On this final episode of Politics of Truth we'll wrap up the 2020 election with two of our favorite returning guests, Washington Post National Political Reporter Bob Costa and Mark McKinnon, a veteran political advisor, former musician, and co-host of Showtime's The Circus.

We try to make some sense of the electoral warfare being waged on the results of the presidential election, and who it's playing to. We also consider the historic turnout numbers across the country combined with razor thin margins in so many races, and unpack the tribal allegiances behind what look like Democrat/Republican splits.

Then we look ahead to the 2 upcoming special elections for Senate seats in Georgia, which will determine the balance of power for the next two years and make or break important parts of any Biden agenda.

Finally, Bob updates us on his daughter Hallie's battle with cancer and the inspiring will she's been showing during her recent treatment.  

Thank you all for joining us on this journey. We've had a great time bringing you these conversations and this show has been a bright spot for many of us amidst the craziest year any we'll ever go through.  

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

This week CNN's Doug Heye takes over hosting duties for Bob on Politics of Truth. 

Doug's first guest is ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl. Jonathan has covered four presidents and has become a recognizable face in the last few years for his lively barbs with various Trump White House press secretaries. Jonathan shares this inside perspective in his recent best-selling book "Front Row at the Trump Show," and he and Doug discuss how White House reporters have to do their jobs differently when confronted by an administration who views them as the enemy.

Later Doug speaks with Susan King, Dean of the UNC School of Media and Journalism, about the next generation of reporters that she works with every day inside and outside the classroom. Susan describes the challenges and opportunities presented by new media technologies, and why her students leave her feeling optimistic about the future of our news industry. 

Thanks for listening, and please remember to vote on November 3rd. 

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

Bob's guest this week is Pete Rouse, former Counselor to President Obama and a man whose government experience is so widely respected that he's known as "the 101st Senator".  

Pete describes how Barack Obama decided to run for President in late 2006, and shares his insider insights on Obama's leadership style and Presidential legacy.  

He also explains his surprising role in reuniting the Grateful Dead, and tells the remarkable story of his mother's life journey from Japan to rural Alaska to the Yale faculty.  

At a time when a competent government can feel beyond reach, Pete is a welcome reminder of the exemplary public servants committed to making our country better.  

Please remember to vote on November 3rd.

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

This week Bob welcomes back Bob Costa of the Washington Post, and the two of them speak with the legendary Bob Weir, founder and guitarist of the Grateful Dead and many other musical endeavors across five decades.  

In this episode Bob Weir explains what he misses most about being on the road performing, and how he and his bandmates are safely rehearsing to prepare for an eventual return. He also shares what the state of California means to him and whether he'd consider running for local office, as people have been asking him for years.   Finally, the Bobs discuss the political relevance today of some old Grateful Dead tunes, and which characters from those songs they think about during these challenging times in America.  

Enjoy the show, and please remember to vote on November 3rd.

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

Bob's guest this week is JD Scholten, the Democratic candidate for Congress in Iowa's 4th district. JD grew up on his family farm near Sioux City and travelled the world as a pro baseball player before taking an unexpected turn into politics in 2018.  

Without any political experience JD took on longtime incumbent Steve King, who for 15 years has been the face of white nationalist immigration policy on Capitol Hill.  Scholten lost that race by three points but he gave King his closest contest to date, piling his underdog campaign into a Winnebago RV, visiting all 39 counties, and earning 25,000 more votes than there are registered Democrats. Scholten hopes to build on that foundation in his 2020 race against Randy Feenstra, who defeated King in the primary.  

JD explains how his agricultural district has been hit hard by the trade war, and why a promise to his grandmother that he’d save his family farm pushed him to run for office.  Scholten also discusses his choice to run a campaign independent from the national party and why that’s important to him. 

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

Bob's guest this week is Chris Shiflett, the lead guitarist for the Foo Fighters who has multiple solo records including 2019's "Hard Lessons". Chris is also a podcasting veteran, having hosted his own show "Walking the Floor" since 2013. 

In this episode Chris describes how music created his social consciousness as a young kid and how playing music around the world exposed him to new perspectives that shaped his own political identity.  

Chris and Bob debate the failures of centrism and whether the Democratic Party is still an effective vehicle for real progressive change, as well as why Bernie Sanders is labeled "radical" for supporting policies that are mainstream across the developed world. 

