No One Knows Anything

Sat, 12 Nov 2016 15:30:42 GMT

After many months of asking “Do we know anything?” about this election, we finally have an answer to at least one question: Who will be president?This will be the last episode of the podcast for now. In it, we lay out a roadmap of all the things we don’t know about Trump's presidency. From the Supreme Court to Obamacare to what’s going to happen to the Trump brand when he's in office.Guest: BuzzFeed News politics editor Katherine Miller

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Making The Call On Election Night

Mon, 07 Nov 2016 14:26:15 GMT

What kind of information do you need to project a winner on election night? We talk with Brandon Finnegan, who runs the Decision Desk HQ project, about crowdsourcing vote counts to make calls—and what the consequences of a bad call might be this year. Plus, how BuzzFeed's newsroom is approaching projections on election night.

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Mr. Brexit

Wed, 02 Nov 2016 17:34:29 GMT

In August, Donald Trump tweeted out a cryptic prediction. He said, "They will soon be calling me MR. BREXIT." This episode we’re taking a look at the similarities between the U.S. Presidential election and the Brexit vote. You’ll hear from Trump supporters who are a hoping for a “November surprise.” We’ll also talk about what makes this election different—like polling methods, campaign tactics, and voter demographics.

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A Baggie Full Of Jimmy Carter's Hair

Sat, 29 Oct 2016 17:30:02 GMT

This episode, we're taking a look at how gender and race play into the way we talk about political hair—from scrunchies to combovers to very expensive haircuts. We'll visit an unusual collection of presidential relics that includes hair clippings from George Washington and Jimmy Carter. And you’ll hear from BuzzFeed beauty editor Essence Gant about presidential hair and representation.

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BuzzFeed Brews: Neera Tanden and Ben Smith

Tue, 25 Oct 2016 08:00:00 GMT

The election will be over in just two weeks. Right now, forecasts at the New York Times, Five Thirty Eight, and the Huffington Post all give Hillary Clinton over an 80% chance of winning. This episode, you'll hear from someone who has been thinking a lot about that possibility — Neera Tanden.Tanden is a longtime Clinton advisor. She's also the co-chair of the Clinton-Kaine Transition Project. Last week, BuzzFeed's editor-in-chief Ben Smith interviewed Tanden about what the first priorities of a Clinton administration might look like. Plus, what it's like to have all of the emails you sent to John Podesta posted to Wikileaks.

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What's The Deal With Russia?

Tue, 18 Oct 2016 22:24:16 GMT

This week we’re talking about something we truly know very little about: Russia’s involvement in the U.S. election—from hacking, to Twitter trolling, to targeted campaigns that question the legitimacy of the U.S. political process. Plus whether or not it’s possible to trace any of those activities back to the Russian government.If you've haven't been following the news about U.S./Russia relations lately, don't worry. We'll get you all caught up.Guests: BuzzFeed News world editor Miriam Elder, BuzzFeed national security correspondent Ali Watkins, and Clint Watts, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

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The Purple Cup

Fri, 07 Oct 2016 20:57:24 GMT

This episode takes a look at the independent, uncommitted, and unenthusiastic voters who can't—or don't want to—pick a presidential candidate. And we ask how (HOW?) anyone could still be undecided when the two major party candidates are Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.We begin with the voters in 7-Eleven's coffee cup poll, which has predicted the outcome of the presidential election every time since it began in 2000. This year, coffee drinkers are opting out of the red Republican and blue Democrat cups in favor of a third option: the unaffiliated purple cup, which is winning with 40% of the vote. You'll also hear from a group of undecided voters through our partnership with the Decode DC podcast.Guests: BuzzFeed world news editor Hayes Brown, Decode DC host Jimmy Williams, assistant professor of political science Samara Klar, and campaign organizer Mitch Stewart.

