The Campaign Moment
The Washington Post
“The Campaign Moment” cuts through the noise and connects the dots of political developments with unmatched reporting, expertise and lively conversations. Co-host Aaron Blake is one of The Washington Post’s veteran political reporters and is a constant each Friday as he analyzes and distills the moments that matter. He also writes our Campaign Moment newsletter. He’s joined by rotating colleagues from the Politics team and “Post Reports” co-hosts Martine Powers and Elahe Izadi.
A message from Aaron
Thank you for listening to “The Campaign Moment” throughout the 2024 election and into the start of the Trump presidency. Stay subscribed to this feed for more updates on our politics coverage in audio. And make sure you’re subscribed to “Post Reports” – that’s where you’ll find our politics roundtable conversations for now.
Mar 6, • 0:31
Ukraine and the anxiety over Trump's budget
Some House Republicans are getting nervous. They’re worried that passing President Donald Trump’s budget proposal could mean cuts to popular programs like Medicaid. They’ve also gotten an earful from voters angry at Elon Musk who are packing congressional town halls. Senior politics reporter Aaron Blake unpacks the drama with congressional reporter Marianna Sotomayor and congressional economics correspondent Jacob Bogage. Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins
Feb 28, • 37:43
Trump parrots Putin, GOP DOGE drama, a big new poll
Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with Post congressional reporter Liz Goodwin and Dan Lamothe, who covers the Pentagon and the U.S. military, about the week’s political news. They dig into Trump’s sharp turn against Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and toward Russian President Vladimir Putin. They also talk about new polling that shows Trump’s sweeping federal policy decisions are largely unpopular. Plus, why GOP lawmakers are quietly begging Trump to spare their distric
Feb 21, • 32:44
A doomsday scenario for the constitution
Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with Supreme Court reporter Justin Jouvenal and Democracy reporter Colby Itkowitz about how President Donald Trump is testing the power of the courts — and trying to expand his own authority in the process. They break down the cases facing the executive branch right now, what Trump and his allies are saying about them, and why some experts say Trump’s actions run afoul of the constitution.Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Re
Feb 14, • 34:34
Why so few people stand up to Trump
Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with senior national political correspondent Naftali Bendavid and national politics reporter Hannah Knowles about President Donald Trump's proposal to “take over” Gaza, displace Palestinians and remake it as the “riviera” of the Middle East. They also dig into Trump's use of tariffs as bargaining chips and the lack of resistance to Trump policies from both parties.Today’s show was produced by Peter Bresnan. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Rachel Van
Feb 6, • 29:54
More Trump chaos and key confirmation fights
Trump’s extraordinary news conference on the plane crash near Reagan National Airport, his administration’s freeze and unfreeze of all federal funds, and the Senate hearings for three more of his controversial Cabinet picks.Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks through another chaotic week of political news with Congress reporter Liz Goodwin and White House economics reporter Jeff Stein. They break down Trump’s baseless claims that DEI could be the cause of the fatal plane crash in the Pot
Jan 31, • 32:39
What Trump’s executive orders and Jan. 6 pardons mean
Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with senior White House reporter Isaac Arnsdorf and national political reporter Marianne LeVine about how Trump’s executive actions are already having a tangible impact. They also talk about how Trump’s pardon of Jan. 6 rioters was met with a muted response from several prominent Republicans. Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Rachel Van Dongen and mixed by Sam Bair. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.