They also get into how Chris joined the Foo Fighters, adjusting to life off the road, and what he's learned in seven years as a podcaster. 

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

Bob's guest this week is legendary guitarist Warren Haynes of The Allman Brothers, The Dead, and Gov't Mule. When he became part of the Allmans, Warren had the surreal experience of getting to join his favorite band, and we've been fans of his music ever since.  

They discuss the Allman Brothers shows Warren played at Madison Square Garden just days before the Covid shutdown and what he's working on with touring life on hold. Warren also the roots of Christmas Jam, the annual benefit concert he hosts in his native Asheville which has raised millions of dollars for Habitat for Humanity.  

Finally Bob and Warren turn to the upcoming election, Warren's work with Headcount, and why he believes voting should be mandatory.  

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

Bob's guest this week is political reporter Ben Jacobs, who's been doggedly covering Kanye West's bizarre campaign for president in The Guardian, New York Magazine, and other outlets. 

Despite having no campaign infrastructure and zero chance of victory, Kanye is paying Republican operatives to get him on state ballots and is skirting FEC deadlines to avoid disclosing whose interests he is serving. 

Ben's been digging into this story all summer and what he's uncovered about the shadowy operations of Kanye's newest marketing endeavor should concern us all. Enjoy the show and please stay vigilant as this surreal election season marches on.

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

On this episode Bob speaks with country singer-songwriter Kendell Marvel, who's written chart-topping hits for Gary Allen, Jamey Johnson, Chris Stapleton and many others. Kendell wrote his first hit song, "Right Where I Need To Be" on the day he moved to Nashville in 1998, and after two decades as a writer and guitarist for big name acts, he's broken out as a solo artist with his records "Lowdown & Lonesome" and "Solid Gold Sounds."  

Kendell's dad taught him most everything he knows, gave him a guitar at age 5, and had him playing at bars with his buddies by age 10. He and Bob discuss his musical upbringing, his unique political views, and why he voices them on Twitter instead of in his lyrics.  

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

This week Bob speaks with author and political consultant Stuart Stevens, whose brand new book "It Was All A Lie: How the Republican Party Became Donald Trump" explain how the GOP and Trump came to represent each other so completely. Stuart has been an advisor to Republican candidates since the 1980s, culminating with him leading Mitt Romney's Presidential campaign in 2012, and his view from the inside about what he and others got wrong is honest and refreshing.

Stuart and Bob discuss when it all veered off course for the GOP (hint: 1964), how "the dark side" won, and why the future of America will be decided by the battles currently playing out within the Democratic Party.  

Finally they turn to the 2020 election and how sometimes the historical moment picks the right leader for that time, as may be happening now with Joe Biden.

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

On this very special episode of Politics of Truth Bob is joined by Bob Costa, National Politics Reporter for the Washington Post and they're honored to welcome former US Senator Harry Reid of Nevada. Senator Reid served in the Senate for more than 30 years, including his final 8 years in office as the Senate Majority Leader, passing signature legislation like the Affordable Care Act and earning his reputation as a respected leader and fierce negotiator.

Bob Crawford and Bob Costa speak with Senator Reid about the legacy of Congressman John Lewis, this summer of protests against racial injustice, seeing Elvis perform in Vegas, The Grateful Dead, and the Democrats' chances of retaking the Senate in November.

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

Bob's guest this week is Margaret Talev, White House and Politics Editor at Axios and a CNN political analyst. Margaret is also a huge music fan who's paid close attention to the soundtracks of campaigns for as long as she's been on the trail.  

Margaret and Bob discuss which campaigns have harnessed the power of music effectively, and why it's worked. There's also the inevitable awkwardness (and occasional lawsuit) when a campaign co-opts the music of a political opponent, as is happening now with the Trump campaign on multiple fronts.

Finally they examine Joe Biden's VP shortlist and which factors the campaign should consider most as they make their final choice. 

Featured Music:

Chris Martin, "Til' Kingdom Come" (From Beau Biden's funeral)

They Might Be Giants, "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too"

The Rolling Stones, "You Can't Always Get What You Want"

Tom Petty, "I Won't Back Down"

Curtis Mayfield, "Move On Up"

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

On this episode Bob speaks with legendary soprano Renée Fleming about her research with the Kennedy Center and NIH exploring the intersection between neuroscience and music, called the Sound Health Initiative.  

