The meteoric rise — and dramatic fall — of Congressman Eric Swalwell is the subject of this episode.  Seema Mehta, a political reporter with the Los Angeles Times, recounts how he went from media darling to alleged sex offender, ending what had initially been an improbable bid to become governor of California.  And, for good measure, George Skelton, the veteran L.A. Times columnist, spells out how this sad episode exposed the weaknesses in California’s “top two” electoral system.

ALSO:  Wondering the purpose of holding a White House Correspondents Dinner with a president that despises and denigrates the media.  And Republicans are, with a straight face, screaming “partisanship” at Virginia’s ballot initiative that may give the Commonwealth’s Democrats, four additional congressional seats.

MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE:

Bad Blood by Taylor Swift

Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood

I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye

It’s My Party by Lesley Gore

The post Episode #429: Swalwell That Ends Well appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Kathryn Pearson of the University of Minnesota explains the scandal that may have ended Gov. Tim Walz’s political career, and the expected decision by Sen. Amy Klobuchar that she would seek to succeed him this year.

And Lou Cannon, the chief White House correspondent during the Ronald Reagan presidency and a superb Reagan biographer, died last month at the age of 92.  He was last on the Political Junkie back in 2015, talking about the 1980 Republican convention and how Reagan helped his cause by picking George Bush as his running mate — and not former President Gerald Ford, who was rumored to be angling for a spot on the GOP ticket.

PLUS:  The Trump administration defends the murder of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.  And Greenland?  Seriously?

Music in this Episode:

When the Music’s Over by the Doors

Amie by Pure Prairie League

Like to Get to Know You by Spanky & Our Gang

The post Episode #428: Walz Came Tumbling Down appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Matthew Wilson, political science professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, sets up the fierce primaries, Democratic and Republican, for the Senate in Texas.  Incumbent Republican John Cornyn is facing a battle from his right from state Attorney General Ken Paxton, and firebrand liberal Rep. Jasmine Crockett is challenging James Talarico for the Democrats.  No Democrat has won a Texas Senate race since 1988.

And Rob Christensen, a former political journalist with the Raleigh News & Observer, remembers Jim Hunt, the former four-term governor and a giant in North Carolina politics, who died last week.

PLUS:  The Epstein Files are released (not), Elise Stefanik plans to stay and fight (not), and Trump gives his respects to Rob Reiner (not).

Music in this Episode: 

Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

U Can’t Touch This by M.C. Hammer

A Well Respected Man by The Kinks

The post Episode #427: Jasmine Crockett, Arriving; Jim Hunt, Departed. appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Congressional analyst Jack Pitney assesses the meaning of Marjorie Taylor Greene’s upcoming resignation from Congress, and weighs whether the Georgia Republican still has a future in politics, given her seeming banishment by President Trump.

And we remember Mark Mellman, the Democratic pollster who died last month, by replaying an interview we had with him in November of 2016, when Hillary Clinton and Trump were vying for the presidency.

PLUS:  A selection of favorite Trump responses to reporters’ questions at press conferences.

Music in this episode:

Where Is The Love by Roberta Flack and Donnie Hathaway

You and I by Rick James

The post Episode #426: Marjorie Tinker Taylor Q’Anon Traitor Patriot appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Maine Public Radio’s Steve Mistler focuses on what may be the Democrats’ best chance at a Senate pickup in 2026, the seat of five-term Republican incumbent Susan Collins.  Establishment Democrats in Washington have come up with who they feel would be the strongest opponent, popular Gov. Janet Mills; earlier this year she made a name for herself by standing up to President Trump at a governors’ conference.  But she is 77 years old, and progressives back home are instead rallying behind Graham Platner, an oyster farmer and former Marine who has raised more than $4 million.  However, controversial old social media posts of Platner’s have been uncovered, threatening his chances.

