Against the Grain

National Journal Politics Editor Josh Kraushaar hosts the sharpest minds in Washington for no-BS conversations about what’s really happening inside the Beltway and on the campaign trail.

Introducing a new podcast from National Journal 07/07/2022

Introducing a new podcast from National Journal Hotline Editor Kirk Bado shares news about an upcoming new podcast from National Journal. Follow National Journal on Twitter for more updates! /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007242

Episode 166: The Final Countdown 06/16/2022

Episode 166: The Final Countdown Republican strategist Scott Jennings joins the final "Against the Grain" show to make predictions about 2022, and assess the state of the GOP's Senate recruiting class. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007245

Episode 165: When There's a Will, There's a Way 06/08/2022

Episode 165: When There's a Will, There's a Way Massachusetts Rep. Jake Auchincloss talks about inflation, gun control and the divisions within the Democratic Party. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007251

Episode 164: What's the Matter With Pennsylvania? 06/03/2022

Episode 164: What's the Matter With Pennsylvania? Former GOP Rep. Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania shares thoughts on Doug Mastriano, and the state's wide-open Senate race. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007254

Episode 163: Silver Linings Playbook 05/27/2022

Episode 163: Silver Linings Playbook Democratic strategist J.J. Balaban breaks down the latest political developments in Pennsylvania, including Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman's chances in the Senate race and state Attorney General Josh Shapiro's odds in the governor's race. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007257

Against the Grain Episode 162: Paging the Hotline 05/11/2022

Against the Grain Episode 162: Paging the Hotline Hotline Managing Editor Kirk A. Bado talks about the Pennsylvania and North Carolina primaries happening next week and which candidates could win big. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007260

Episode 161: Culture War on Steroids 05/06/2022

Episode 161: Culture War on Steroids Democratic strategist Doug Thornell talks about abortion politics, the Ohio primaries, and how Democrats can overcome their challenges in the 2022 midterms. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007263

Episode 160: The Way to Win 04/29/2022

Episode 160: The Way to Win Republican strategist Liam Donovan assesses how promising the political environment is for Republicans, whether Biden can be helpful to downballot Democrats, and assesses which of the GOP's candidates will sink or swim in 2022. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007266

Episode 159: What Happens in Vegas 04/20/2022

Episode 159: What Happens in Vegas The Nevada Independent's Jon Ralston breaks down the various races happening in Nevada in the midterms. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007269

Episode 158: Prediction Time 04/14/2022

Episode 158: Prediction Time David Wasserman, House editor of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, breaks down the current political environment, offers analysis of the hottest upcoming primaries and anticipates who's going to run for president in 2024. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007278

Episode 157: The Democrats' Diagnosis 04/07/2022

Episode 157: The Democrats' Diagnosis Former DCCC executive director Dan Sena joins the podcast to discuss the gender gap between male and female voters, which states are the biggest political battleground of 2022, and explains why immigration is such a treacherous issue for Democrats these days. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007281

Episode 156: Matt Lewis and the News 03/31/2022

Episode 156: Matt Lewis and the News Daily Beast columnist Matt Lewis discusses whether President Biden can turn around his political fortunes, the significance of cultural issues in politics and whether any MAGA Republican officials will lose primaries this year. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007284

Episode 155: Number Brunching 03/25/2022

Episode 155: Number Brunching Republican pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson of Echelon Insights breaks down her firm's new polling on the midterms, and the public's appetite for intervening to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007296

Episode 154: Delayed By Redistricting 03/17/2022

Episode 154: Delayed By Redistricting Sabato's Crystal Ball Managing Editor Kyle Kondik joins the podcast to talk about redistricting updates, how inflation has emerged as a concern for voters this midterm election season, and the impact of Ukraine on American politics. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007299

Episode 153: Trick or Treat 03/11/2022

Episode 153: Trick or Treat American Bridge 21st Century President Jessica Floyd ranks her top GOP oppo research targets, how Democrats should target rural voters and how her group's scope has expanded beyond simply digging up dirt on the opposition. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007302