Renée also explains what she's up to musically during this time, including a new musical collaboration and conversation with the Kennedy Center, bassist Victor Wooten, and neuroscientist Dr. Daniel Levitin.  

Finally, Renée talks about being on Joe Biden's Artists Council and how musicians can strike the right balance when taking a stand for what they believe in.

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

This week Bob speaks with Dr. Peter A. Wish, a psychologist who has advised candidates for Congress, Senate, and the Presidency on how to connect with voters.  

Dr. Wish's latest book, "The Candidate's 7 Deadly Sins", details the biggest mistakes that candidates make when trying to connect emotionally. He explains the forces that dissuade candidates from being their most authentic selves, and why so few choose to project their most likable qualities to the voters whose support they need to win. 

Then we turn to the November elections and how Biden, Trump, and down-ticket candidates can offer the optimistic messages voters overwhelmingly want during a time of such suffering and uncertainty. 

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

States have begun relaxing restrictions on a range of outdoor activities as the weather heats up and the Covid case numbers slowly come down in some areas. Regardless of the success of these "Phase 1" reopening plans live concerts, where I earn my living and experience some of my greatest joys, will be among the last things to come back as we knew them (though it's exciting to see some bands experimenting with drive-in concerts and other outside the box ideas)  

So this week I speak with my good friend Chuck Morris, legendary concert promoter and longtime head of AEG Rocky Mountains, which has dominated the Colorado live music scene even as LiveNation and other behemoths have swallowed most of the industry whole. I intended to speak with Chuck about what we should expect for live music in the near future, but that'll have to wait for another episode because Chuck's amazing history in the music business was simply too hard to ignore. He's been right there at the start with some of the most successful bands of the last 50 years and those stories are worth sharing with you all.

In 1971, before The Eagles had even recorded a record, Chuck brought them to play some of their first ever gigs in Aspen and Boulder, starting a decades-long friendship spanning hundreds of shows together.  

On U2's first trip to Colorado in 1980 Chuck took them to see Red Rocks, convinced that soon they'd be big enough to play that legendary venue. Just three years later, Chuck booked them at Red Rocks for a show that became U2's live album "Under A Blood Red Sky".  

Chuck recently moved on from running AEG day-to-day to fulfil another dream; creating a Music Business Program at Colorado State University. It's simply the next remarkable chapter in the story of one of my favorite characters in all of music.  

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

This week we've got a very special episode for you. Bob is joined once again by Bob Costa, National Political Reporter for The Washington Post, the host of Washington Week on PBS, and a long-time fan of our other guest, Mickey Hart.  

Mickey is the legendary drummer and percussionist of the Grateful Dead, as well as countless other musical endeavors over more than 50 years in the business. It's great to have Bob and Mickey here together on account of their mutual admiration and some of the common experiences of reporters and musicians.  

The discussion touches on music as a unifying force and its scientifically proven ability to enhance the healing of our minds and bodies. Also the force of rhythm, not only in music but in life; even more important to be mindful of as all of our daily rhythms are out of sync during this period of confinement. Yet we know this moment will propel new forms of creativity in music and beyond; we're already witnessing a real-time soundtrack of this global crisis streaming directly from artists at home across the globe. And we're all grateful for that.

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

The state-level responses to the coronavirus have shown incredible displays of leadership from some Governors and local officials as they respond to their local circumstances. But when it so clearly feels like the federal government is failing to step up amidst an unprecedented crisis, how can we parse what's being done for political reasons, and what's being done in good faith?

This week Brent Colburn joins us to share his considerable experience with federal disaster response. Brent is a top-tier communications expert who's served in senior roles at FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security, HUD, and the Pentagon; many of the agencies coordinating to combat the pandemic today.  

For more than a decade Brent worked on federal responses to crises including Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy. He has seen how our elected leaders' use of the bully pulpit to inform Americans and call us to action can determine our ability to come together in times of need.  

Brent talks about the importance of trust among actors and agencies at all levels of society when coordinating a complex response, especially when a crisis hits everywhere at once.  

It's easy to get confused and discouraged by news about the pandemic, but we hope you'll feel calmer and better informed after this discussion.  

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

As the coronavirus crisis continues to keep most Americans isolated at home, it's struggle to find balance between following the massive, global scale of a pandemic and the deeply personal challenges facing every individual and family. Each new day brings important public health and policy developments that require us all to act together and really come to terms with crucial questions about how we live as a society. At the same time, endless confinement at home with ourselves and our families during a moment of extreme stress can shine a spotlight on some of our own personal vulnerabilities that require attention and care. Balancing the deeply personal and the massively global nature of this moment hasn't been easy for anyone.  

