The presidential race is one of the most-watched and most important events in American politics. So why does the whole thing start in Iowa? If you remember the Howard Dean scream or Hillary Clinton “just chilling in Cedar Rapids,” you know how Iowa can have an outsized impact on this important national race.
Three Tickets explores the weird and surprising history of the Iowa caucus, diving into what makes our little Midwestern state pivotal every four years in the biggest election nationwide. Starting from the very first caucus in 1972 to today, from Cedar Rapids to Council Bluffs, we’re your road map for understanding and following the 2020 presidential race in Iowa.
12 Available Episodes (12 Total)Average duration: 00:28:19
Jan 07, 2020
Episode 11: Change and Continuity
00:36:38
So: just how have the caucuses changed since their inception in 1972? What are the ways they’ll never change? We learn about caucus history—also, Joe Trippi claims CNN is to blame for the infamous Dean Scream.
Jan 07, 2020
Episode 10: Evangelicals and the Caucuses
00:31:31
Social and religious conservatives exercise significant power and influence in Iowa's Republican caucuses. Here, you’ll meet some of Iowa’s the political powerhouses who use their evangelical faith to frame politics.
Jan 07, 2020
Episode 9: Native Iowans
00:13:51
Not everyone comes in from out-of-state if they want to participate in the Iowa presidential caucuses — some of them start here. Former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, who kinda-sorta killed the 1992 caucuses, talks about his time as a presidential candidate and what it means to be an Iowan in the Iowa caucus.
Jan 07, 2020
Episode 8: Caucus economics
00:17:13
Politicians, their staff, their fans and the reporters coming them all flock to Iowa every four years, and some Iowans are cashing in. In this episode, you get to meet some of the Midwestern entrepreneurs who see the first-in-the-nation caucuses as a business opportunity.
Jan 07, 2020
Episode 7: Being There
00:24:45
If you want to win in Iowa, it’s not enough to just run advertisements and talk in debates. You need boots on the ground, and this episode, we’ll show you why the first-in-the-nation state puts some much emphasis on grassroots, person-to-person campaigning. We talked to an expert of Iowa campaigning, the guy who invented the Full Grassley: U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley.
Jan 07, 2020
Episode 6: The Journalists
00:34:51
Following presidential candidates and their supporters around Iowa are the reporters documenting all of it. This episode reveals why national political reporters love covering politics in Iowa and describes what it's like to chase presidential candidates through the political cornfields.
Jan 07, 2020
Episode 5: The Activists
00:38:32
People who care about politics aren’t shy about reaching out to politicians. In Iowa, that means potentially talking to future presidents. Meet four Iowans with incredible stories of how their Iowa caucuses activism led to unforgettable encounters and genuine friendships with national leaders like George W. Bush and Joe Biden.
Jan 07, 2020
Episode 4: The Candidates
00:39:53
So what’s it like running a caucus campaign? In this episode, you can hear directly from people who’ve ran — and won — in Iowa. Listen along as we talk with caucus winners Bob Dole and Walter Mondale.
Jan 07, 2020
Episode 3: Process and Controversy
00:40:28
The caucuses are complicated. This episode will tell you how the caucuses work and explores how their complicated nature has occasionally created the controversies — including the uncertain results of the 2012 Republican race.
Jan 07, 2020
Episode 2: Origins
00:34:33
How did the Iowa caucuses come to be? It’s a long story: but don’t worry—we can get you caught up. You’ll also hear the stories of Iowans who experienced Jimmy Carter's 1976 caucus campaign and George H.W. Bush's 1980 candidacy. This episode and others to come were originally recorded in 2015 and refreshed in 2019.
Jan 07 | 00:36:38
Episode 11: Change and Continuity
Jan 07 | 00:31:31
Episode 10: Evangelicals and the Caucuses
Jan 07 | 00:13:51
Episode 9: Native Iowans
Jan 07 | 00:17:13
Episode 8: Caucus economics
Jan 07 | 00:24:45
Episode 7: Being There
Jan 07 | 00:34:51
Episode 6: The Journalists
Jan 07 | 00:38:32
Episode 5: The Activists
Jan 07 | 00:39:53
Episode 4: The Candidates
Jan 07 | 00:40:28
Episode 3: Process and Controversy
Jan 07 | 00:34:33
Episode 2: Origins
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