Jan 24, • 29:44
Hegseth and Bondi go to Washington
Aaron Blake, senior political reporter and author of The Campaign Moment newsletter talks with national security reporter Abby Hauslohner and national politics reporter Hannah Knowles about the most heated exchanges that Trump’s picks for defense secretary and attorney general, Pete Hegseth and Pam Bondi, faced during their Senate confirmation hearings. They also talk about what to expect if the historic ceasefire deal goes into effect over the weekend and what to watch for at Trump’s inaugurati
Jan 17, • 26:26
Trump, the unpunished felon
Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with The Post’s White House editor, Naftali Bendavid, and national political reporter Maeve Reston about the politics of Trump’s sentencing in the New York hush money case. They also dig into how Trump is trying to pin the Los Angeles wildfires on Democrats and look ahead to next week
Jan 10, • 29:10
How Mike Johnson won, and the politics of New Orleans
On Friday, Republicans once again selected Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) to be speaker of the House — but not before there was a little bit of drama.Earlier this week, President-elect Donald Trump took to social media to link the New Year’s Day vehicular attack in New Orleans to weak border policies, even though the attacker was an American citizen born in Texas. In the hours following, the message became a popular Republican talking point. Reporters Marianna Sotomayor, Marianne LeVine and Lei
Jan 3, • 25:52
Biden’s legacy, Trump’s Time interview
Aaron Blake, senior political reporter and author of The Campaign Moment newsletter, sits down with senior congressional correspondent Paul Kane and White House reporter Matt Viser to talk about what Biden is trying to do with his last few weeks in office. They also talk about Time magazine’s person of the year interview with Trump and what two GOP Senate appointments could mean for Trump’s ability to get his agenda through Congress.Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by L
Dec 13, 2024 • 28:09
Will Biden issue more pardons?
On Capitol Hill, Hegseth is facing renewed scrutiny over allegations of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct, which he denies. So this week, the veteran and former Fox News host spent time with lawmakers, publicly and privately making the case for his leadership of the Defense Department. But some Republican senators are skeptical, and Trump is reportedly lining up other options. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake breaks down
Dec 6, 2024 • 30:18
Gaetz out, Oz in, and your lingering election questions
“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with reporter Leigh Ann Caldwell, who co-authors the Early Brief politics newsletter for The Post, about why Gaetz’s bid for attorney general lasted just eight days. Aaron breaks down why Trump’s electoral mandate is actually weaker than he claims. Plus, answers to listeners’ and readers’ lingering questions about the 2024 election. Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and M
Nov 22, 2024 • 32:31
The allegations haunting Gaetz and Hegseth
When Trump floated the name of Matt Gaetz for attorney general, some Republicans balked. The former Florida congressman has been investigated by both the Justice Department and the House Ethics Committee over allegations of drug use and sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old girl. Gaetz has denied wrongdoing. Trump’s announced choice to lead the Defense Department, Fox News weekend host Pete Hegseth, also faces new scrutiny after it was revealed that he paid a woman after she accused him of sexual
Nov 19, 2024 • 27:03
Will Republicans give Trump the Cabinet he wants?
There’s Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz to head up the Justice Department. Former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as the director of national intelligence. Trump has chosen some eyebrow-raising names to staff his Cabinet. But are there any Republicans in the Senate that would choose to block them? Congress reporter Liz Goodwin joins hosts Aaron Blake and Elahe Izadi to dig into Trump’s Cabinet appointments
Nov 15, 2024 • 32:52
What Americans really think of Trump’s promises
President-elect Donald Trump has a lengthy to-do list for his second term in the White House. Among other controversial proposals, it includes conducting large-scale deportations of immigrants in the U.S. without legal status, hiking tariffs on imports, firing career civil servants and granting clemency to people convicted of seditious conspiracy over the events of Jan. 6, 2021. And while Americans elected Trump, they might not like what comes next.
Nov 12, 2024 • 25:15
Democrats play the blame game
“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers, senior political reporter Aaron Blake and White House reporter Cleve Wootson break down the questions many Democrats are asking right now about why Harris lost: Should Biden have dropped out earlier?
Nov 8, 2024 • 34:38
How Trump did it -- and what's next
“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers talks with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and senior national political correspondent Ashley Parker about how Donald Trump won over a broad swath of voters to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris. Plus, how Democrats are reacting to their election losses and what this defeat means for the party’s future.Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Sam Bair. Subscribe to Aa
Nov 6, 2024 • 27:17
Post Reports: Trump's historic win
If you don’t already listen to Post Reports, we’re bringing you our first rundown of the election results, with some initial thoughts from Aaron Blake. Very early Wednesday morning, former president Donald Trump stepped on stage in south Florida and claimed victory. Sounding surprised about how the election had gone, the former president promised to “fix everything” and praised his supporters, saying this was “the greatest political movement of all time.” This morning on Post Reports, we’re wal
Nov 6, 2024 • 11:38
Post Reports: Mapping how Harris or Trump might win
It’s Election Day; today, what voting sounds like across the country — and a primer on what we could expect tonight as the results start to come in, and which down-ballot races to pay attention to. Aaron Blake, host of The Campaign Moment, makes an appearance on the “Post Reports” podcast.After an unprecedented campaign season, Election Day in America is finally here. Today, host Martine Powers talks with senior political reporter and host of “The Campaign Moment” podcast Aaron Blake about what
Nov 5, 2024 • 30:46
Curious how the electoral college works? Try This.
