Sen. Dick Durbin's retirement opens up a safe Democratic seat -- and a spot in the Senate leadership. PLUS: George Santos heads to prison, Donald Trump's hundred days, a farewell to Alan Simpson, and the Vietnam evacuation, 50 years later.

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

Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell is retiring next year, ending a long career in which he united Republicans against Democratic presidents and whose relationship with Donald Trump, while never good, enabled the president to hold onto and extend his power. PLUS: Trump vs. Zelensky.

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

Past presidents have been able to take tragic events and try to console distraught Americans. Not Donald Trump. Plus: An open Senate race in Michigan, and an Iowa senator up for re-election next year is pressured on a Cabinet confirmation vote.

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

Trump's election opened up two Senate seats, in Ohio and Florida, that have been since filled by Republican governors. And is our sadness about Jimmy Carter's passing possibly due to the thought of Trump returning to the presidency?

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

The election is over, Trump won, and now the Senate has to confirm (or not) some extraordinary Cabinet choices. Also: Who will succeed Marco Rubio in the Senate? Is bipartisanship possible? And we remember Fred Harris.

The post Episode #419: Trump Won, And His Cabinet Choices Prove It appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

A look at two races on the ballot next month that have national implications: Montana Senate and North Carolina governor. Plus, two vice presidential hopefuls meet in New York City.

The post Episode #418: Butte And The Beast appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

How Kamala Harris went from the battles of California politics to the possibility of becoming the 47th President of the United States.

The post Episode #417: The Unfathomable Rise Of Kamala Harris appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

How a bad debate performance by President Biden helped lead to Kamala Harris becoming the (likely) Democratic nominee for president. And a farewell to the long political career of New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez.

The post Episode #416: I’d Walk A Mile For A Kamala appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Setting up next week's CNN debate between Biden and Trump. Predicting Trump's running mate. And a look at some GOP VP picks that sometimes -- but not always -- worked.

The post Episode #415: The Debate — Cui Bono? appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Republican strategist Mike Murphy, a leading anti-Trump voice in the party, discusses the state of politics and a new look at the presidential race in the aftermath of the guilty verdict.

The post Episode #414: Trump Law, Meet Murphy’s Law appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.