Polilogue

The White House and Congressional Democrats are no closer to ending the now-three week partial government shutdown. It seems very likely that 800,000+ furloughed federal employees will miss their next paycheck on Jan. 17. 

Other Americans could be impacted by the shutdown as well. Food-insecure families could be without food stamps, rent vouchers may not arrive in time, and tax refunds could be delayed for millions of households.

Today on Polilogue, we question if and when this standstill will be over. We also review a powerful interview with Sarah Huckabee Sanders on a show we normally don’t review: Fox News Sunday wit hChris Wallace !

As always, you can jump to a section of the show by using our available chapters:

• Introduction

• Highlight/Lowlight

• Sarah Sanders Stumbles

• Republicans Won’t Budge 

• Democrats Stand Firm 

• Early 2020 Candidates

• Show rankings 

• Closing

The shows we discuss today include:

• State of the Union on CNN

• Meet the Press on NBC

• Face the Nation on CBS

• This Week on ABC

• Special addition of Fox News Sunday! 

Email us at [email protected] or you can send us your feedback @PolilogueCast. You can also follow us at @sotonaomi_ and @bsteidle.

Want to stalk us some more? Check out some of our other work: 

Brendan’s website: www.armisticedesigns.com 
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Ten days into the partial government shutdown — and a compromise between congressional Democrats and the White House is still no where in sight. 

On today’s episode of Polilogue, we look at the various proposals to open the government back up. We also look at a special climate change-focused episode of Meet the Press.

As always, you can jump to a section of the show by using our available chapters:

• Intro

• Highlight/Lowlight

• The ‘Wall’ Shutdown

• The MTP Climate Special

• Rankings

• Closing

The shows we discuss today include:

• State of the Union on CNN

• Meet the Press on NBC

• Face the Nation on CBS

• This Week on ABC

Articles and research we cite:

• Providing Sanctuary or Fostering Crime? A Review of the Research on “Sanctuary Cities” and Crime (Sociology Compass)

• Sunday shows finally talk about climate change (but that doesn’t mean the coverage was good) (Media Matters)

Email us at [email protected] or you can send us your feedback @PolilogueCast. You can also follow us at @sotonaomi_ and @bsteidle.

Want to stalk us some more? Check out some of our other work: 

Brendan’s website: www.armisticedesigns.com 
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After two chaotic years in office, President Trump struggles to maintain any semblance of control. And even for a dysfunctional administration like this one, the turmoil was more pronounced than ever this week.

Despite the objections of his Cabinet, Trump unilaterally decides to withdraw US troops from Syria— enraging Congress and dumbfounding allies; Secretary of Defense James Mattison and presidential anti-ISIS envoy Brett McGurk both resign in protest; the government partially shuts four three days before Christmas, and the stock market has its worst week in a decade.

How will Congress maintain a check on this administration when it feels like the wheels are coming off? And is the White House ready for an even more chaotic next two years?

As always, you can jump to a section of the show by using our available chapters:

• Intro

• Highlight/Lowlight

• Withdrawal from Syria  

• Christmas Government Shutdown 

• Rankings

• Closing

The shows we discuss today include:

• State of the Union on CNN

• Meet the Press on NBC

• Face the Nation on CBS

• This Week on ABC

Check out Brendan’s analysis of Chris Christie’s Mic-Takeover Analysis :

Email us at [email protected] or you can send us your feedback @PolilogueCast. You can also follow us at @sotonaomi_ and @bsteidle.

Want to stalk us some more? Check out some of our other work: 

Brendan’s website: www.armisticedesigns.com 
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In a normal presidential administration, mid-December could be a quiet month. Instead, we are  realizing that every organization connected to the President is currently under investigation: Trump University, the Trump campaign, the Trump organization, the Trump Inaugural Committee, and the Trump White House. At the same time, we are 5 days away from a government shut down, because President Trump demands that Congress authorize him $5 billion to build a border wall.

Today on Polilogue, we look at how two prominent voices defend President Trump: Rudy Giuliani and Advisor Stephen Miller. We also discuss how the rest of Washington tries to find solutions despite the priorities of the White House. 