Remembering all the complex details of how the electoral college works is not exactly easy. And just when you’ve mastered how it all adds up, you probably won’t need to think about it again for another four years — hardly a formula for cementing something in your brain.Aaron Blake, host of The Campaign Moment, makes an appearance on the first episode of The Washington Post’s “Try This” podcast’s three-part series on the electoral college. He explains how the system works, the complicated way ele
Nov 4, 2024 • 14:19
Burned ballots, early voting and final takeaways
The election is just four days away. Tens of millions of Americans have already voted. What do the final polls tell us ahead of the election?“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with Amy Gardner, who covers early voting for The Post, about what early voting data can and can’t tell us right now about the election results. They also talk about whether looking at polls this weekend is helpful, and what to make of
Nov 1, 2024 • 31:34
The fallout from Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally
Election Day is one week away. As the Harris and Trump campaigns make their final pitch to voters, could racist comments made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a Trump rally on Sunday push Latino voters toward Harris?Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with national political columnist Philip Bump about why the Trump campaign and other GOP candidates are distancing themselves from Hinchcliffe’s comments, whether Bad Bunny’s Harris endorsement could move the needle, and what the Harris camp
Oct 29, 2024 • 29:54
The Elon Musk effect
Over the past few months, Elon Musk has heavily invested in the Trump campaign. Musk is hosting rallies in swing states, giving out million-dollar checks to registered voters in those states and organizing canvassers. Billionaires donating to presidential campaigns is nothing new, but Musk is putting much more than money into the race. Elahe Izadi speaks with technology reporter Trisha Thadani and national political reporter Michael Scherer about Musk’s political influence.Today’s show was produ
Oct 25, 2024 • 36:34
Record early voting, and good signs for the GOP
Democrats tend to vote early in droves, but early returns this year show signs that GOP voters are hearing their party’s message to cast votes however they can. As of Monday afternoon, nearly 1.5 million Georgia voters had cast their ballots. In North Carolina, the number is over 1 million. And in Nevada, more Republicans are voting early than Democrats.Senior politics reporter Aaron Blake chats with Amy Gardner, national reporter covering voting, about what these returns tell us about enthusias
Oct 22, 2024 • 24:19
Trump’s bizarre campaign, Harris’s tense interview
“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with national political reporter Marianne LeVine about the peculiar moments that she’s observed on the campaign trail this week with former president Donald Trump. From a music listening session on stage, to some eyebrow-raising interviews
Oct 18, 2024 • 32:18
Democrats’ struggles with Black men
A majority of Black voters support Democratic candidates, but the percentage has shrunk in recent years, with the steepest decline among Black men. So, the Harris campaign has launched a round of targeted interviews, deployed prominent Black surrogates and released policy papers aimed specifically at winning back these voters.Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with White House reporter Cleve R. Wootson Jr. about what’s driving some Black men away from the Democratic Party and whether Ha
Oct 16, 2024 • 28:12
Will Democrats flip the House?
