The Democratic National Convention, in all its virtual Zoom splendor, nominated Joe Biden and Kamala Harris this week. While it’s been a convention like no other, ever, journalist Ray Suarez found no shortage of moments that were so emotional and so powerful that they nearly brought him to tears.

The actions by President Trump and his postmaster general have convinced Democrats that they are doing whatever they can with the U.S. mail and the prospect of record mail-in balloting to suppress the vote in November. Professor Philip Rubio of North Carolina A&T State University, an expert on the postal service as well as a former mail carrier himself, shares his concern about the sanctity of the ballot.

At the Democratic convention in 1956, presidential nominee Adlai Stevenson decided to leave the decision to name a VP to the delegates themselves. Stevenson’s son, Adlai III — himself a former U.S. senator — shares his memories of that time.

Music used in this podcast:

Michelle by The Beatles

Ain’t Got Far To Go by Jess Glynne

Please Mr. Postman by The Marvelettes

Lucky Number by Lene Lovich

Adlai Stevenson by Sufjan Stevens

Presidential nominating conventions may be scripted and not newsworthy, but there have been enough dramatic happenings that call for a “Great Moments in Convention History” special program.

We hear from Stephen Hess of the Brookings Institution, who attended the 1952 convention in Chicago as Sen. Everett Dirksen (R-Ill.) lashed out at former presidential nominee Thomas Dewey for his two defeats.

We talk with Barbara Eagleton, whose late husband, Sen. Thomas Eagleton (D-Mo.), was George McGovern‘s running mate at the 1972 Democratic convention in Miami Beach, until news of his electro-shock therapy for the treatment of depression forced him off the ticket — 18 days later.

Judy Goldsmith was chair of the National Organization for Women in 1984, and recalls weeping with joy as Geraldine Ferraro accepted the nomination for vice president that year at the Democratic convention in San Francisco.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis reflects back on the 1988 Democratic convention that nominated him and of the memorable speeches that accompanied that event.

And Lee Edwards of the Heritage Foundation talks about Ronald Reagan — his valiant but unsuccessful effort at the 1976 convention in Kansas City, and his victory four years later in Detroit.

Photo via Associated Press

Music used in this podcast:

Bird Machine by DJ Snake featuring Alesia

Orange Crush by R.E.M.

Chicago by Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young

Go Now – Moody Blues

I Am Woman by Jordin Sparks 

Ronnie by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

Has the delay in Joe Biden’s announcing his VP pick a sign of uncertainty and division?  Eugene Scott of the Washington Post weighs in with the latest scorecard of running mate hopefuls.

Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s first term has been filled with accusations of anti-Semitism and praise for her fight for human and civil rights. MPR’s Mark Zdechlik looks ahead to next week’s primary.

It was 56 years ago this week that the murdered bodies of Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner were found, dumped outside of Philadelphia, Mississippi. It all took place during what was known as the Freedom Summer, when civil rights activists traveled to the Magnolia State, at great risk to themselves, to get African-Americans to register to vote.  Bruce Watson, who has written a defining book about the Freedom Summer, remembers the horror, and the hope, of those days.

Music used in this podcast:

Chicken Soup With Rice by Carole King and Maurice Sendak

California Girls by The Beach Boys

Minnesota by Lil Yachty featuring Quavo, Skippa da Flippa & Young Thug

Chinatown by The Move

Eve Of Destruction by Barry McGuire

The declaration by President Trump that he would not commit to accepting the results of the 2020 election — as well as his constant insistence that mail ballots will be used to “rig” the election — has led many to fear that Nov. 3rd could be a legal and political nightmare.  Lawrence Douglas of Amherst College, author of a doomsday scenario book wondering what Trump might do if Joe Biden is declared the winner, discusses what is likely going to be an “anything goes” period between now and the election.

In his new biography of Joe McCarthy, author Larry Tye suggests that the demagogic instincts of the late Wisconsin senator are not too dissimilar with the current occupant of the White House.

And Charles Evers, the former mayor of Fayette, Mississippi, and the brother of the late civil rights leader Medgar Evers died last week at the age of 97. This week we replay the interview we had with Charles Evers two years ago.

Language Advisory: Charles Evers uses the N-word once in the context of describing how race relations have changed since 1963.

Music used in this podcast:

China Girl by David Bowie

Go Now by the Moody Blues

My Little Red Book by Love

Jimmy Carter by Electric Needle Room

Find The Cost Of Freedom by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

John Lewis was known for his courage and integrity, and his death last week at the age of 80 brought sadness to a wide majority of Americans. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, the Democratic delegate from the District of Columbia, recounted her long relationship with Lewis, starting when they were both civil rights activists in the Deep South working for SNCC.

Democrats haven’t elected a senator in Kansas since 1932 — the longest losing streak in the nation. But many in the party see a reason for optimism this year, especially if the Republicans nominate Kris Kobach, a controversial figure, in next month’s GOP primary.  Steve Kraske of radio station KCUR sets up the battle.

One of the many stories not widely known about the 1968 Democratic convention involves a bitter struggle between two factions of the Georgia delegation: one led by Governor Lester Maddox, an avowed segregationist, and the other led by Julian Bond, a state legislator, and civil rights pioneer.  Donnie Summerlin, an archivist at the University of Georgia Library, recounts the tale of ambition and rivalry, one that helped eventually open up the party to small d democratic rules of representation.