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Second In Command, First In Our Hearts

Wed, 05 Oct 2016 19:43:53 GMT

Hannah Jewell, a senior writer for BuzzFeed UK, takes us back in time to appreciate the hottest Vice Presidents in American history. You may not know who they all are, but of the 47 people to be first in the line of succession to the presidency, these ten are definitely the hottest.

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This Tea Party Senator Doesn't Know Who To Vote For

Fri, 30 Sep 2016 17:28:55 GMT

This episode, BuzzFeed politics reporter McKay Coppins interviews Utah Senator Mike Lee. Lee is a Tea Party Republican, a Mormon, and an outspoken critic of Donald Trump. McKay talks with him about about all that, and about why Mormon voters in Utah are uneasy about Trump's candidacy.

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Binders Full Of Zingers

Fri, 23 Sep 2016 20:18:21 GMT

Debate prep takes many forms: studying, rehearsing, systematically lowering the expectations of voters and the press. This episode, we talk with Lis Smith about how that process works. She worked on Governor O'Malley's debate prep team this year, and on President Obama's rapid response team in 2012. Plus, we talk with Jim Lehrer, the "dean of moderators," about the particular challenges moderators are facing this year.Update: This episode misstated Lis Smith's role on President Obama's 2012 campaign. She worked on his rapid response team.

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BuzzFeed Brews: Senators Mike Lee And Cory Booker

Wed, 21 Sep 2016 19:28:47 GMT

A live recording of BuzzFeed Brews at the Newseum in Washington, D.C., with an open conversation about criminal justice reform between Utah Senator Mike Lee, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, and BuzzFeed’s Tarini Parti.During this hour-long conversation, Booker and Lee talk about their personal experiences with the criminal justice system, Colin Kaepernick and Terence Crutcher, and whether or not Donald Trump’s law-and-order campaign is shaping the conversation about criminal justice reform in Congress.

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What Canadians Really Think About U.S. Politics

Mon, 19 Sep 2016 08:00:00 GMT

This episode, we're taking a look at the U.S. election from a different perspective: Canada's. You'll hear from BuzzFeed politics reporter and real Canadian Paul McLeod about what's different—and familiar—about his new beat covering U.S. politics. And Daniel Dale from the Toronto Star talks about explaining the U.S. election for a Canadian audience.Plus, you'll hear from an immigration lawyer about whether or not Americans actually move to Canada for political reasons.

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How Frog Memes Became A Symbol For White Nationalism

Thu, 08 Sep 2016 22:50:57 GMT

Two weeks ago, Hillary Clinton made a speech in Reno, Nevada. In it, she named a group that has been mostly at the fringe of the 2016 presidential campaign: the Alt-Right. This week, we're talking about the Alt-Right movement. What it is, where it came from, and how its influence on politics and pop culture is shaping the 2016 election.Guests: BuzzFeed politics reporter Rosie Gray, politics editor Katherine Miller, and senior writer Charlie Warzel

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Trump's Rallies Vs. Clinton's Ground Game

Thu, 01 Sep 2016 08:00:00 GMT

A candidate’s ground game is everything they do to turn out their voters on election day—from voter registration, to door knocking, to phone calls, to direct mail. It’s tedious and expensive work. But, done well, it can nudge a candidate a few points ahead of their opponent. That’s the difference between winning and losing in swing states like Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. This week, BuzzFeed’s Tarini Parti and Rosie Gray take a look at how Trump and Clinton are reaching out to voters in those states, and whether or not Trump’s rallies are any match for Clinton’s well-organized and well-funded ground game.Guests: North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis and Marlon Marshall, director of state campaigns for the Hillary Clinton.

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Seersucker Suits And Tiny Flag Pins

Thu, 25 Aug 2016 08:00:00 GMT

Parties can change. This week we take a look at the origins of Republican conservatism and whether or not it has anything in common with Donald Trump's political ideology. Plus, BuzzFeed politics editor Katherine Miller talks about her time as a campus conservative during the Bush and Obama years—seersucker suits, tiny flag pins, and more. Hosted by BuzzFeed News' McKay Coppins.

