Off The Record With Paul Hodes

Republicans angling to shut down the US Government and preparing to take the debate stage tonight for the Republican Presidential nomination have one thing in common: they can't say what it is they are trying to achieve, what they believe in, or how they would help do anything positive for America. They've made a backward mess of immigration (11:01) and they're afraid to attack Donald Trump (14:31) even though they secretly know he's a plague. And yet, recent polling (21:10) has some ominous signs for America and shows that voters may be tuning out their shenanigans. At least the writer's strike is over! (29:15)

Part two of our interview with Dr. Daniel Cox. American's attitudes on LGBT issues have shifted significantly, with far more people -- including Democrats -- saying that we have "gone too far." Why is this happening, and what does it really mean? Also, have Americans lost something fundamental that holds us together, and if so, is there anything we can do to revive it? (14:12) Dr. Daniel Cox is Director of the Center on American Life at the American Enterprise Institute and his work is frequently featured in the Atlantic, CNN, and the Washington Post. His outstanding Substack is at: ⁠ https://storylines.substack.com/

Ah, estate planning. Such a fun exercise. No one wants to think about the end, but we will all smile, so we might as well plan for it. In this week's podcast, join Mike Morton and I as we explore the importance of planning for your golden years, the ones filled with activity, those that slow down, and even the ones where you may need extra care.

If Republicans are so nutty, then why are Republicans and Democrats tied in popularity (2:05)? Also, why is Ron DeSantis SO darn unpopular? (There's actually a pretty straightforward reason for that) (7:48). And why is Donald Trump maybe a lot weaker than it appears? (14:55). Dr. Daniel Cox is Director of the Center on American Life at the American Enterprise Institute and his work is frequently featured in the Atlantic, CNN, and the Washington Post. His outstanding Substack is at: https://storylines.substack.com/

ver the past 20 years, the U. S. Navy has built a vessel that they've nicknamed the "little crappy ship." It barely works and it's costing us taxpayers about 100 billion or about what we'd spend on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in 20 years, the agency that regulates nuclear materials in 100 years or the Peace Corps over the course of 200 years. How did this happen? And what does it say about the entire way we arm our nation through the defense industrial complex? We're joined by the outstanding investigative journalist who broke this entire story about the literal combat ship, Joaquin Sapien, who was one of the first reporters hired at our friends at ProPublica. We've had other reporters from ProPublica with us before. You all just do outstanding work and I would be remiss if I didn't mention that one of your recent stories a few years ago won a Deadline Club award and a Katherine Schneider Journalism Award for excellence in reporting on disability.

It was too tempting to avoid talking about the strange Lauren Boebert incident over the weekend...so we did. But more seriously, retiring Senator Mitt Romney has leveled some serious accusations at his own party about what Republicans have become, and what it means for America. Also, will Ukraine actually get more US support despite Republican opposition? What to make of the Iran prisoner swap? And how do we feel about Donald Trump's criticism of American Jews?

This week, Matt Robison and I discuss the concept of being aggressive in your investment strategy, especially when you have time on your side. 

Part two of our interview with Rex Huppke, in which we hit what is driving Kevin McCarthy (0:54), what do we know from polling (5:50), are we falling into the Fox News Fallacy (8:30), and can anyone realistically beat Donald Trump for the Republican nomination? (14:10)

USA Today columnist Rex Huppke imagined what Kevin McCarthy's new outgoing voicemail would sound like after launching his desperate, shamefully empty impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden, and wrote it up here (https://t2m.io/rSPhOjY2). So, we start our show with our rendition of his column (0:00) and talk about this ridiculous impeachment inquiry, and then get into whether this is a naked power grab on par with the insurrection (7:39), will the impeachment boomerang on Republicans (12:15). We wrap it up there, and will bring you Part Two tomorrow.

Not really...but...maybe? The panel dissects the situation with a candidate who was doing that exact thing. Should it matter? Also, is the "Biden should retire" thing gaining momentum (8:22)? What to make of Democrats bleeding support from non-white voters (18:01), is the the New Mexico gun ban a massive overreach (21:59), and is the government going to shut down (24:49)?