Democrats want to retake control of the House of Representatives. Vice President Kamala Harris goes on a media blitz. And elected officials wade through destruction and misinformation after another hurricane made landfall this week. “Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with Congressional reporter Marianna Sotomayor about whether Democrats will succeed in flipping the House and which voters Harris
Oct 11, 2024 • 34:08
Bracelets, drones, ads. How Harris is spending campaign cash
Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign is outraising former president Donald Trump’s by wide margins. And if you go to one of her rallies, you can tell. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with national political reporter Maeve Reston about how the Harris campaign is spending cash
Oct 8, 2024 • 29:50
How campaigns deal with news out of their control
The devastation of Hurricane Helene, the escalating tensions in the Middle East and other recent events are casting a shadow over the campaign trail. Read more:Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with The Post’s chief correspondent Dan Balz about the political impact of past natural disasters on campaigns and how a slow recovery process could sway the presidential election. They also look at whether Iran’s strikes on Israel this week and new details from an unsealed court filing about fo
Oct 4, 2024 • 28:22
Walz stumbles early, Vance tries to recast himself in VP debate
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota and Republican Sen. JD Vance of Ohio faced off at what was expected to be the only vice presidential debate on Tuesday night. But it was much less dramatic than the presidential debates. Read more:“Post Reports” co-host Elahe Izadi talks with senior political reporter Aaron Blake about Walz’s stumbling performance, Vance’s efforts to soften his image on unpopular issues for the GOP, like abortion, and whether either performance could significantly impac
Oct 2, 2024 • 25:02
The battle for the Senate and next week's VP debate
“Post Reports” co-host Elahe Izadi and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with Senate reporter Liz Goodwin about how Senate Democrats are feeling ahead of the November election. They also dig into the politics of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s indictment and preview what to expect in next week’s first – and likely only – vice presidential debate. Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Sam Bair. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Subscribe to Aaron’s new
Sep 27, 2024 • 33:40
Arizona, Nebraska and the 2024 paths to victory
Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, who covers voting issues in Arizona, about how voters in the state are feeling six weeks before the election and what election officials are doing there to try to combat voter fraud claims. They also dig into what a failed Trump campaign effort to change Nebraska’s electoral vote system says about the state of the race.Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and
Sep 24, 2024 • 26:05
The heightened security concerns cramping Trump's style
“Post Reports” co-host Elahe Izadi and senior political reporter Aaron Blake chat with national political reporter Michael Scherer about all of this week’s political news. They also dig into how last week’s first – and perhaps only – debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump is shaping voters’ perceptions of the candidates.Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Subscribe to Aaron’
Sep 20, 2024 • 30:57
The increasingly dangerous 2024 campaign
This week saw the second potential assassination attempt against former president Donald Trump in just a few months. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with Amy Gardner, a national reporter covering voting on the Post's Democracy Team, about this incident and the ways it’s being talked about in the political sphere. They also discuss how threats of partisan violence have become more common and what polling shows about some Americans’ willingness to engage in it.Today’s show was produced
Sep 17, 2024 • 20:45
Polls say Trump lost the debate. What’s his strategy now?
Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with Isaac Arnsdorf, a political reporter covering Trump and the MAGA movement, about what Trump advisers have been saying in the days after the debate. They also dig into whether misinformation Trump is spewing about Haitian migrants eating domestic pets in Springfield, Ohio – claims which are not true – is a useful talking point for his campaign.Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Subs
Sep 13, 2024 • 20:59
Harris and Trump debate. Trump takes the bait.
Post Reports co-host Martine Powers talks with senior political reporter Aaron Blake about what each candidate needed to do in this debate to win over voters in an incredibly tight race. They also talk about whether a new endorsement from Taylor Swift could give Harris an edge.Note: An initial version of this episode had an incorrect reference to Springfield, Illinois rather than Springfield, Ohio. The error has been fixed.Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon and Laura Benshoff. I
Sep 11, 2024 • 28:03
Trump’s debate strategy and Harris’s fundraising momentum
“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with White House reporter and Kamala Harris expert Cleve Wootson about what Harris and Donald Trump need to do at next week’s debate. They also dig into Harris’s record fundraising numbers and how Harris hopes to help down ballot Democrats in key House and Senate races. Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campa
Sep 6, 2024 • 34:30
The top two states to watch in the 2024 election
Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with Marianne LeVine, a national political reporter for The Post, about the state of the electoral map for Harris and Trump. They also dig into the potential strategy behind the Trump campaign’s spending push in Pennsylvania and Georgia, and whether Democrats have a chance of winning their white whale – North Carolina.Today’s show was produced and mixed by Ted Muldoon. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, T
Sep 4, 2024 • 18:54
Harris’s big interview and Trump’s cemetery controversy
“Post Reports” co-host Elahe Izadi and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with White House reporter Yasmeen Abutaleb about Harris and Walz’s interview on CNN, new polling that shows continued Democratic enthusiasm, and an altercation between the Trump campaign and an employee at Arlington National Cemetery. Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Ariel Plotnick. It was mixed by Sean Carter. Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here.