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Trump’s Foreign Policy Is Foreign To The Republican Party

Thu, 18 Aug 2016 08:00:00 GMT

Republican national security experts usually spend election season advising their party's candidate on foreign policy issues. But now they're trying to distance themselves as far as they can from Donald Trump. This episode, BuzzFeed's Tarini Parti and Rosie Gray talk about Trump's foreign policy proposals that break with 20 years of Republican politics. You'll hear from an Iraq war veteran and antiwar activist who won't be voting for Trump or Clinton this year. Plus: The failsafes that keep the President from unlawfully launching a nuclear attack.Guests: Republican National Security adviser John Noonan, former Ambassador Eric Edelman, and New Hampshire Peace Action Director Will Hopkins.

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Before Trump, There Was Wallace

Thu, 28 Jul 2016 18:30:04 GMT

What can you learn about the 2016 election by studying past presidential campaigns? In this episode, Evan talks with Face The Nation host John Dickerson about what's new—and what isn't—about the Trump and Clinton candidacies; with stories about Alabama Governor George Wallace, the original email-gate, and the guy who ruined Alexander Hamilton's political career.

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BuzzFeed Audio Presents: Historical Event

Wed, 27 Jul 2016 18:16:53 GMT

Recorded live at the Trocadero Theater in Philadelphia, this Historical Event features Evan McMorris-Santoro, Another Round's Tracy Clayton, and Internet Explorer's Ryan Broderick and Katie Notopoulos. Plus, an interview with Texas Rep. Joaquín Castro and live music from Jean Grae.

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The Republican Party That Emerged From Cleveland

Fri, 22 Jul 2016 18:43:36 GMT

Evan talks with BuzzFeed politics editor Katherine Miller about the biggest (and strangest) speeches from the convention this week, and about what kind of message the Republican Party is sending out to voters in the general election.

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Where Are All The Protesters?

Thu, 21 Jul 2016 02:30:31 GMT

The RNC in Cleveland is full of law enforcement officers. But protesters? Not so much. This episode, Evan talks with BuzzFeed News reporter Darren Sands about why there are so few people protesting the convention...and about what it's like for the people who came.

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The Republican Party Does Not Get Along

Tue, 19 Jul 2016 21:17:43 GMT

On this episode, we talk to some of the people who care the most about what happens this week at the convention: the delegates who are here to unify the Republican Party and get Republicans elected in November. They have a long way to go.

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Welcome To Cleveland

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 14:32:26 GMT

The RNC kicks off today. Here's what BuzzFeed News reporters will be following this week, from primetime speeches to #NeverTrump delegates to protests and security.Guests: BuzzFeed News reporters Tarini Parti and Rosie Gray.

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We Were Wrong About Trump

Sun, 17 Jul 2016 14:55:00 GMT

In February of 2014, BuzzFeed News reporter McKay Coppins wrote a piece called "36 Hours On The Fake Campaign Trail With Donald Trump". It was about why Trump never really had—and probably never would—seriously run for president. In this episode, Evan interviews McKay about why everyone, including McKay, misjudged Trump, and about what made him finally decide to run in 2016.

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An Unconventional Candidate

Thu, 14 Jul 2016 08:00:00 GMT

On Wednesday, Evan checked in with BuzzFeed News reporters Tarini Parti and Rosie Gray, who are in Cleveland this week as Republicans are ramping up for the convention. They talk about the #NeverTrump delegates who are still trying to derail the nomination, the first openly gay Republican delegate pushing the platform committee to adopt LGBT rights, and what to expect from a convention headlined by Donald Trump.

