Episodes

  • The Mailbag Episode

    The Mailbag Episode
    Dec 14 2020
    For the final episode of 2020, Gabe answers your questions. He’ll weigh in on questions about the Electoral College, ranked-choice voting, motivating young voters and more.
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    28 mins
  • Why Transitions Matter

    Why Transitions Matter
    Nov 16 2020
    As the Trump administration blocks Joe Biden from kicking off his presidential transition, Gabe is joined by Martha Joynt Kumar, the director of the White House Transition Project, to explain what goes on in a presidential transition and why they matter. Gabe and Professor Kumar draw on past examples from history to show the potential consequences of Biden’s delayed transition. Plus, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jo Mannies offers her perspective on transitions and the early signs of what a Biden Administration might look like.
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    28 mins
  • Election Night Viewer’s Guide

    Election Night Viewer’s Guide
    Nov 2 2020
    Have you ever wondered how TV networks call the presidency on Election Night? In this episode, Gabe gets the inside scoop from Arnon Mishkin, the head of the Fox News Decision Desk. Arnon will explain how his team works to carefully project each state, even with the complicating factors of the 2020 race. Then, Gabe will talk to a fellow teenage election watcher, Niles Francis of Decision Desk HQ, who will offer a rundown of the key races to watch as returns roll in.
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    26 mins
  • Who Actually Picks The President?

    Who Actually Picks The President?
    Oct 19 2020
    The Electoral College is one of the most controversial parts of the American political system. But it’s also one of the least understood. In this episode, Gabe is joined by Professor Rob Alexander to explain why the Founders created the Electoral College, how it works in practice, and who the electors that compose it actually are.
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    26 mins
  • Inside the “Judicial Wars”

    Inside the “Judicial Wars”
    Oct 5 2020
    How did Supreme Court confirmation battles become so toxic? Gabe is joined by Washington Post reporter Seung Min Kim and High School SCOTUS founder Anna Salvatore to explain the origins of the “judicial wars,” where they might be headed next, and why it matters.
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    23 mins
  • Presidential Debates Through the Decades

    Presidential Debates Through the Decades
    Sep 21 2020
    Gabe is joined by two debate experts — Alan Schroeder of Northeastern University and Ed Lee of Emory University — to dive into the history of presidential debates. They’ll recap some of the best moments from the past six decades of televised debates and offer a preview of what to expect when Donald Trump and Joe Biden face off next week.
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    24 mins
  • How Mail-in Voting Works

    How Mail-in Voting Works
    Sep 7 2020
    Gabe is joined by NPR's Miles Parks and Business Insider's Grace Panetta to break down mail-in voting in the 2020 election. They'll offer helpful tips to keep in mind when casting your ballot, and answer questions sent in by Wake Up To Politics listeners.
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    29 mins
  • The 26 Words That Created the Internet

    The 26 Words That Created the Internet
    Jun 12 2020
    Donald Trump and Twitter are sparring over what users can say on social media. But the fight is one that goes back decades, to the very dawn of the Internet. Gabe talks to Protocol reporter Issie Lapowsky about Section 230, a key provision granting social media companies immunity for posts on their platform. Then, veteran journalist Sanford Ungar places the battle over regulating social media in the broader context of America’s long-running debate about free speech and the First Amendment.
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    23 mins