Episodes
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On this week's episode, host Johanna Maska speaks with Kristen Hawn, who served as the chief political advisor to the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of more than 50 moderate Democrats in the House of Representatives. They discuss the defense of indefensible actions by politicians in a post-Trump era, the continued criticism of Kristi Noem and whether she lied about meeting North Korean leader Kim Jung Un, and the indictment of Democratic Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar on bribery charges. Johanna also previews a bonus episode that will drop later this week with Middle East peace negotiator and former United States Ambassador to Israel, Dennis Ross, for a conversation about the history of tensions in the region.
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On this week's episode, host Johanna Maska speaks with a political panel featuring Democratic strategist Michael Starr Hopkins and veteran Republican campaign operative Matt Gorman. They discuss the state of the free and fair press, and President Biden's fight with The New York Times. The panel also shares thoughts on underreported races, including Congressman Colin Allred's bid to unseat Senator Ted Cruz in Texas and North Carolina Gubernatorial Candidate Mark Robinson's wife is facing scrutiny after closing a non-profit that she says was targeted by her political rivals. Plus, Johanna polls the group on who has what it takes to win the Trump Veepstakes and if South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is out of the running after admitting to killing her 14-month-old puppy Cricket.
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Missing episodes?
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On this week's episode, host Johanna Maska speaks with a political panel featuring Democratic strategist Michael Starr Hopkins and Boyd Matheson, former Chief of Staff for U.S. Senator Mike Lee of Utah (R). They discuss pushback from Democrats and Republicans over threats to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson, politics in the office and whether it should be off limits, and heightened tensions on college campuses after pro-Palestinian student protests have spread across the country. Plus, we talked to Hagar Chemali, an adjunct assistant Professor at Columbia University, for her first-hand account of what she saw at student protests on campus and the challenges the school faces in balancing freedom of speech with a safe environment for students.
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On this week's episode, host Johanna Maska speaks with a political panel featuring Adam Hodge, former Spokesperson for the National Security Council in the Biden administration, and Amy Tarkanian, former Chairwoman of the Nevada State Republican Party. They discuss the White House response to Iran's drone and missile strikes against Israel and pushback from the progressive wing of the Democratic party on U.S support for Israel, former President Donald Trump's legal troubles and if voters are paying attention, and abortion access in Arizona after the state's Supreme Court ruled a Civil war-era abortion ban can be enforced.
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This week's episode features "A Fair and Free Press? A Debate on the Role of Media in 2024 Politics," which was held Tuesday April 9 with Press Advance host Johanna Maska and Sean Spicer, a former White House Press Secretary in the Trump administration. The discussion was moderated by six-time Emmy award-winning journalist and former NBC 6 Miami news anchor Willard Shepard. Maska and Spicer discussed the media landscape from their first hand perspective before a sold-out audience of students at Florida International University. They spoke about network news coverage of the 2024 election cycle, how social media algorithms drive political polarization, and interacted and answered questions from students in the audience.
Disclaimer: This event was held at Florida International University as part of the OFFICE OF PUBLIC POLICY EVENTS. Johanna Maska and Sean Spicer's views expressed on this podcast are their own and do not represent FIU. To learn more about FIU's statement of free expression, visit fiu.edu.
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This week's Press Advance episode is dropping a little later this week. It will feature host Johanna Maska and Sean Spicer, former White House Press Secretary in the Trump administration, debating the role of network news and social media in this election cycle and how they drive political polarization. You won't want to miss it. Check back here on Thursday to hear the full discussion.
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On this week's Press Advance, Johanna Maska welcomes Obama administration colleague and friend Deesha Dyer, who served as the White House Social Secretary, to discuss her new book, "Undiplomatic: How My Attitude Created the Best Kind of Trouble." Deesha discusses her unexpected journey—from being a skeptical political observer to serving in a senior role in the Obama administration. She talks about rebelling against forced structure to find confidence, struggling with imposter syndrome, and what lessons she learned to help us in this era of political toxicity. The book is out on April 23 and is available for preorder on Amazon.
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Press Advance producer Christine Baratta joins Johanna Maska to discuss the rollout of former RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel as an NBC contributor amid an outcry from network staffers questioning her credibility and past support for Donald Trump. Plus, we talk with Gina McCarthy, who served as the first White House National Climate Advisor and was instrumental in shaping the administration's landmark climate law—The Inflation Reduction Act— the country's most significant legislation designed to achieve energy independence and reduce pollution for America's communities. Johanna asks McCarthy about how the Inflation Reduction Act could tackle the costs of the clean transition.
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Earl Anthony Wayne, who served as United States Ambassador to Mexico during the Obama administration, joins Johanna Maska on this week's episode of Press Advance to discuss immigration policy reform and what's behind the mass migration on the southern border. Ambassador Wayne says that both Presidents Trump and Biden have used executive action to stem the flow of migrants, but it's up to Congress to pass new laws despite the rising polarization stalling the effort. They also discuss what the Obama White House got right, whether the Remain in Mexico policy was effective, and the two women competing to become Mexico's next president.
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Congress had a big week as President Biden delivered his State of the Union Address in front of the chamber, but most of the talk surrounded Alabama Republican Senator Katie Britt's rebuttal. We break down Britt's response with former Hill staffer Naysa Woomer, plus a panel discussion with Punchbowl congressional reporters Andrew Desiderio and Max Cohen on predictions for the Senate and House races coming up in November.