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After The Bern Is Gone

Thu, 07 Jul 2016 08:00:00 GMT

On this episode, Sanders supporters talk about how they're trying to turn a groundbreaking campaign into a lasting political force. The question is: Can progressives and activists for all kinds of causes work together to hold on to the gains they've made as members of the Bernie Sanders movement?Guests: The Washington Post's national political correspondent David Weigel, BuzzFeed News politics editor Katherine Miller

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How To Tell Someone That You've Never Voted

Thu, 30 Jun 2016 08:00:00 GMT

Elle Abarca has never voted, even though her sister Anabel has registered hundreds of voters throughout her career in politics. This episode, we talk with Elle and Anabel about how someone becomes a non-voter, even against their best intentions. And we find out how easy it is to come clean about your voter status and get back into the political process.If you haven't registered to vote yet, you can get started now at https://buzzfeed.turbovote.orgGuests: Sisters Elle and Anabel Abarca, No One Knows Anything producer Meg Cramer.

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Immigration Reform Is Back In The Hands Of Voters

Fri, 24 Jun 2016 16:44:20 GMT

Thursday's Supreme Court decision affects millions of undocumented immigrants who are unlikely to be deported, but who can't live the life other people can because they don't have legal status. They're back in limbo, and so are their families. That could affect how Latinos vote in the fall, when they'll be choosing between two candidates with very different plans for immigration reform.Guest: BuzzFeed News political reporter and Latino coverage editor Adrian Carrasquillo.

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How To Destroy A Man With A Haircut

Thu, 23 Jun 2016 08:00:00 GMT

Opposition researchers are the campaign operatives whose job is to dig into a candidate’s past and find things that voters won’t like. They take that information, and try to turn it into a story about why you should or shouldn't vote for someone.This week, we take a look at how that process works, where that information goes, and how oppo in 2016 is different from oppo in past elections.Guests: Opposition researchers Shauna Daly and Joe Pounder, political consultant Rodell Mollineau, Dominique Mednick—an undecided voter who lives in Florida, and BuzzFeed's Editor-In-Chief Ben Smith.

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Inside A Trump Rally

Thu, 16 Jun 2016 08:00:00 GMT

This week, Evan visits a Trump rally in Pittsburgh to find out what it's like to be a Trump supporter, and to ask some of Trump's biggest fans what it means to "Make America Great Again."Guest: BuzzFeed News politics reporter Tarini Parti.

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What We Don't Know About Anti-LGBT Violence

Mon, 13 Jun 2016 23:10:15 GMT

Evan interviews BuzzFeed News senior editor Chris Geidner about what we know—and don’t know—about anti-LGBT hate crimes. They talk about why it’s so hard to keep track of those hate crimes, and whether or not law enforcement is getting better at protecting LGBT Americans.

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Can Democrats Be Friends Again?

Thu, 09 Jun 2016 08:00:00 GMT

The Democratic Party is coming out of a contentious primary. And one of the battles was over who gets to call themselves a true progressive. But while the Republicans are rallying behind their presumptive nominee, Democrats remain divided. On this episode, we look at whether or not those divisions could be a part of the race through November and beyond.Guests: Democratic Congressman Xavier Becerra and BuzzFeed News politics reporter Ruby Cramer.

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Sneak Peek: The Fight For California

Mon, 06 Jun 2016 23:37:30 GMT

As the Democratic Primary nears the bitter end, Sanders supporters and Clinton supporters are looking back on a long and divisive nominating process. On Thursday, we'll take a look at how that process is still shaping the party as Democrats head into the national election.Guests: California Congressman Xavier Becerra and BuzzFeed News political reporter Ruby Cramer.

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It's Not Just About Bathrooms

Thu, 02 Jun 2016 08:00:00 GMT

In 2015, the Supreme Court made marriage equality the law of the land. One year later, LGBT rights are still being challenged in places like North Carolina. This episode tells the story of the state-by-state fight over non-discrimination laws—and how bathroom bills became one way to stop them from being passed.Guests: Howie, an RA, activist and trans student at UNC Charlotte; North Carolina Values Coalition Executive Director Tami Fitzgerald; and BuzzFeed News LGBT reporter Dominic Holden.

