Backroom Politics

With the Attorney General apperance (and disapperance) on the hill, and the president threatening to use executive priviledge, we discuss the tension bewteen Congress and the White house. Special guest RICHARD RUBINO, author of American Politics on the Rocks.

All eyes are on Venezuela as protestors take to the streets to support Opposition Leader and U.S. Recognized President Juan Guiado against vilified Chavez successor Nicolas Maduro.  Could this be the catalyst that could ensure Guiado's final fight for the heart of the Latin American Oil Nation?  Why is the U.S. military taking such a passive role in this conflict?  Could Venezuela return to the greatness it once enjoyed in past decades?  Also, as House committees subpoena both The Treasury Department and Trump financial institutions, could House Dems make a move on the President that could keep his numbers low or could this backfire and create support for the Trump Administration?

We continue our special coverage of the Mueller Report....  the looming question in Washington, DC ...IMPEACH OR NOT TO IMPEACH!  We continue our deep dive analysis of the report and the potential fall out / political impacts in the future.

With the Mueller Report out on the street now, everyone has been asking..."What do the folks at BACKROOM POLITICS think about the Mueller Report?"  Well, here it is... our review and analysis of the release of the Investigation Report to the Attorney General.  We will do a deep dive on what it REALLY says.

Community Leader and Host of THE POWER STATION Podcast Anne Pasmanick and PODCAST VILLAGE founder Charlie Birney sit in on the Roundtable to discuss affordable housing, immigration, the role of migrant workers in our economy, and even gentrification!

The Trump Campaign announced a $30 Million 1st quarter campaign report which is bigger than every Dem in the race for 2020...combined with a $40 million raise for the Republican Party, can the Dems match dollar for dollar with the Republican Juggernaut?  Also, the Ecuadorian Government withdraws asylum status on WikiLeaks founder Jullian Assange...British Authorities arrest him on a warrant from the US for conspiracy to hack a password on a federal computer system.  While Assange awaits possible extradition back stateside, are we walking on a slippery slope with his arrest?  Is this freedom of the press or a criminal trying to hide behind the 1st Amendment?

The Attorney General appears on the Hill... and can't escape the questions on the Mueller Report.  Is he correct?  Is he taking the high road or is he protecting a President that needs protecting? How does the mantra from the AG differ from the intent of the actually report?  Also, the field for the 2020 Democratic Presidential nomination gets bigger...and bigger...and bigger.  Could this be a problem for the Dems?  Were there any big surprises in the 1st Quarter fund raising reporting?  We talk winners and loosers in the fight for the Democratic Ticket against President Trump.

As the humanitarian crisis on the southern border continues to develop, President Trump decides to go in a "tougher direction"...beginning with the resignation of DHS Secretary Nielsen and the departure of other key DHS figures.  Could this be the beginning of a national security void that our enemies could exploit?  Is the President turning DHS into the Department of Southern Border?  How much influence does Presidential adviser Stephen Miller have over what is happening?

As Democrats (and Republicans) gear up for the possibility of a Joe Biden run for POTUS in 2020... two women have come out accusing the former Vice President of inappropriate touching.  Is this a case of Joe Biden being Joe Biden or is this a situation that could possibly derail his run for the White House? 

Also, just when American is starting to learn how to pronounce Pete Buttigieg's name, the Mayor of South Bend, Indian (and Presidential Hopeful) comes up big with a strong showing in first quarter fundraising.  Is the man affectionately known as "Mayor Pete" the real deal?  What is the magic formula for possibly springing this Navy Veteran and openly gay politico from the Mayor's Office to the Oval Office?

BACKROOM POLITICS IN DEPTH - THE NATION'S SOUTHERN BORDER PROBLEM

As the President continues to make the Southern Border a political and national security issue, we discuss the reality of the crisis with our immigration policies.  Is the mounting population just outside our border a security issue or a mounting humanitarian crisis?  What is the true message about immigration that is being promoted and what is the reality?  What are the economic risks to shutting down the border with Mexico?