This week Bob spoke with two friends, one from the world of politics and the other from his life as a musician, about the practical and the personal dimensions of this crisis.  

First is Chris Frates, veteran CNN reporter and host of Politics Inside Out on SiriusXM, who in 2016 founded Storyline, which tells the stories of people and organizations whose perspectives fall through the cracks of large media companies. They discuss how and whether to cover the White House daily Covid briefings as news, how Joe Biden can run an effective campaign in a time without rallies and door knockers to get out the vote, who he might select as his Vice Presidential running mate, and Chris' own challenges of running a small business during an economic crisis.  

Next Bob speaks to his old friend, singer-songwriter Langhorne Slim, who just played a show with Bob and The Avett Brothers in the Dominican Republic in early March, days before our world changed. Slim lives in Nashville and he returned from the DR to a community that was about to be ravaged by a tornado, then by Covid. He's an unusually thoughtful and candid guy, and he digs into the personal difficulties that for so many are compounded by this crisis. 

We also pay tribute to the legendary Gene Shay who passed away on Sunday from Covid-19 in his native Philadelphia. Gene was a towering figure in folk music for more than a half century, but he was also a personal friend of both Bob's and Slim's from the early days of their careers. RIP Gene Shay. 

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

This week we zoom in on a subject a lot of folks have been thinking about as we follow the news during lockdown, and that's vote-by-mail. Even before COVID-19 we were likely to see an increase in absentee ballots in November. But after Wisconsin held their primary amidst a health crisis and social distancing restrictions, the whole country got to see the risks of a massive uptick in absentee voting across all 50 states, all of which administer their own elections differently.

How can states use the six months between now and Election Day to find common ground and avoid judicial fights that erode voters confidence in our elections and, worst case scenario, don't provide a conclusive and accepted result? And if you vote by mail in November, what should you know to make sure your vote is counted appropriately?

We dig into these questions with two guests who offer a few important questions of their own. The first is Ned Foley, constitutional law professor at Ohio State University and the author, most recently, of the book "Presidential Elections and Majority Rule". An expert on election law, Ned also wrote an opinion piece in Politico last week called "Why Vote By Mail Could Be A Legal Nightmare in November".

Next we speak to New York Times reporter Nick Corasaniti, co-author of a great piece in The Times titled vote-by-mail.html">"Why Republicans Are So Afraid of Vote-by-Mail" . Nick has been covering the fallout from Wisconsin's disastrous primary and what lessons we can learn to ensure the greatest voting access as possible during this unprecedented election year. Please check out Nick's ongoing coverage of this story; the stakes are too high not to.

Please stay safe out there, and enjoy the conversation.

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

Our focus shifts from the 2020 campaign to the covid-19 crisis that's reshaping every dimension of Americans' lives, while reminding voters about the importance of political leadership in uncertain times.

First Bob speaks with Robert Costa, National Political Reporter for The Washington Post and host of Washington Week on PBS, about how life as a connected reporter changes in a disconnected world as millions shelter-in-place. How should we follow the changing messages coming from the White House as all 50 states respond to the virus? How can we plan for a resumption of normal activities when the effects of an economic shutdown are only starting to ripple across entire industries? And how will a Democratic nominee emerge from a primary process that's been stopped in its tracks by social distancing?

Bob also talks to Marc Brownstein, bassist for The Disco Biscuits and co-founder of the national voter registration organization Headcount, which has registered more than 600,000 new voters at concerts and festivals since 2004. The Disco Biscuits cancelled their shows the moment the virus took hold in the US and, like countless other musicians, are trying to adjust to a new paradigm without live events for a while. Marc explains how he used that moment as an opportunity to quickly launch a new product, LiveLessonMasters.com, which enables musicians (as well as wellness experts, chefs, and others) to link with fans for virtual lessons that foster a real connection between the artist and their supporters on an individual level.  

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

Several big states held their primaries but the presidential campaign, like the rest of the country, is racing against a public health crisis that's keeping most Americans indoors. On Politics of Truth we'll continue to cover the presidential election, however it proceeds from here. But as the coronavirus crisis unfolds we'll look at how its impacts, from economic slowdown to social distancing, may affect not just the 2020 election but the future of American political life.  

