It has been said that the American political season is extraordinarily long (especially when compared to the much shorter versions in other countries). Some people become quickly overwhelmed by it all and choose to avoid all mentions of politics. Others seem to thrive on it and have an insatiable desire for more information. There is now a plethora of political podcasts for “political junkies” to enjoy.
Political Gabfest is a podcast that comes from Slate. It is hosted by Slate’s Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz. The show is described as “the kind of informal and irreverent discussion Washington journalists have after hours over drinks.”
FiveThirtyEight Elections is an extension of what FiveThirtyEight has been piloting in their What’s The Point feed. Each Monday, hosts Nate Silver, Clare Malone, Harry Enten, and Jody Avirgan discuss polls, issues, voters, and media coverage – with a FiveThirtyEight spin. This podcast may also include occasional reports from the field and other “specials”.
The Ticket – A Presidential Podcast comes from the Texas Tribune. It is hosted by Ben Philpott and Jay Root. Every week, they provide a rundown of the week’s campaign actions, and bring you interviews with people who make a living working on, covering, or commenting on the campaigns.
NPR Politics is NPR’s new podcast where NPR’s political reporters talk to you like they talk to each other. It includes weekly roundups, quick takes on news of the day, and reporting from the campaign trail. It provides listeners with an easy way to keep up with what’s happening this election year.
Presidential is a podcast from the Washington Post. It is hosted by Lillian Cunningham. This podcast is a bit different from the rest because it explores how each former American president reached office, made decisions, handled crises, and redefined the roll of Commander-In-Chief. New episodes are released on Sundays.
Off Message is from Politico. It is hosted by Politico’s Chief Political Correspondent Glenn Thrush. The podcast is about the 2016 campaign “and everything else”. Episodes include interviews with Jeb Bush, President Obama, Martin O’Malley, and more.
Candidate Confessional – Defeated Politicians Tell All, is a podcast from the Huffington Post. It is hosted by Sam Stein and Jason Cherkis who talk to candidates who came up short in their bid for president, governor, senator, and other elected offices. It is produced by Christine Conetta.
The Pollsters is a weekly podcast hosted by two of America’s leading polsters: Kristin Soltis Anderson (Republican) and Margie Omero (Democrat). They offer fresh insights into the data driving the week’s biggest stories.
The Axe Files is hosted by David Axelrod, the founder and director of the University of Chicago Institute of Politics. He interviews some of the most interesting players in politics each episode.
Image by Mike Mozart on Flickr.