Polilogue

They say journalism is the first draft of history. Well this week, we look back at that first draft and try to understand our current president.

In 1999, then-host Tim Russert interviewed Donald Trip on Meet the Press about his possible candidacy for the 2000 presidential election on a third party ticket. It’s an interesting look back into the personality, values, and political stances of Trump before he was Trump. Some things are sadly familiar like his blatant sexualized view of women. But other issues stand out— like his thoughts about gay marriage and abortion. 

It’s a new interview with a familiar man on a familiar show. But an entirely different take on the Sunday talk shows— and of Polilogue itself. 

You can see the interview in its entirety here.

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It was the best of times. It was the worst of times… It was last Friday, Dec. 1. 

Early last Friday morning, former National Security Advisor General Michael Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. Flynn is the highest official so far in Trump’s administration to be indicted and plead guilty in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. Many are speculating that General Flynn may have information that could implicate other senior White House officials.

Additionally, less than 24 hours later, the Senate passed a broad tax reform bill that will lower the corporate tax rates permanently. Temporary tax cuts to the middle class are more uncertain. And the whole thing could add $1.5 trillion in the deficit. But finally after almost a year of failed attempts, a major legislative accomplishment for the GOP (once it passes out conference). 

So what does President Trump do in the midst of such disappointment and relief? He shares legally problematic tweets, of course. We discuss this all and more in this week’s Polilogue.

• Introduction
• Highlight/Lowlight
• Russia Drama Explodes
• Senate Passes Taxes
• Show Rankings
• Closing

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The Sunday political shows discussed this week:  

• This Week
• Face the Nation
• Meet the Press
• State of the Union 

Next week’s episode, we’ll be talking about this Meet the Press interview with Donald Trump from 1999.

America is having a profound educational moment as the flurry of sexual harassment allegations affect both parties. It’s no surprise, abusive men in power are falling in many industries. But apparently, disappointing responses and shoddy defenses are also a bipartisan issue. 

Leader Nancy Pelosi received significant backlash for her recent performance on Meet the Press, where she was lenient on Representative John Conyers and hesitant to believe his accusers. In this episode of Polilogue, we dive deep into this interview and show each misstep. We demonstrate that each statement parallels the verbal acrobatics of the White House these last few weeks.  

Later, we analyze the evolving narrative of Republican responses to Roy Moore — beginning with the President, who finally spoke out. Sort of. Then, we highlight some sage voices on what to expect next from this story, both in politics and beyond. 

• Introduction
• Highlight/Lowlight
• Pelosi fails
• Trumps warms to Moore
• Shifting ground on harassment 
• Show Rankings
• Closing

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The Sunday political shows and news articles discussed this week:  

• This Week
• Face the Nation
• Meet the Press
• State of the Union 
• Furious Republicans Split with Trump on Moore
• Anita Hill and Congresswomen Remember the Confirmation Hearings
• Nancy Pelosi First Statement after MTP Interview
• Nancy Pelosi Second Statement after MTP Interview

The sexual harassment allegations keep growing— and the reputation of men in Hollywood, media, and politics continues to shatter. The Sunday talk shows explore this watershed moment through a variety of lenses. Most prominently, the shows probed into the Roy Moore molestation scandal and Senator Al Franken’s insulting “humor and jokes.” Hosts and guests ask why President Trump can comment on the later while not taking a clear stand on the former. 

The Sunday talk shows also had on several thought leaders and female politicians to discuss workplace safety more broadly. Victims are kept silent and abusers continue their behavior, because too many systems in this country allow it. We also look at excellent interviews with White House administration officials that push leaders and demand transparency in both the Roy Moore harassment story and their tax cut promises. 

• Introduction
• Highlight/Lowlight
• The Dam Breaks
• Tax Bill Senate Blues
• Show Rankings
• Closing

Email us at [email protected] or you can send us your feedback on Twitter: @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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The Sunday political shows discussed this week:  

• This Week
• Face the Nation
• Meet the Press
• State of the Union 
• To learn more about budget reconciliation, check out this episode of vox.com's The Weeds podcast: https://overcast.fm/+FOOR0-7hM

Republicans were front and center on the Sunday talk shows, but their support for Roy Moore was not. Moore, the Republican candidate for the Alabama Senate special election has been accused of sexual misconduct by several women. According to the Washington Post, when Moore  was in his 30s, he had inappropriate relationships with teenage girls—one as young as 14 years old old. Since the Post story broke, many prominent Republicans have rescinded their support for Moore. But by the taping of the Sunday talk shows, few had demanded that Moore step down from the ticket. Is keeping the Senate majority worth it if seats are held by such problematic individuals? 

Should the party do more? Should the president?  

We also discuss the Democratic state wins. People wonder if the Trump presidency has ignited the the Democratic base— and if it has— can it last until next November? Also, Trump back pedals his latest Putin comments. 