As always, you can jump to a section of the show by using our available chapters:

• Introduction

• Highlight/Lowlight

• Investigations Surround Trump

• Trump’s Shutdown Showdown

• Show rankings 

• Closing

The shows we discuss today include:

• State of the Union on CNN

• Meet the Press on NBC

• Face the Nation on CBS

• This Week on ABC
  

Email us at [email protected] or you can send us your feedback @PolilogueCast. You can also follow us at @sotonaomi_ and @bsteidle.

Want to stalk us some more? Check out some of our other work: 

Brendan’s website: www.armisticedesigns.com 
Naomi's website: www.startwithaquestion.org

This week we have a very special episode of Polilogue.  A review of the movie Broadcast News. 

Broadcast News is about the people who create a daily political news show.  The film was written and directed by James Brooks and inspired by the real-life CBS producer, Susan Zirinsky. The show stars Holly Hunter as Jane Craig—a driven and passionate producer— and how she works and interacts with two co-workers with very different ambitions and priorities.

Broadcast News is a film that explores the life of journalists, and it’s a film that asks that asks us what kind of journalism matters— in other words, a perfect film for a Polilogue discussion. 

And as always, you can jump to a certain discussion in today’s episode:

• Introduction

• The Story

• Highlight/Lowlight

• The Characters

• The Journalism

• Today’s Version of the Story

• Grading the Film

• For Sunday Show Moderators

• Closing
  

For other links about the film:

• IMDB: Broadcast News

• How ‘Broadcast News’ Predicted Journalism As We Know It (The Ringer)

• Why Broadcast News and Holly Hunter’s Performance Still Resonate 30 Years Later (Vulture)

• Nearly 30 Years Later, ‘Broadcast News’ Comes to CBS News (AdWeek)

Last Friday, George Herbert Walker Bush passed away in his home in Houston, TX. George H.W. Bush was the 41st president for four years, the 40th vice-president for eight years, and even the 11th CIA Director!

But George H.W. Bush was more than just a former president, he was a representation of a previous time. A previous Republican Party that demanded decency and humility. Today on Polilogue we examine Bush 41’s presidency and his life in public service.

We also look at new developments in the Mueller investigation. Most notably: the plea deals of Michael Cohen, President Trump’s former personal attorney, who recently admitted he lied to Congress. 

As always, you can jump to a section of the show by using our available chapters:

• Introduction

• Highlight/Lowlight

• The George H.W. Bush Presidency

• George H.W. Bush: The Man

• Cohen Pleads Guilty

• Get the Popcorn

• Show rankings

• Closing 

The shows we discuss today include:

• State of the Union on CNN

• Meet the Press on NBC

• Face the Nation on CBS

• This Week on ABC

Email us at [email protected] or you can send us your feedback @PolilogueCast. You can also follow us at @sotonaomi_ and @bsteidle.

Want to stalk us some more? Check out some of our other work: 

Brendan’s website: www.armisticedesigns.com 
Naomi's website: www.startwithaquestion.org

The midterms were almost 2 weeks ago, so it it official yet? Have the 2020 campaigns for president started?

Usually our answer is No. Please no. Is it really necessary to go for one election straight to the next? Can we work on governing at all?

But this week we heard from several potential presidential candidates with very different strategies and tactics. We are 2 years out. Many of these strategies will evolve. But even still, it’s fascinating to see political leaders testing messaging and seeing what sticks.

As always, you can jump to a section of the show by using our available chapters:

• Introduction

• Highlight/Lowlight

• 2020 campaign messaging

• Trump fails to drown climate report

• Show rankings 

• Closing

The shows we discuss today include:

• State of the Union on CNN

• Meet the Press on NBC

• Face the Nation on CBS

• This Week on ABC

Reports and articles prominently discussed include:

• Molly Ball’s profile on Nancy Pelosi in Time Magazine

• Climate change report by 13 federal government agencies (Fourth National Climate Assessment - Volume II: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States)

Email us at [email protected] or you can send us your feedback @PolilogueCast. You can also follow us at @sotonaomi_ and @bsteidle.