“Photo by Pete Souza. Used with permission”

Music used in this podcast:

Centerfield by John Fogerty

We Gotta Pray by Alicia Keyes

Kansas City Star by Roger Miller

Don’t Mess With Bill by The Marvelettes

Black and White by Pete Seeger

We take a stroll through the Political Junkie archives this week, starting with a conversation with Douglas Wilder of Virginia. While several African-American candidates are seeking statewide office in the Deep South this year, Wilder started it all, with his election as governor in 1989 — the first black candidate ever elected governor of a state.

In addition to a pandemic that is damaging our ability to go to the polls and vote, there have also been numerous charges of voter suppression leveled in some of this year’s primaries.  Carol Anderson of Emory University is an expert on the topic, as well as the author of the invaluable “One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression is Destroying Our Democracy.”

And with President Trump continuing his assault on a free press at every available opportunity, there is no better time than now to revisit our conversation with famed TV newsman Marvin Kalb, author of “Enemy of the People.”  

Music used in this podcast:

Gotta Get Thru This by Daniel Bedingfield

I Want To Take You Higher by Sly and the Family Stone

All You Need Is Hate by The Delgados

Find The Cost Of Freedom by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

There are two things to watch out for in next week’s Senate primary in Maine. First, did the Democratic Party establishment, which lined up behind state House Speaker Sara Gideon early, make a mistake in doing so, given what almost happened in a similar situation in Kentucky? (The answer is probably no.) And will her votes to confirm Justice Brett Kavanaugh and acquit President Trump come back to haunt Sen. Susan Collins (R) in November? (The guess is it’s very possible.)  Mal Leary of Maine Public Radio handicaps the race.

A new book by Princeton’s Julian Zelizer attempts to make the case that much of the polarization and hyper-partisanship in today’s politics can be traced to Georgia’s Newt Gingrich, whose slash and burn tactics helped lead the Republican Party out of the wasteland and into the majority of the House … and whose tactics seem familiar to what we’re witnessing in the White House today.

And we go back to 2004 when John Kerry — like Joe Biden of today — was choosing a running mate. Kerry adviser Bob Shrum talks about the pluses and minuses of Kerry’s choice of John Edwards to be his number two.

Music used in this podcast:

Don’t Come Close by the Ramones

Sara Smile by Hall and Oates

The Fool On The Hill by The Beatles

Doctor Wu by Steely Dan

You Cheated by The Shields

The announcement by Joe Biden of a running mate is less than a month away.  Neal Conan analyzes the field and predicts Susan Rice will get the call. Ken Rudin is sticking with Kamala Harris.

Chief Justice John Roberts’ decisions on gay rights, DACA, and abortion have infuriated the right. But Supreme Court expert Amy Howe says this is less about Roberts becoming a liberal and more of him being an institutionalist … while remaining a conservative.

And with Rep. Joe Kennedy taking on a Democratic senator in Massachusetts and Amy Kennedy seeking the Democratic nomination for a House seat in New Jersey, Barbara Perry of the University of Virginia talks about the latest round of Kennedys seeking to keep their political family tradition alive.

Music used in this podcast:

Shallow by Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper

Do You Like Worms (Roll Plymouth Rock) by The Beach Boys

Amie by Pure Prairie League

Tea for the Tillerman by Cat Stevens

Family Affair by Sly & The Family Stone

We may not have final results of Tuesday’s primaries, but we have seen some definite trends develop during these months of contests.  Nathan Gonzales of Inside Elections wonders if what happened with the GOP and tea party activists several years ago may be repeated, only this time with Democrats and their more restless, progressive base.

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has been seen for the longest time as having a very good shot at ousting a Republican senator this year, a result that needs to happen if the Democrats are going to capture the Senate in November.  But, as Colorado pollster Floyd Ciruli says, several self-inflicted mishaps by Hickenlooper now put his nomination in next week’s primary in question.

And we repeat an interview we had five years ago with Howard Dean, the former Vermont governor, and 2004 presidential candidate, who candidly explains what went wrong in his bid for the Democratic nomination.  Hint:  It wasn’t because of the scream.

Music used in this podcast:

Back to Black by Amy Winehouse

You Can’t Always Get What You Want by the Rolling Stones

We Need Universal Vote by Mail by John Hickenlooper

Old Friends by Simon & Garfunkel

I Want to Take You Higher by Sly & The Family Stone

Robert Barnes of the Washington Post talks about the landmark Supreme Court decision that ended job discrimination against gays and transgender people. Not lost in all the excitement was the fact that the majority opinion was written by Neil Gorsuch, appointed to the Court by President Trump.

Several Democratic members of Congress are facing tough opposition in next Tuesday’s New York primary.  Emily Ngo of New York 1 notes that many progressives, inspired by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s upset of House veteran Joe Crowley two years ago, are hoping for more victories on the 23rd.

And how could a conservative congressman from Virginia, armed with a big war chest and endorsements from Trump and Jerry Falwell Jr., lose his bid for renomination?  Amy Friedenberger of the Roanoke Times explains.

Photo via Wikimedia

Music used in this podcast:

I Know (You Don’t Love Me No More) by Barbara George

Changes by David Bowie

Help! by The Beatles

God Knows I’m Good by David Bowie