Episode 152: The State of the Union Isn't Strong 03/03/2022

Episode 152: The State of the Union Isn't Strong Republican strategist and CNN analyst Scott Jennings joins the show to talk about Biden's State of the Union address, whether Russia's war against Ukraine will have a notable impact in American politics and the feud between Mitch McConnell and Rick Scott within GOP Senate leadership. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007305

Episode 151: New World Order 02/24/2022

Episode 151: New World Order The Cook Political Report's Jessica Taylor joins the podcast to talk about how Russia's invasion of Ukraine affects domestic politics, previews new Senate ratings in two key races and breaks down the biggest midterm races in 2022 that will determine which party controls Congress. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007308

Episode 150: The No-Spin Zone 02/17/2022

Episode 150: The No-Spin Zone Democratic strategist Lis Smith, who engineered Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign in 2020, talks about how the Democratic party needs to moderate its message on crime, COVID and education. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007311

Episode 149: Eye on the Prize 02/11/2022

Episode 149: Eye on the Prize Former Virginia Rep. Tom Davis comes on the podcast to talk about how Republicans can hone in their strategy on the path to winning in the midterms. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007314

Episode 148: Living La Vida Loca 02/04/2022

Episode 148: Living La Vida Loca Former Democratic National Committee communications director Xochitl Hinojosa joins the podcast to talk about President Biden's newfound focus on crime and the Democratic party's recent struggles with Hispanic voters. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007317

Episode 147: Parents vs. School Boards 01/27/2022

Episode 147: Parents vs. School Boards Purple Strategies' Rory Cooper talks about the masking and education debates in Virginia, the outlook for midterms and the political implications of Justice Breyer's retirement. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007320

Episode 146: Cleanup on Aisle Psaki 01/21/2022

Episode 146: Cleanup on Aisle Psaki Politico's co-author of the West Wing Playbook Alex Thompson talks about President Biden's press conference and whether his administration is looking to correct course. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007323

Episode 145: No Rest for the Weary 01/14/2022

Episode 145: No Rest for the Weary Democratic strategist Adrienne Elrod argues it's still important for the Biden administration to "go big or go home" despite voting rights and social spending legislation unlikely to pass through Congress. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007326

Episode 144: Let the Midterm Races Begin 01/07/2022

Episode 144: Let the Midterm Races Begin Republican strategist Brad Todd talks about Biden’s dependence on his base and his outlook on the 2022 midterms. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007329

Episode 143: Breaking Down Redistricting 12/16/2021

Episode 143: Breaking Down Redistricting The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter's Dave Wasserman comes on the podcast to discuss redistricting, offers his outlook for the 2022 elections, and lists several lawmakers whose fortunes took the greatest hit as a result of the new Congressional lines. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007332

Episode 142: Back to Business 12/09/2021

Episode 142: Back to Business Narrative Strategies' founding partner Ken Spain, a former communications director at the National Republican Congressional Committee, talks about Republican chances in the midterms, rates Kevin McCarthy's efforts in unifying a fractious Republican caucus, and discusses how companies and CEOs should position themselves in today's polarized climate. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007335

Against the Grain Episode 141: Food Fight 12/01/2021

Against the Grain Episode 141: Food Fight Strategist Dan Sena comes on the podcast to talk about how Democrats can turn their political fortunes around, and the political implications if Roe vs. Wade is overturned. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007338

Against the Grain Episode 140: Under the Magnifying Glass 11/18/2021

Against the Grain Episode 140: Under the Magnifying Glass Axiom Strategies Vice President Kristin Davison talks managing the Glenn Youngkin campaign to an upset victory. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007341

Against the Grain Episode 139: How to Fix Congress 11/09/2021

Against the Grain Episode 139: How to Fix Congress Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Rep. William Timmons (R-SC) come onto the podcast to talk about the Modernization committee's work and solutions for creating bipartisanship. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007344

Against the Grain Episode 138: About Last Night 11/04/2021

Against the Grain Episode 138: About Last Night Third Way Executive Vice President for Public Affairs Matt Bennett comes onto the podcast to break down how Republicans won in Virginia, and how progressives lost badly in local races. /episode/index/show/5f375f9b-0945-446c-b8b5-cb21fa884ed3/id/24007347

Against the Grain

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