Want to stalk us some more? Check out some of our other work: 

Brendan’s website: www.armisticedesigns.com 
Naomi's website: www.startwithaquestion.org

Every week, each host on the Sunday news shows makes dozens of decisions: who to book, what topics to focus on, how to prep, how aggressive to be, and on and on. Most weeks the pertinent topics are consistent across the shows, and so the differences from one show to the next is about journalistic style— not about a question about what matters and what does not.

Today was not one of those weeks.

There was variance across the shows at every decision point. Some shows had full segments on the California wildfires, others relegated the natural disaster to a couple of minutes on their political panel, and one did not even talk about it all. Some hosts asked follow up questions of policy substance. Other focused on rhetoric and style.

In a time when there is so much news that it can feel close to impossible to keep up, we ask each other: whose journalistic judgment do you trust?

As always, you can jump to a section of the show by using our available chapters:

• Introduction

• Highlight/Lowlight

• This Week’s Raddatz Shines

• Jake Tapper Pursues Rhetorical Truth

• Brennan Presses Rand for Action

• Todd and Graham Converse on McConnell 

• Show rankings 

• Closing

The shows we discuss today include:

• State of the Union on CNN

• Meet the Press on NBC

• Face the Nation on CBS

• This Week on ABC

Email us at [email protected] or you can send us your feedback @PolilogueCast. You can also follow us at @sotonaomi_ and @bsteidle.

Want to stalk us some more? Check out some of our other work: 

Brendan’s website: www.armisticedesigns.com 
Naomi's website: www.startwithaquestion.org

Congressman Adam Schiff said the Democratic Party needs to “ruthlessly prioritize” investigations to achieve their legislative priorities on the latest episode of Meet the Press.

Well the same could be said for the Sunday political shows.

In a news-dense week, the shows had to decide from the following big stories: a historic midterm election, where Democrats won control of the House; a Florida recount; an uncalled Senate race in Arizona; lawsuits in Georgia for the gubernatorial seat; the forced-resignation of Jeff Sessions; backlash over the interim Attorney General; another mass shooting that left 12 dead in Thousand Oaks, CA; three deadly and brutal California wildfires; Trump attacks on black female journalists; and Europe distancing themselves from Trump—again. 

The shows couldn’t talk about everything— and neither could we. But each of these stories are hugely important and we implore our listeners to make room for dialogue that goes beyond the biggest headlines. 

Today’s episode has three segments: 1.) the Democrats’ incoming strategy; 2.) Republican fight for Arizona, Florida, and Georgia; and 3.) the new interim Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. 

As always, you can jump to a section of the show by using our available chapters:

• Introduction

• Highlight/Lowlight

• Democrats control the House

• Republicans call foul(s)! 

• Goodbye Jeff Sessions 

• Show rankings 

• Closing

A couple of other links mentioned in today’s episode:

• Richard Linklater’s ad against Ted Cruz

• World War I footage redone by Peter Jackson

Email us at [email protected] or you can send us your feedback @PolilogueCast. You can also follow us at @sotonaomi_ and @bsteidle.

Want to stalk us some more? Check out some of our other work: 

Brendan’s website: www.armisticedesigns.com 
Naomi's website: www.startwithaquestion.org

On today's agenda it’s all about the midterms! It’s practically the only thing that anyone was talking about… and it makes sense. In about less than two days the polls will open for the 2018 midterms. But we noticed today that the approach for the shows varied. Some shows focused on the horse race. Others went after the substance of campaign rheortic.

So we asked ourselves: which Sunday news shows gave the viewer context about trends they were seeing and provided relevant considerations for Tuesday’s votes And which shows were just excited for another political fight?

As always, you can always jump to a section of the show by using our available chapters:

• Introduction

• Highlight/Lowlight

• The Political Horse Race

• Diving into Policies

• Show rankings 

• Closing

Email us at [email protected] or you can send us your feedback @PolilogueCast. You can also follow us at @sotonaomi_ and @bsteidle.

Want to stalk us some more? Check out some of our other work: 

Brendan’s website: www.armisticedesigns.com 
Naomi's website: www.startwithaquestion.org