And there are two gubernatorial races taking place next week, in New Jersey and Virginia, states where both incumbents are term limited.  Bob Holsworth of Decide Smart says that Democrats in Virginia are likely to take back the governorship with Abigail Spanberger.  But media coverage is now focused on a series of ugly emails that came from the Dem candidate for attorney general, Jay Jones, whose own lead has evaporated.  And in New Jersey, NJ Advance Media’s Brent Johnson reports that Democrat Mikie Sherrill’s lead has narrowed and that the Republican, Jack Ciattarelli, making his third bid for the job, is within striking distance.

Music in this Episode:

Fix You by Coldplay

Tattoo by Doreen

She’s a Sensation by the Ramones

Jersey Girl by Bruce Springsteen

The post Episode #425: Day Of The Woman? Election 2025 appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Journalist and historian Chris Whipple, author of the new book “Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History,” talks about how the Democratic Party, the Biden campaign and the candidate himself decided to ignore the reality of Biden’s mental acuity and insist on running against Trump until it was too late — and handing the White House to the Republican in the process.

PLUS:  The latest on Godzilla vs. King Kong.  And if you think only Biden had the cognitive problems, you’re not paying attention.

Music in this episode:

I Started a Joke by the Bee Gees

I’m Alright by Kenny Loggins

The post Episode #424: The Tragedy Of Joe Biden appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Chicago Tribune political correspondent Rick Pearson sums up the career of Dick Durbin, the Illinois Democrat who is retiring after five terms in the Senate.

PLUS:  George Santos can continue to lie, only this time in prison … Remembering Donald Trump’s tirades against Barack Obama for his executive orders and golf playing … A farewell to our old friend Alan Simpson … and looking back at the final days of U.S. involvement in Vietnam, now 50 years after the evacuation.

Music in this Episode:

Dear Mr. Fantasy by Traffic

Time Is Running Out by Muse

Don’t You (Forget About Me) by Billy Idol

Friends by The Beach Boys

We Gotta Get Outta This Place by The Animals

The post Episode #423: Dick Durbin’s 44 Years Of Service appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Joe Gerth, columnist for the Louisville Courier-Journal, takes us through the long Senate career of Mitch McConnell, the Republican from Kentucky, who announced he will not seek an eighth term.

PLUS:  The stunning shouting match between President Trump, cheered on by Vice President Vance, and Ukrainian President Zelensky.

The post Episode #422: How Mitch McConnell Enabled The Party Takeover By Donald appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Jeff Greenfield remembers how Presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush consoled the nation during crisis and trauma, and compares their actions to those of Donald Trump, whose response to a deadly plane crash was one of blame and nastiness.

Rick Pluta of Michigan Public Radio discusses the retirement of Sen. Gary Peters (D) and the battle in 2026 to succeed him — a battle that could include Pete Buttigieg.

And Kathie Obradovich of Iowa Capital Dispatch talks of the pressures back home that may have forced Sen. Joni Ernst, a rape victim during college, to vote to confirm Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary, despite the sexual assault allegations against him.

PLUS:  A look at the first two weeks of Trump.

Music in this episode:

It’s My Party by Lesley Gore

Mean Mr Mustard by The Beatles

America by Simon & Garfunkel

Under Pressure by Queen

The post Episode #421: The Consoler In Chief appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Donald Trump’s election opened up two Senate seats — in Ohio, where JD Vance was elected vice president, and in Florida, where Marco Rubio joined the Trump Cabinet as Secretary of State.  Jeremy Pelzer, a political reporter with Cleveland.com and the Cleveland Plain Dealer, talks about new Sen. Jon Husted, who had been Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s lieutenant governor.  And Susan MacManus, a leading Florida political analyst, tells us everything we need to know about Ashley Moody, the state’s former attorney general who now succeeds Rubio.

And the recent death of former President Jimmy Carter has Carter biographer Jonathan Alter wondering if the overwhelming sadness about the 39th president’s passing might be tied to the widespread revulsion of the new occupant of the White House.

Music in this episode:

Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

Susan by Aimee Mann

Turn! Turn! Turn! by the Byrds

The post Episode #420: Decency And Civility, Then And Now appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.