Aug 30, 2024 • 28:50
The RFK Jr. effect
Senior political reporter Aaron Blake talks with politics producer Laura Benshoff about how much Trump stands to gain from RFK Jr.’s endorsement and what kind of impact other third-party and independent candidates like Cornel West, Chase Oliver and Jill Stein might have on the presidential race. Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Jenna Johnson and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy. Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here. Subscribe to The
Aug 27, 2024 • 23:21
Harris’s speech and the standout moments from the DNC
Elahe Izadi, co-host of “Post Reports,” and senior political reporter Aaron Blake sit down with White House reporter Cleve Wootson at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to talk about the highlights from Harris’s speech. Harris focused on her middle-class upbringing and how she would protect abortion access and reproductive rights, and she cast herself as a candidate who would bring normalcy and competency to the White House. They also revisit the most memorable speeches of the four-da
Aug 23, 2024 • 27:59
Coach Walz’s ‘freedom’ game plan
There’s a new rallying cry for the Democratic Party: “Freedom.” On Wednesday, the third night of the Democratic National Convention, speakers from Oprah Winfrey to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro made the case for why Democrats should be considered the party of patriotism. And then there was Tim Walz. The Minnesota governor formally accepted the nomination for vice president and in his speech made several nods to his previous jobs, focusing especially on his time as a high school football coach.
Aug 22, 2024 • 20:05
Nancy Pelosi's not sorry
Senior political reporter and co-host of “The Campaign Moment” Aaron Blake talks with Marianna Sotomayor, a congressional reporter for The Post who has covered Pelosi for years. They walk through the strings Pelosi reportedly pulled to get Biden to withdraw, earning her the nickname “The Godmother” – after the mafia movie “The Godfather” – from some Democratic delegates at the convention. They also run down her appearances around the convention and why some Biden allies may seek revenge. Today’s
Aug 21, 2024 • 23:29
Biden’s swan song
Biden received a warm welcome at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday evening when he walked on stage to address his party. Thousands of Democratic delegates packed in the arena chanted “Thank you, Joe!” and pumped signs saying “We love Joe” as he gave his speech. “Post Reports” co-host Elahe Izadi and senior political reporter Aaron Blake talk with White House reporter Matt Viser about Biden’s historic address and what the first night of the convention tells us about the curr
Aug 20, 2024 • 26:11
Harris's policy agenda, and Dems’ down-ballot dreams
Senior political reporter Aaron Blake and congressional reporter Liz Goodwin talk with “Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers about the economic policies that Harris’s campaign unveiled Friday, and whether Democrats could win a trifecta in November and make those proposals reality. They also look ahead to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week, where President Joe Biden will address delegates after withdrawing from the race last month. Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff.
Aug 16, 2024 • 29:56
Harris's expanding path to victory
Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Campaign Moment newsletter, sits down with Lenny Bronner, a data scientist who works on election models at The Post. They talk about new polling numbers in battleground states and how Harris has put Trump on defense in states like Nevada and Arizona.Today’s show was produced by Trinity Webster-Bass and Laura Benshoff. It was mixed by Rennie Svirnoskiy. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy. Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Camp
Aug 13, 2024 • 22:07
The new electoral map, Walz's record and an expensive primary loss
Post Reports co-host Martine Powers sits down with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and Marianna Sotomayor, a congressional reporter covering the House of Representatives, to talk about House Democrats’ enthusiasm for Vice President Kamala Harris’s VP pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz – a former member of Congress himself. They also discuss takeaways from the primary loss of Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Walz’s military and governance record, and former president Donald Trump’s campaign event slowdow
Aug 9, 2024 • 34:24
Why Kamala Harris is betting on Tim Walz
“Post Reports” co-host Martine Powers sits down with senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post's Campaign Moment newsletter. They talk about why Vice President Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, his strengths and weaknesses, and how he compares with the GOP’s vice president pick, JD Vance.Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary Jo Murphy and mixed by Sean Carter. Thanks also to Trinity Webster-Bass. Subscribe to
Aug 6, 2024 • 24:29
Trump’s ‘is she Black?’ attack and Harris’s VP front-runners
In an interview with panelists at the National Association of Black Journalists conference in Chicago, former president Donald Trump questioned Vice President Harris’s racial identity, saying she only recently started calling herself Black. Also, the leader of Project 2025, the controversial right-wing policy group, is stepping down. And the Harris campaign has hit some major fundraising goals and is expected to announce her running mate any day now.Plus, read The Post’s exclusive investigation
Aug 2, 2024 • 29:06
Did Trump make a mistake with Vance?