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Never Say Never Trump

Thu, 26 May 2016 08:00:00 GMT

It's been less than a month since Donald Trump clinched the Republican nomination, and the Trump-resistant party establishment is already lining up behind him. There won't be a contested convention, there's little talk of a third party candidate, and the #NeverTrump holdouts are losing steam. On this episode, we take a look at Trump's unlikely takeover, and what it says about divides within the Republican Party.Guests: Republican Committeeman Ruth O'Connell from Wheeling Township in Illinois, Republican operative and Trump holdout Doug Heye, and BuzzFeed News political reporter Rosie Gray.

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Al Franken Is Very Happy In His Current Job

Thu, 19 May 2016 08:01:00 GMT

Senator Al Franken, a Democrat from Minnesota, is a comedian and political satirist turned politician. In a broad-ranging interview taped at the Newseum in downtown D.C., Senator Franken talks with Evan about Bernie Sanders, Trump's fixation on "making the deal", addiction treatment and mental health policy, pot, and whether or not he's being vetted to be Hillary Clinton's running mate. Plus: Evan learns what a "bean feed" is.

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BuzzFeed News Interviewed President Obama

Tue, 17 May 2016 00:50:00 GMT

Evan talks with BuzzFeed Legal Editor Chris Geidner, who interviewed President Obama about civil rights and North Carolina’s “bathroom bill”, Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland, and what a Trump nomination means for Garland’s confirmation hearings.

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Hillary Clinton, The Liberal

Thu, 12 May 2016 08:01:00 GMT

Is Hillary Clinton a liberal? This episode, we look at the surprising moments when Clinton has swung to the left on divisive issues, confounding predictions that her campaign would be 100% boring centrism. We’re going to hear the story of one of those moments Clinton defied expectations and went to the left, and what it was like to be there when it happened. And we’re going to talk to a voter who found the ultimate divisive issue in politics and dug his heels in. He’s a Latino voting for Trump.Guests: DREAMer activist Astrid Silva, Donald Trump supporter Jesse Lopez, and BuzzFeed News political reporter and Latino coverage editor Adrian Carrasquillo.

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Lessons From A Long Primary

Thu, 05 May 2016 08:01:00 GMT

It's time to talk about Donald Trump and the weird world we all live in where he is the Republican Party's presumptive nominee. This episode is about the primary that brought us there, and about the convoluted and bumpy nominating process on the Democratic side that isn't over yet. Guests: Democratic Party Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Iowa caucus voters Kyra Seay and Carter Bell, and BuzzFeed News political reporter Darren Sands.

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A Good Surrogate Is Hard To Find

Thu, 28 Apr 2016 09:03:00 GMT

What goes on in the weird world of campaign surrogates? This episode, we talk about the politicians and celebrities who stump on behalf of actual candidates, and reflect on memorable surrogate moments from this election. Plus, we talk with someone whose job it was to wrangle surrogates for Senator Marco Rubio's presidential campaign.Guests: Former Communications Directors for Marco Rubio Alex Conant and Caitlin Conant, South Carolina Republican Ed Tarleton, and Katherine Miller, the politics editor for BuzzFeed News

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The Real Bernie Revolution - With Evan McMorris-Santoro And Tarini Parti

Thu, 21 Apr 2016 02:30:00 GMT

In 2015, we thought there was no way a presidential candidate could be competitive without being a billionaire or finding one to back their campaign. That was before Bernie Sanders. He has run a real campaign without the one thing experts thought every candidate needed: a super PAC. Has politics been changed forever? In this episode, we dig in on that question. Guests: Baltimore mayoral candidate DeRay Mckesson, EveryVoice Communications Director Adam Smith, Bernie donor Alan McLemore, and BuzzFeed News political reporter Tarini Parti.

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