• Introduction
• Highlight/Lowlight
• Roy Moore Controversy 
• Democrats Strike Back 
• Trump trips on Russia
• Show Rankings
• Closing

Email us at [email protected] or you can send us your feedback on Twitter: @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 Sunday political shows discussed this week:  

• This Week
• Face the Nation
• Meet the Press
• State of the Union

Republicans were front and center on the Sunday talk shows, but their support for Roy Moore was not. Moore, the Republican candidate for the Alabama Senate special election has been accused of sexual misconduct by several women. According to the Washington Post, when Moore  was in his 30s, he had inappropriate relationships with teenage girls—one as young as 14 years old old. Since the Post story broke, many prominent Republicans have rescinded their support for Moore. But by the taping of the Sunday talk shows, few had demanded that Moore step down from the ticket. Is keeping the Senate majority worth it if seats are held by such problematic individuals? 

Should the party do more? Should the president?  

We also discuss the Democratic state wins. People wonder if the Trump presidency has ignited the the Democratic base— and if it has— can it last until next November? Also, Trump back pedals his latest Putin comments. 

• Introduction
• Highlight/Lowlight
• Roy Moore Controversy 
• Democrats Strike Back 
• Trump trips on Russia
• Show Rankings
• Closing

Email us at [email protected] or you can send us your feedback on Twitter: @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 Sunday political shows discussed this week:  

• This Week
• Face the Nation
• Meet the Press
• State of the Union 

This week on the Sunday talk shows, the parties confront challenges and issues that could derail them from their goals. We find that some leaders address the issues head-on— and others seek the closest pile of dirt to hide their heads.

First, the indictment charges on Paul Manafort, Robert Gates, and George Papadopoulos had the White House and Republican leaders rethinking, reimagining, and rescinding the campaign roles of the people in question. Congressional Republicans finally announced the much awaited tax reform bill: the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Some Republicans stand by the ambitious growth projections; while others want to protect the deficit. 

On the Democratic side, Donna Brazile’s new book spotlights the disfunction she found in the party last year when she had to take over as Interim Chair. We see that not everyone in the party is excited to look back to the 2016 election— nor do they agree with her depiction. 

Sometimes dialogue can seem impossible in the midst of such disagreement. But for us— for Polilogue— it’s where we start. 

• Introduction
• Highlight/Lowlight
• Mueller Indictments
• GOP Tax Plan
• DNC Disarray 
• Show Rankings
• Closing

Email us at [email protected] or you can send us your feedback on Twitter: @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 Sunday political shows discussed this week:  

• This Week
• Face the Nation
• Meet the Press
• State of the Union

The impending Mueller indictment had all the Sunday talk shows scrambling. Some of the shows scrapped all preparation they must have done earlier in the week and focused entirely on the investigation. Other shows managed to talk about other issues like tax reform, Senator Jeff Flake’s retirement, and the opioid crisis… in addition to the indictment speculation and predictions. 

Similarly, the Mueller indictment had the Polilogue team scrambling as well! We chose to get this episode out a day earlier, because while the media coverage of the Mueller investigation will quickly change once the charges and suspects are announced— we think it’s still important to review the media’s ability to analyze and cover an ever-evolving story. 

We also discuss the depiction of the opioid crisis by politicians trying to address the issue and from local heroes trying to save lives in their own communities. If you would like to listen to a specific segment from today’s episode, you can jump straight to that chapter: 

• Introduction
• Highlight/Lowlight
• Mueller Indictment
• Opioid Crisis 
• Show Rankings
• Closing

Email us at [email protected] or you can send us your feedback on Twitter: @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 Sunday political shows discussed this week:  

• This Week
• Face the Nation
• Meet the Press
• State of the Union

This week, the political shows welcomed a new face—Mitch McConnell!  Yes, the man who has been described as “master of his own silence” actually spoke.  And answered questions.  Sort of.  On this Week’s Polilogue, we look at the interview with Mitch, as well as the other topics tackled this week, including: tax reform, sexual assault, and the controversy surrounding US operations in Niger.  

It was a week of stand-out episodes and segments.  Some good, some not so good.  Guests ranged from the solemn (Gold Star father Khizr Khan) to the showy (actor Michael Kelly); and topics ranged from nuclear war to the war within the Republican Party.  

If you would like to listen to a specific segment from today’s episode, you can jump straight to that chapter: 

• Introduction
• Highlight/Lowlight
• The Battle in Niger
• The Mitch MicConnell Interview
• Show Rankings
• Closing

Email us at [email protected] or you can send us your feedback on Twitter: @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 Sunday political shows discussed this week:  

• This Week
• Face the Nation
• Meet the Press
• State of the Union

Last week President Trump announced he would not certify the Iran Nuclear Agreement. He wants Congress to improve the conditions of the deal and to certify the deal themselves— and if they can’t or they won’t— he is willing to pull America from the multilateral agreement, much to the dismay of many international partners. 

This latest announcement had two people scrambling to defend the president: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. Tillerson went on State of the Union and Face the Nation, and Haley went on Meet the Press and This Week. The message across the shows, however, were not consistent. In fact, you would think they each had a different boss and objective. On this week’s episode of Polilogue, we explore the differences between Tillerson and Haley and ask— who was more effective? 

If you would like to see a specific segment from today’s episode, you can jump straight to that chapter:

• Introduction
• Highlight/Lowlight
• Tillerson vs. Haley 
• Panel Review
• Rankings
• Closing

Email us at [email protected] or you can send us your feedback on Twitter: @sotonaomi_ and @bsteidle.

Check out some of our other work: 

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