It’s only been two weeks since JD Vance became Donald Trump’s running mate, and he’s already getting a lot of attention. But maybe not for the reasons Republicans wanted.Past comments from the Ohio senator about “childless cat ladies” and parents having more voting power in elections have unleashed a flurry of criticism from Democrats. Vance’s comments also fueled a new line of attack from opponents who are deriding him as “weird.” Co-host and senior political reporter Aaron Blake speaks with “C
Jul 31, 2024 • 22:28
What connects Vice President Harris to young voters
Post Reports co-host Martine Powers sits down with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and Maeve Reston, a national political reporter covering the 2024 presidential race. They talk about how Vice President Harris may tackle the Israel-Gaza conflict, new polling on the Harris-Trump matchup, and how Gen Z influencers and memes may engage young voters and buoy Harris’s campaign. Today’s episode was produced by Laura Benshoff and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and Mary
Jul 26, 2024 • 28:56
7 options for a Kamala Harris VP pick
Vice President Harris remains on a fast track to the 2024 Democratic nomination – a virtual vote could make it official as early as next week. That means she will need to pick her running mate very soon. We started to talk through some possible VP picks on Tuesday and now return to the studio to hear how Aaron Blake’s reporting and analysis have led him to zero in on seven options. He and Elahe Izadi dig further into what potential candidates would – and wouldn’t – bring to a Democratic ticket w
Jul 24, 2024 • 20:11
Harris hits the ground running. The GOP pivots.
Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post's new Campaign Moment newsletter, and Colby Itkowitz, who covers voting and elections on the democracy team, sit down with Post Reports co-host Elahe Izadi. They talk about how Harris polls against Trump, what it means for her to take over a campaign that was designed for President Biden, and how the GOP is reacting to her campaign.Today’s show was produced by Laura Benshoff. It was mixed by Sean Carter. It was edited by Lucy Perkins and
Jul 23, 2024 • 29:57
Post Reports: President Biden steps aside
On Sunday afternoon, President Biden released a statement announcing that he would stand down from seeking reelection in the 2024 presidential race. The statement came after weeks of mounting pressure from members of his party, many of whom expressed concern over his health and speculated whether he would be able to beat former president Donald Trump. We're sharing this special edition of Post Reports today. Host Elahe Izadi speaks with White House reporter Tyler Pager about this monumental deci
Jul 21, 2024 • 18:21
Trump's convention, Biden's crisis
Democrats flipped the typical convention script this week, dominating the news during the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Following the attempted assassination of former president Donald Trump at a rally Saturday, the GOP aimed to send a message of unity to the party faithful. In his acceptance speech, Trump initially seemed somber, telling the crowd, “I’m not supposed to be here tonight.” They chanted back, “Yes, you are.” But he quickly regained his normal campaign posture, hammer
Jul 19, 2024 • 26:25
The calls are coming from inside the House
This week was supposed to be all about the GOP as delegates rally in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention. However, Democratic infighting has taken center stage.While an effort is brewing to secure President Biden’s spot on the ticket weeks before the Democrats’ convention, congressional leaders within his own party have told Biden his candidacy could imperil down-ballot Democrats. Meanwhile, the president seems committed to pushing forward despite ominous polling. Can Biden’s endors
Jul 18, 2024 • 30:18
Dark rhetoric is back at the Republican National Convention
Senior political reporter Aaron Blake is hopping on the mic solo before getting ready for Wednesday night’s speeches to run through the themes emerging midway through the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Speeches have been turning more ominous and he expects that will continue. Today’s show was produced and mixed by Sam Bair. It was edited by Renita Jablonski. Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter, The Campaign Moment, here. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.