This week Bob spoke with Mark McKinnon, a decorated political advisor and co-host of Showtime's The Circus, who has one of the most unique bios of anyone I know. They discuss Mark's experience in the Bush Administration during 9/11 and some parallels with today's fear and uncertainty, plus stories of the colorful characters Mark grew up working with in Texas politics and elsewhere. They also consider whether Bernie Sanders' campaign has a path forward and how Joe Biden, if he secures the nomination, might adapt his message as voters' needs evolve throughout the crisis.  

Finally, Mark opens up about high school days as a songwriter and his aspirations as a professional musician, including a must-hear story about meeting Kris Kristofferson as a teenager and moving to Nashville to work with him.  

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

There's a lot to discuss this week as coronavirus concerns resonate across the Democratic primary and the country at large. Bob spoke with Jake Sherman, senior writer for POLITICO and co-author with Anna Palmer of "The Hill to Die On: The Battle for Congress and the Future of Trump's America," about attempts by both Congress and the Administration to respond to the crisis in our healthcare and financial systems.  

They discuss Joe Biden's big victories in Tuesday's primaries and whether the upcoming calendar could be affected by virus concerns. Since Jake is a Congressional reporter they zoom in on a handful of dynamic House and Senate races that could be indicators of larger trends in November.

Finally, Jake shares the indelible role that the Grateful Dead (and live music in general) continues to play in his life.

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

With Bob on the road this week, we're joined by two outstanding guest hosts who help us understand how the Democratic primary is consolidating after Super Tuesday—Doug Heye of CNN and The Wall Street Journal and Margaret Talev, Axios's Politics and White House editor and CNN contributor.  

After Doug and Margaret's Super Tuesday recap you'll hear Bob's interview with Colin Meloy of The Decemberists about the intersection of music and activism. Meloy and the band have for years used their platform to support various causes and candidates, as Colin did last week when announcing his support for a particular Democrat running for President. In the coming weeks we'll talk to more musicians about balancing these competing interests, the creative and the political, in their public life.

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

In this week’s episode we look back at Bernie Sanders’ resounding win in the Nevada Caucus, and ahead to this weekend’s pivotal South Carolina Primary. Bob speaks with Jon Ralston, founder of The Nevada Independent and the authority on Nevada politics, about the aftermath of Sanders’ win in Nevada and what it means for the future of the caucus system in future campaigns. 

Then we’ll look ahead to South Carolina with Dr. Scott Huffman, founder of Winthrop University’s Center for Public Opinion & Policy Research and creator of the Winthrop Poll, the most respected poll in southern politics. With Joe Biden staking his entire campaign on the results in South Carolina and other contenders facing a do-or-die contest before Mike Bloomberg officially enters the race on Super Tuesday, the stakes could not be higher in The Palmetto State this year. Opinions and punditry are running rampant, so tune in here for the Politics of Truth.

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

On this week's episode Bob speaks with John Heilemann, the best-selling author of Game Change, co-host of Showtime's The Circus, MSNBC contributor, founder/editor-in-chief at The Recount, and former staff writer for Wired and New York Magazine. 

Bob and John discuss where the Democratic primary race stands with Iowa and New Hampshire in the books, and assess the state of the top contenders' campaigns as the race moves to Nevada and prepares for Michael Bloomberg's entry.  

More than just the horse race, we hear John's perspective as one of the first political journalists of the digital era, having covered the 1996 campaign for a young Wired magazine, to examine the increasing risks for candidates, voters, and our electoral system in this light speed information age.

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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

On the first episode of "Politics of Truth", Bob speaks with Washington Post National Political Reporter Bob Costa about the Iowa Caucuses and the aftermath of the vote reporting disaster. They discuss what complications in Iowa mean for the race as the candidates move on to New Hampshire, and whether the Iowa Caucus can survive intact for future election cycles.  

Finally, the guys reflect on the intersection of music and politics in their own lives; Bob Crawford as a member of The Avett Brothers and Bob Costa as a life-long fan of politics and music, both of which he follows across the nation.  

Politics of Truth is brought to you by Osiris Media. Executive Producer is Adam Caplan. Produced by RJ Bee. Edited, mixed and mastered by Brad Stratton. Art by Mark Dowd. To discover more podcasts that help you connect more deeply with the music you love, check out osirispod.com.

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