PART TWO. NBC News says Minnesota is now a "laboratory for progressive policy." But HOW did that happen? WHY is it working so well? And what lessons can the rest of the country learn at a time where the Midwest matters more than ever? Matt McNeil, an outstanding progressive radio host in Minnesota, joins the Beyond Politics podcast to explain what is happening and how Democrats can use it around the country. Is progressive radio non-existent where you live? Get a dose of Progressive media every weekday with The Matt McNeil Show, from AM 950 in Minneapolis/St. Paul.  How did Minnesota become a progressive stronghold?  Listen to the show that's giving you a bird's eye view of how Democrats win.  The Matt McNeil show is available on ⁠Apple⁠ or wherever you get your podcasts.

NBC News says Minnesota is now a "laboratory for progressive policy." But HOW did that happen? WHY is it working so well? And what lessons can the rest of the country learn at a time where the Midwest matters more than ever? Matt McNeil, an outstanding progressive radio host in Minnesota, joins the Beyond Politics podcast to explain what is happening and how Democrats can use it around the country. Is progressive radio non-existent where you live? Get a dose of Progressive media every weekday with The Matt McNeil Show, from AM 950 in Minneapolis/St. Paul.  How did Minnesota become a progressive stronghold?  Listen to the show that's giving you a bird's eye view of how Democrats win.  The Matt McNeil show is available on Apple or wherever you get your podcasts. 0:00 How Did Dems Take Over In Minnesota? 5:37 The Importance of Not Being Afraid 7:20 Ignore Republican Talking Points 13:00 What About Bipartisanship? 16:54 What About the "Woke" Attack? 18:21 Staying Focused

Inflation has a way of eroding the purchasing power of our money over time, making it essential to plan smartly to ensure financial security. In this episode, Matt Robison and I delve into the intricacies of managing finances in the face of rising inflation. Most notably, we talk about the importance of aligning investment strategies with specific timeframes to make the most of your assets.

In 2020, then President Donald Trump sent a tweet to his 82 million followers about a candidate running for US Senate New Hampshire that read "Corky Messner will be a fantastic senator for New Hampshire. He has my complete and total endorsement." A little over three years later, on August 25th, 2023, Corky Messner met with the Secretary of State of New Hampshire to make a case that Donald Trump should be disqualified from appearing on the ballot at all in the next presidential election. We wanted to know what happened. Is this going to work? And what are the consequences of this kind of ballot challenge if it gets copied across the country? So we called Corky up and we asked him, and he was gracious enough to join us here on Beyond Politics.

New reports suggest that Republicans may be ready to attack Donald Trump, but what if they were NEVER actually trying to beat him? Former Congressman Paul Hodes, New Hampshire Republican Political consultant Alicia Preston, and political analyst Matt Robison break down whether Republicans are ready to execute the only possible winning strategy against Trump, or is it the more intriguing possibility that none of them were actually trying to win in 2024 in the first place?

In this week’s episode, Matt Robison and I dive into an often-overlooked aspect of job selection: logistics. While most people prioritize salary and job responsibilities, we emphasize the significance of considering the logistical details that contribute to job satisfaction and work-life balance.

One of our very favorite columnists working today is the Washington Post’s Philip Bump. He's been a lightning rod for right wing criticism because he specializes in using data, sources, and FACTS to separate what’s real from what’s not, and cut through the fog of spin, distortion, and lying that pervades politics. He writes the weekly newsletter How To Read This Chart, to which you should subscribe. He's also the author of The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America.

In a little-noticed filing, a Republican, Trump-endorsed attorney asked the Secretary of State of New Hampshire to keep Donald Trump OFF the presidential ballot. The panel discusses the massive ramifications, including whether this will unleash a wave of similar moves targeting not just Trump, but also President Biden and other candidates. Also, why Mark Meadows Maneuvers could be a BFD.

On the surface it seemed like just a lot of legal maneuvering, but underneath, the entire course of the January 6th trial of Donal Trump played out in a federal courtroom yesterday. Matt Robison joins radio host Howard Monroe to dissect what we heard and what it means. Also, the 14th Amendment cascade is about to begin.

The Wikipedia entry for Ted Strickland notes that “As of 2023, he is the last Democrat to serve as Governor of Ohio.” But when Ohio voters soundly rejected a cynical Republican ballot initiative a few weeks ago, it made us wonder, is that about to change? What happened to this onetime bellwether state, and have Democrats begun to figure out how to win it back, and other states like it? So we thought we would ask him. Ted Strickland served in the US House of Representatives for 12 years and as the Governor of Ohio from 2007 to 2011. He’s also been president of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, and he is an is an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church.