Lieberman to try and distance himself from Clinton. Meanwhile, Republicans seek a compassionate conservative and ...
Trump is Considering Hosting Campaign Events at Drive-In Theaters, How Effective Would That Be?
President Donald Trump loves his rallies; big crowds full of spectacle and fanfare where he can go on and on to thunderous applause. He’s continued doing them since his election, keeping the momentum alive and his crowd-roiling skills sharp for ...
Running Mates: Episode 8 – 1996 – Kemp v. Gore
President Bill Clinton and his vice president, Al Gore, are up for reelection and after a bruising midterm two years prior, Democrats have moved decisively to the center. Republicans face a crisis of confidence and their candidate, Bob Dole chooses ...
Catherine Cortez Masto Would Have Been a Great Running Mate for Biden
Unless you’ve been following this website and our obsession with vice presidential picks, you’re probably not very familiar with Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. Cortez Masto’s name started to make headlines after Joe Biden made a pledge to select a ...
Running Mates: Episode 7 – 1992 – Gore v. Quayle
The Cold War has ended and President George H.W. Bush and his vice president, Dan Quayle, are running for reelection in a tough economy. Republicans push Bush to drop Quayle from the ticket but he stays the course to take ...
There are Three New Faces on the VP Tracker, One of Them is Now Biden’s Strongest Running Mate
Veepstakes season may have come early this year, but as you may know, we’ve been tracking the strongest vice presidential picks for all of the potential Democratic candidates for some time. This week, we’ve added a few new names to ...
Running Mates: Episode 6 – 1988 – Bentsen v. Quayle
The Reagan years are coming to an end and his vice president, George H.W. Bush is running for president himself against Democratic candidate Michael Dukakis. Lars and Michael discuss Bush’s pick of young Indiana Senator Dan Quayle as his running ...
What Would the Senate Look Like If We Repealed the 17th Amendment?
This past April marked the 107th anniversary of the ratification of the 17th Amendment to the United States Constitution. As far as amendments go, it’s not exactly one of the better known — people invoke their First, Second, and Fifth ...
Running Mates: Episode 5 – 1984 – Ferraro v. Bush
Walter Mondale figures he needs a game changing vice presidential pick to have any chance against the Reagan-Bush reelection in 1984. Lars and Michael discuss how Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman on a major party presidential ticket, holds up as ...
You Can Now Look at All of the Possible 2020 Presidential Nominees in the VP Tracker
Now that Joe Biden is the presumptive Democratic nominee, tracking the strongest vice presidential picks for each potential candidate has lost a bit of its luster. I put out a piece regarding the strongest picks for Biden, but because all ...
Joe Biden’s Strongest Potential Running Mates
Just like that, it’s over. Now that Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has dropped out of the Democratic primary, former Vice President Joe Biden begins the march towards his coronation in Milwaukee (maybe) in August as the Democrats’ nominee for president. ...
Running Mates: Episode 4 – 1980 – Bush v. Mondale
With Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale up for reelection, Lars and Michael discuss the foreign policy and economic crises that perpetuate a strong challenge from Ronald Reagan, who placates establishment Republicans by putting George H.W. Bush on the ticket.
When Will Joe Biden Announce His Running Mate?
Now that he is the presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden will begin turning his attention towards uniting the Democratic Party and defeating Donald Trump this autumn. This shift in focus will require him to make an important choice that will ...
The Economics of the COVID-19 Rebate
You will probably be receiving a check from the federal government in the next few months. If you are a single filer and make under $75,000, you will receive the maximum rebate of $1,200. If you make over $75,000, this ...
Running Mates: Episode 3 – 1976 – Mondale v. Dole
Lars and Michael discuss the first post-Watergate presidential election and how Gerald Ford fails to excite or unite his party by picking Bob Dole as his running mate, while Jimmy Carter manages to capture optimism and credibility with Walter Mondale.