Ken Rudin's Political Junkie

Kentucky political journalist Al Cross takes on the rumors behind the disappearance (from public view) of Sen. Mitch McConnell and, with his long career coming to an end, assesses his legacy.

And Meg Kinnard, a political reporter for the Associated Press based in South Carolina, sets up Tuesday’s Republican Senate primary to succeed the late Lindsey Graham, with all eyes on Darline Graham, who was surprisingly named to temporarily fill the seat and who now has decided to run for a full term.

PLUS:  Todd Blanche gets closer to confirmation for attorney general.  And Trump throws Jeanine Pirro under the pool.

Music In This Episode:

Don’t Go Near the Water by The Beach Boys

I’m Alive by The Hollies

Sisters Are Doin’ It For Themselves by The Eurythmics (feat. Aretha Franklin)

The post Episode #431: O Sister, Where Art Thou?; Bloodhounds For Mitch? appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Donald Trump had an extraordinarily successful month of endorsing winning challengers to Republican incumbents in the primaries.  Laura Merrifield Wilson of the University of Indianapolis discusses the defeats of five Indiana state senators who opposed Trump’s redistricting plan.  Tyler Bridges of The Advocate/The Times-Picayune reports on how Sen. Bill Cassidy’s 2021 vote to convict Trump led to his defeat in 2026.  And Matthew Wilson of Southern Methodist University explains how four-term Sen. John Cornyn fell to Texas state attorney general Ken Paxton.

Music in this episode:



The post Episode #430: Trump’s Magical Mystery Revenge & Retribution Tour appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

The meteoric rise — and dramatic fall — of Congressman Eric Swalwell is the subject of this episode.  Seema Mehta, a political reporter with the Los Angeles Times, recounts how he went from media darling to alleged sex offender, ending what had initially been an improbable bid to become governor of California.  And, for good measure, George Skelton, the veteran L.A. Times columnist, spells out how this sad episode exposed the weaknesses in California’s “top two” electoral system.

ALSO:  Wondering the purpose of holding a White House Correspondents Dinner with a president that despises and denigrates the media.  And Republicans are, with a straight face, screaming “partisanship” at Virginia’s ballot initiative that may give the Commonwealth’s Democrats, four additional congressional seats.

MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE:

Bad Blood by Taylor Swift

Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood

I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye

It’s My Party by Lesley Gore







The post Episode #429: Swalwell That Ends Well appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Kathryn Pearson of the University of Minnesota explains the scandal that may have ended Gov. Tim Walz’s political career, and the expected decision by Sen. Amy Klobuchar that she would seek to succeed him this year.

And Lou Cannon, the chief White House correspondent during the Ronald Reagan presidency and a superb Reagan biographer, died last month at the age of 92.  He was last on the Political Junkie back in 2015, talking about the 1980 Republican convention and how Reagan helped his cause by picking George Bush as his running mate — and not former President Gerald Ford, who was rumored to be angling for a spot on the GOP ticket.

PLUS:  The Trump administration defends the murder of a woman in Minneapolis by an ICE agent.  And Greenland?  Seriously?

Music in this Episode:

When the Music’s Over by the Doors

Amie by Pure Prairie League

Like to Get to Know You by Spanky & Our Gang

The post Episode #428: Walz Came Tumbling Down appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.

Matthew Wilson, political science professor at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, sets up the fierce primaries, Democratic and Republican, for the Senate in Texas.  Incumbent Republican John Cornyn is facing a battle from his right from state Attorney General Ken Paxton, and firebrand liberal Rep. Jasmine Crockett is challenging James Talarico for the Democrats.  No Democrat has won a Texas Senate race since 1988.

And Rob Christensen, a former political journalist with the Raleigh News & Observer, remembers Jim Hunt, the former four-term governor and a giant in North Carolina politics, who died last week.

PLUS:  The Epstein Files are released (not), Elise Stefanik plans to stay and fight (not), and Trump gives his respects to Rob Reiner (not).

Music in this Episode: 

Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon

U Can’t Touch This by M.C. Hammer

A Well Respected Man by The Kinks



The post Episode #427: Jasmine Crockett, Arriving; Jim Hunt, Departed. appeared first on Ken Rudin's Political Junkie.