Jul 17, 2024 • 6:24
On the GOP stage: MTG, Amber Rose and a union leader
Senior political reporter Aaron Blake sits down with The Campaign Moment producer Laura Benshoff for a special play-by-play episode of the most important moments of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee so far and what’s next for the GOP. They break down the moment when Donald Trump walked out onto the convention floor in his first major appearance since the assassination attempt. They also talk through the divisive rhetoric heard in several of the speeches Monday night and discuss the
Jul 16, 2024 • 15:40
VP pick Vance, Secret Service scrutiny and more from Milwaukee
This week, amid calls for political unity and growing questions over presidential security, Trump faces one of the most consequential weeks in his campaign yet – the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where he will officially accept the Republican nomination for president. Post Reports co-host Martine Powers speaks with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and political investigations and enterprise reporter Josh Dawsey from the convention. They explore the weight of the ongoing inves
Jul 15, 2024 • 27:51
Dems are in turmoil. So why has Trump been so quiet?
This week, Biden vowed in his high-stakes press conference on Thursday night to remain in the race, but it’s unclear if his message satisfied voters. His speech followed new polling this week that suggests that more than half of Democrats want Biden to drop out of the race. It also found that the overall race hasn’t changed much, and that Trump and Biden are locked in a dead heat. Post Reports co-host Martine Powers talks with senior political reporter Aaron Blake and national politics reporter
Jul 13, 2024 • 29:56
Biden’s defiant turn
As calls ring out for President Biden to step aside, the campaign hunkers down.The president went on a media blitz over the weekend to quell the unrest among Democrats, appearing in a rare television interview with ABC News’s George Stephanopoulos on Friday. By Monday morning, Biden had sent a letter to congressional Democrats defiantly declaring his intentions to stay in the race and had called into MSNBC’s Morning Joe to sound off on “elites” in the party. But with nine House Democrats now pub
Jul 8, 2024 • 24:05
A chaotic 96 hours inside Biden world
The Campaign Moment is The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign.We’re bringing you an episode early in the week to share details from inside President Biden’s campaign as the Democratic Party reckons with the fallout from his stumbling performance at the first presidential debate. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Washington Post's “The Campaign Moment” newsletter, and Tyler Pager, a White House r
Jul 2, 2024 • 32:44
Biden’s stumbles, Trump’s falsehoods and other debate takeaways
Welcome to this special debate edition of The Campaign Moment.We’re in your feed first thing today after Post Reports co-host Martine Powers and senior political reporter Aaron Blake went into the studio shortly after the debate ended. Aaron says it’s one of the most significant moments of the campaign so far. He and Martine talk through Biden and Trump’s performances, which had Biden noticeably stumbling at times and Trump basing many answers around falsehoods that were left unchallenged by the
Jun 28, 2024 • 28:18
How to spot a deep fake this election season
Welcome to The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign.Host Elahe Izadi chats with reporters Amy Gardner and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, who are on the Democracy team at The Post. They discuss the efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and the ongoing political and legal fallout from those attempts. They also talk about the recent charges filed against fake electors in Arizona, including notable
Jun 21, 2024 • 29:46
The voters who will decide 2024 aren't paying attention
Welcome to The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign.In a district that overwhelmingly voted for Trump in 2020, Ohio voters almost elected a Democratic congressman this week. But are such special election results representative? Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Washington Post's new Campaign Moment newsletter, and Toluse Olorunnipa, White House bureau chief for The Post, sit d
Jun 14, 2024 • 32:52
8 names in the Trump VP reality show
In an election year where so much feels familiar, Donald Trump's choice for running mate is one of the biggest remaining wild cards. Sources familiar with the process confirmed late last week that so far eight people have made the shortlist and are answering questions from the campaign about their qualifications. They are Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.); as well as North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum; Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and Byron D
Jun 12, 2024 • 31:07
Is Trump's conviction a red line? We listen to undecided voters.