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It's Super Tuesday, and voters head to the polls in multiple states, including Colorado, North Carolina, California, Texas, Virginia, Minnesota, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, and American Samoa. On this week's episode, Johanna Maska talks to Hill veteran staffers Naysa Woomer and Nandini Narayan on which races are key to watch, predictions for who will succeed Mitch McConnell as the Senate's Republican leader, and reaction to Alabama Senator Katie Britt delivering the GOP's response to President Biden's State of the Union Address.
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Republicans gathered this weekend for the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where President Trump told supporters there would be "a judgment day" if he returned to power. On this episode of Press Advance, Johanna Maska talks with Dmitri Mehlhorn, the founder of Investing in US, an investment fund he founded with Democratic donor and LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman. Mehlhorn discusses the stakes if Trump comes back to power, how President Biden should address the nation's growing income disparity, whether there is too much money in politics, and shares his predictions if Donald Trump wins back the White House.
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The Republican-led House of Representatives voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the crisis on the southern border just weeks after Speaker Mike Johnson rejected a bipartisan Senate border security package. Janet Napolitano, who served as the nation's third Homeland Security Secretary, had joined her Republican predecessor Michael Chertoff to warn the historic charges against Secretary Mayorkas are a misuse of Congressional impeachment authority and a dangerous precedent. On this week's episode, Johanna Maska speaks with Napolitano, the former governor of Arizona, about the impeachment precedent, why we are seeing a significant increase of migrants on the border and if the Biden administration is doing enough. They also discuss the high cost of a college education and political polarization on campuses.
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Longtime Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel plans to step down from her role leading the RNC as Donald Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, pushes for new leadership. One of the top candidates to replace her is North Carolina Republican Party chairman Michael Whatley. But who is Michael Whatley, and how would he shape the national party? On this week's episode, Johanna Maska talks with Rob Burgess, a veteran GOP operative who has worked with Whatley. They discuss how Whatley shaped the Republican Party in North Carolina, the state of the national party, and why he sees Republicans moving away from Ronald Reagan's 'shining city on the hill' vision.
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Paul Tewes, the architect of President Barack Obama's first Presidential victory in Iowa and ultimate victory for the White House, joins Johanna Maska to discuss lessons from the 2008 campaign's winning strategy. They talk about why Democratic support has eroded in rural America, what the Biden campaign could be doing better to drive voter enthusiasm, and rumors that Michelle Obama is considering a run for the White House.
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Republicans are rallying around presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump after his victory over challenger Nikki Haley in the New Hampshire primary. Regardless of who ultimately makes it to the general election, many organizations like America First Policy Institute are already planning policy strategies for a Republican president. Marc Lotter, a key advisor in the Trump administration, serves as Chief Communications Officer at the organization and says securing the southern border is a top priority on day one. Maska asks Lotter what he hopes to see from the next Republican presidential administration and why he thinks Republicans have handled abortion wrong.
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Voters in New Hampshire are casting their ballots today for the state's first-in-the-nation presidential primary. The contest has come down to two candidates: former President Donald Trump and the last woman standing—Nikki Haley. Johanna convenes a panel of three White House alums—fellow Obama White House veteran Ameshia Cross, former Trump White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, and former advisor to Vice President Mike Pence, Olivia Troye. They discuss why Trump's former competitors are falling in line to support him, whether Haley has a chance against him, who he might tap for his Vice President if he gets the bid, and why Joe Biden isn't on the ballot in New Hampshire.
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Press Advance is back for the 2024 election season. And while the Republicans start their process for nominating a presidential candidate, the Democrats are following precedent giving the incumbent the advantage. Congressman Dean Phillips, a Democrat from Minnesota, says that's dangerous. Phillips tells Maska that Democrats need a next-generation leader and that he wants a robust primary. That's exactly why he launched a long-shot last-minute bid for President. He talks to Maska about why he's running, how he would govern, and about navigating the complex global challenges.
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The first presidential contest of 2024 kicks off with the Iowa Caucuses on Jan 15, 2024. GOP candidates are busy making their final case to voters. In this episode, Congressman Bob Good, the freshly elected House Freedom Caucus Chairman, talks about the state of the race, including his choice to endorse Gov. Ron DeSantis, and addresses recent Politico reporting on a recording of him saying why Ron DeSantis is a better candidate than Donald Trump, which he says was taken out of context. He also explains why he believes compromise will not work for Republicans. Plus, Johanna Maska and producer Christine Baratta discuss last week's Republican debate in Tuscaloosa — and what might play out in the new year.
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This week, Republican presidential candidates will take the stage at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa for the 4th primary debate hosted by NewsNation. The front runner in the race, Donald Trump is expected to skip the debate to host a fundraiser in Florida. For a preview of what to expect, Johanna Maska speaks with fellow NewsNation contributor Mick Mulvaney, former South Carolina Congressman and acting White House Chief of Staff in the Trump administration. They discuss Nikki Haley's rise in the polls, the party's factions she'll have to win over to beat Donald Trump, and whether Trump owes it to the voters to show up. They also share highlights from the recent debate between Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom.
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