Episodes

  • What It’s Like To Be At The Center Of One Of The Biggest Political Sex Scandals In American History

    What It’s Like To Be At The Center Of One Of The Biggest Political Sex Scandals In American History
    Sep 27 2017
    In 2006, John Edwards hired Rielle Hunter to produce a series of videos that would help lay the groundwork for his planned presidential run. That she did, but the two also carried on a affair that resulted in a child -- all of which Edwards tried desperately to keep secret. Early in his journalistic career, Candidate Confessional host Sam Stein was among the first reporters to publicly speculate about the possibility of an affair. Now, a decade later, Sam and Rielle look back at their respective roles in that story. Hunter reflects on what it was like to have her private life pried open by the tabloids, and why she has a bit of sympathy for our current president.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    45 mins
  • These Two Senators Voted Against The Iraq War. They Thought They Were Ending Their Careers

    These Two Senators Voted Against The Iraq War. They Thought They Were Ending Their Careers
    Sep 20 2017
    When Senators Kent Conrad and Dick Durbin cast their votes against the Iraq War Resolution in 2002, they knew it was unlikely they’d be able to stop the invasion. They also knew that their votes might well be the end of their senate careers. Today, that “no” vote looks like an obvious choice. But in the moment, it was a leap of faith for them to trust their instincts and oppose the war. They also remind us that the political realities that fueled the rush to war are still present today, that there is almost nothing standing between the president and a new war -- if he wants it.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    28 mins
  • The South Florida Dem Who Got Hacked By The Russians

    The South Florida Dem Who Got Hacked By The Russians
    Sep 6 2017
    In early 2016, the race for the 26th congressional district looked like it was shaping up to be a pretty standard Florida election, as Democrat Annette Taddeo took on incumbent Republican Carlos Curbelo. To her surprise, Taddeo attracted an unexpected opponent in the primary, a former Democratic congressman named Joe Garcia. That was bad enough. But things got even worse when a bunch of documents relating to her campaign got leaked by Russian hackers.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    30 mins
  • Revisiting The Last Disaster In The Gulf

    Revisiting The Last Disaster In The Gulf
    Aug 30 2017
    In the Spring of 2010, one of the worst environmental disasters in history occurred when the Deepwater Horizon oil platform exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Over the next few months, over 200 million gallons of oil spilled into the ocean. Today, as a new disaster -- Hurricane Harvey -- confronts the gulf coast, what lessons are there to be learned from the response to the BP spill? Ben LaBolt, assistant White House press secretary during the spill, talks to us about how he helped craft the Obama administration’s response.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    26 mins
  • What It Was Like To Be An Openly Gay Politician In 1996

    What It Was Like To Be An Openly Gay Politician In 1996
    Aug 23 2017
    In 1996, two of congress’s only 3 openly gay members were set to retire; only Barney Frank would be left standing. To fill the void, two new gay candidates stepped up. One of them was Rick Zbur in Southern California, and during that campaign he became an unwitting test case for how to deal with running for office while out.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    48 mins
  • The Day The Global Economy Stood Still

    The Day The Global Economy Stood Still
    Aug 16 2017
    In the fall of 2008, President George W. Bush warned top political leaders that without a massive infusion of cash into the market, "this sucker" -- that is, the economy -- "could go down." Days later, the House of Representatives balked at Bush. The first failed vote for the Troubled Asset Relief Program cost the Dow 777 points. It was, perhaps, the most dramatic legislative failure of the 21st Century. And this week’s guests were in the middle of it all.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    45 mins
  • The Real History Of The Infamous Compromise Behind Don't Ask Don't Tell

    The Real History Of The Infamous Compromise Behind Don't Ask Don't Tell
    Aug 9 2017
    In 1994, Bill Clinton signed a directive allowing gays to serve in the military, provided they concealed their sexual identity. That policy -- Don't Ask Don't Tell -- had many critics and few proponents. And Clinton's legacy took a hit because of it. Fifteen years later, Don't Ask Don't Tell was finally repealed. Former Congressman Barney Frank talks with us about the institution and repeal of the policy -- and why he thinks Clinton gets a bad rap.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    54 mins