Welcome to The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign.This week, we hear directly from some undecided voters about how Donald Trump’s criminal conviction lands with them. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Washington Post's new Campaign Moment newsletter, and Isaac Arnsdorf, who covers Trump and the MAGA movement for The Post, sit down with co-host Martine Powers. They also discu
Jun 7, 2024 • 33:43
Trump’s guilty verdict tests American democracy
Welcome to The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign.This week is a special episode dedicated to the questions raised by having a presidential candidate and former U.S. president who is now a felon. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post's new Campaign Moment newsletter, and Ashley Parker, his colleague on the politics team, sit down with Post Reports co-host Elahe Izadi. They
May 31, 2024 • 31:30
Biden may not have coattails, but other Dems do; Alito's flags and more
Welcome to The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign.Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post's new Campaign Moment newsletter, is out sick this week, so national political reporter Michael Scherer and White House reporter Tyler Pager join Martine Powers this week. They talk about how the Biden campaign may need more popular Democratic candidates down ballot to boost turnout in k
May 24, 2024 • 31:26
“Leaner” may not be meaner for Trump’s ground strategy, debating debates and more
Welcome to The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and national political reporter Michael Scherer join Martine Powers this week. There is a lot to dig into about the debates agreed to this week by President Biden and former president Donald Trump. Also on the must-chat list: the latest from the hu
May 17, 2024 • 37:51
Trump in court and off the campaign trail, Biden's Israel balancing act and more
Welcome to The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments of the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and “Post Reports” host Elahe Izadi sit down with national political reporter Isaac Arnsdorf this week. They talk about how Stormy Daniels’s testimony this week could affect former president Donald Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial and voters’ perceptio
May 10, 2024 • 29:55
Why would Kristi Noem write about killing a dog? And more …
Welcome to The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and “Post Reports” host Martine Powers sit down with White House reporter Cleve Wootson this week. They talk about how President Biden responded this week to the campus protests over the war in Gaza and what that could mean for his support, whether
May 3, 2024 • 28:25
Campus outrage and the GOP’s reckoning with Marjorie Taylor Greene
Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, Post Reports co-host Elahe Izadi and national politics reporter Colby Itkowitz sit down to talk about Tuesday’s congressional primaries, the latest presidential polling, and the potential effect on the presidential campaign from the protests on college campuses.Subscribe to Aaron’s newsletter here. Subscribe to The Washington Post here.Today’s show was produced and mixed by Rennie Svirnovskiy. It was ed
Apr 26, 2024 • 34:21
The danger for Trump in his hush money trial
When it comes to the four criminal trials of Donald Trump, the Manhattan case has often been described as “the runt of the litter.” That’s because the particular charges against Trump aren’t as weighty, in that they don’t deal with a vast effort to undermine democracy or jeopardizing national security like the other charges against the former president.But as the trial has gotten underway, we’ve been reintroduced to the cast of characters in the case. And I think it's possible that the details o
Apr 24, 2024 • 20:54
A race that could flip the Senate, and Biden on Israel
Elahe Izadi talks with Aaron Blake and Liz Goodwin about Week 1 of Trump’s first criminal trial, how Israel is dividing Democrats in Congress, and whether GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson’s strategy to approve aid to Ukraine could cost him his job.Read more:Senior political reporter Aaron Blake – who also writes The Post’s newsletter of the same name – talks about former president Donald Trump’s first criminal trial in New York with Elahe Izadi and congressional reporter Liz Goodwin. They also cha
Apr 19, 2024 • 33:03
It's 1864 in Arizona, and time for Trump's first criminal trial in N.Y.
Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, the author of The Post’s newsletter The Campaign Moment, chats with Martine Powers and our Arizona-based democracy reporter, Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, about the Arizona abortion ruling threatening to upend the 2024 election. The Arizona Supreme Court this week ruled that a near-total abortion ban from 1864 can go into effect in the state. It’s a big test for Donald Trump, who has taken credit for overturning Roe v. Wade but said that Arizona went too far and
Apr 12, 2024 • 33:00
MAGA's local strategy, Biden's abortion ad and Trump trial tensions
Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, the author of The Post’s newsletter by the same name, chats with Martine Powers and national political reporter Isaac Arnsdorf about the tension between U.S. District Court Judge Aileen M. Cannon and special counsel Jack Smith. They’re at odds over the Trump team’s claim that the Presidential Records Act applies to classified documents the former president brought to his private residence in Florida. They also discuss Biden’s new abortion ad and dig into wh
Apr 5, 2024 • 33:10
Ronna McDaniel drama, the RFK factor and Trump 'running for his freedom'
Welcome to The Campaign Moment, The Washington Post’s weekly politics roundtable to help you keep track of the biggest developments during the 2024 campaign. Senior political reporter Aaron Blake, who writes The Post’s new newsletter by the same name, and investigative political reporter Josh Dawsey join Martine Powers this week. They talk about how election denial is becoming more central to the RNC, what to make of this week’s NBC/Ronna McDaniel drama, the latest on efforts by a group trying t
Mar 29, 2024 • 30:38