Eunice and Heather wrap up the Midpod and share conversations with one of their favorite listeners, Krishan Patel in California and one of their favorite candidates, newly elected Congresswoman elect, Haley Stevens from Michigan's 11th Congressional District.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Last November we traveled to Alabama to cover the race between Doug Jones and Roy Moore for U.S. Senate. We were fortunate to spend time in Birmingham with the architect of the Jones campaign: Giles Perkins, who passed away in early December. A civic leader who operated at the intersection of business, politics and community development, Perkins sh…

There wasn’t much coverage, but this Fall Congress actually stepped up and passed a $6 billion, bipartisan bill to help communities fight the opiod epidemic. Senator Hassan (D-NH) tells us about new law and how it came together.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Newly elected members of congress have been attending King's orientation program at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government for over two decades. King tells us what new members need to learn to hit the ground running, and provides some sharp insights into this historically large, diverse and ambitious class.…

Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Emily Cherniack have been recruiting service veterans to run for office, and Moulton is seeking to oust Democratic leadership to make way for younger lawmakers.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Hunter describes how decades of research and activism contributed to historic gains at the ballot box for women this year.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Morris' model for the house was spot on. We get his takeaways, and discuss a winning strategy for taking voter turnout to the next level. Hint: grab an apron & a long fork.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

This Virginia-based political scientist has a model for the House based on 'negative partisanship,' and she sees a blue wave.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Farmers here know the trade war with China first hand. Tribes know the epidemic of missing and murdered indigenous women first hand. We speak to both, and have a long overdue conversation on abortion.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

A "recovering politician" and former member of Congress, Nye heads the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress. He thinks elected officials will perform better if we fix the system in which they operateOleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

This businessman and first-time candidate is taking on controversial, 30-year incumbent Dana Rohrabacher. Rouda talks through the challenges of running one of the most competitive and expensive races in the country.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

When we were in Austin in late September, we had the chance to catch up with the face of the Never Trump movement and the king of the one-liner, Rick Wilson.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Heidi Heitkamp voted "no" on Brett Kavanaugh because she had voted yes so many times in support of victims, victims of sexual violence and sex trafficking, missing and murdered Indigenous women. In our trip to North Dakota, the Senator describes this legislative work. .Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Nicie and Heather return to Austin, Texas for breakfast tacos, Tex Mex (more about that on our blog), MJ Hegar, and for the Beto/Willie rally! Willie Nelson has a new anthem, “If you don’t like who’s in there vote ‘em out!”Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Nicie shares the story of the MidPod with Nathaniel Pearlman and gets his insights into political technology and Progressive entrepreneurship.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Tzintzun Ramirez fought to build power for undocumented workers in Texas. Now she wants to empower young Latinos to become voters and leaders for Texas and America.

Maine State Representative Jared Golden describes himself as a "progressive heart with a pragmatic approach to delivery." He’s running for U.S. House of Representatives in a vast rural district in a state without Medicaid expansion. Preserving the ACA and expanding Medicaid here is about delivering healthcare and creating important jobs; that's pro…

At the State Fair and around the state, Iowans worry about the fate of their cherished traditions: farming, community, and decency.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

This former Air Force Intelligence Officer and trade expert from San Antonio is running for congress in a majority-minority swing district where health care, immigration and education are key concerns.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Professor Miller, who teaches at Barnard College, became a leading elections scholar after some serious time in the trenches of electoral politics.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Chris Pappas' family has 100 years of history in New Hampshire, and he’s vying to become the state's first LGBT member of Congress. Lucas Meyer has been recruiting a new generation of candidates to run for office and inspire a new generation of voters.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Nicie moderates a conversation about the future of our democracy with Tom Steyer and 200 active citizens in Manchester, NH.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Environmental lawyer Mike Levin is running to replace retiring congressman Daryl Issa in this swing district that stretches along the coast north of San Diego and into southern Orange County. He shared his aspirations for making an impact in Congress on key issues facing the district, and reflected on the legacy of his immigrant grandparents.…

Using data mining and modeling, Stinnett has discovered a millions of passionate environmentalists, who defy our stereotypes. Now he’s working to get them to the polls.Oleh Nici Panetta and Heather Atwood

Lauren Bear is a foreign policy and human rights expert running against incumbent Brian Mast. If elected, she would be Florida's first openly LGBTQ+ member of congress. She tells us about her family story in this district, and shares her insights into the causes and costs of our current political crisis.…

Delivering healthcare in this vast, rural district has become almost impossible under a whittled away ACA, which the Republican incumbent voted to repeal. One doctor in the district says the 5th vital sign should be “suffering.” Traditional work here - lobstering, forestry, and wild blueberries - is the stuff they make postcards of, but these indus…

This engineer and green energy entrepreneur is running in a toss-up seat near Chicago. The moms went into full geek mode with Casten on what Congress could and should be doing to help America and the world respond to climate change.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

DeJear is bringing her family legacy of civic engagement to her pathbreaking bid for Secretary of State in Iowa. She’s got ideas about how to inspire the next generation of active citizens.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

This Navy veteran is running in a highly competitive open seat race south of Los Angeles. His passion is education.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Swers, a political scientist at Georgetown University, studies women in congress: the challenges they face in getting elected and the tensions they confront once in office. She's charted the careers of Republican women in congress especially closely, as the issue of reproductive rights has become a litmus test in electoral politics.…

Stevens grew up in this suburban district outside of Detroit. Now she wants to bring her auto industry expertise to Washington and she wants to help build a vibrant 21st century manufacturing ecosystem in America.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Gina Ortiz Jones fights to win back this swing district and citizens protest as the Trump Administration tears refugee children from their parents and moves to build a wall on the Rio Grande.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Lauren Underwood has had a passion for health care since childhood for very personal reasons. She channeled that passion into a career in health policy and now into her bid for congress.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

One in ten school-aged children in America lives in Texas. Saenz charts the evolution of the Latinx communities in Texas, and the profound challenges they face in achieving political representation.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Jessica Morse describes her deep roots in this rural district, and her calling to public service to Baghdad and now back home to the mountains of Yosemite . She’s giving incumbent Tom McClintock a serious challenge.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Historian Eric Foner shares key insights into the historical struggle for freedom and the crucial role of principled dissent. We find lessons for active citizens today.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

We interview 7 candidates and tell 1 stunning story of citizen activism. We also ask what it means to stand for something, because saving this country may soon mean that we all learn.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

A sixth-generation West Virginian, Tally Sergent is challenging Republican incumbent, Alex Mooney, who moved to the district from Maryland to run for Congress. She talks about her mentors, her family's struggles, and her passion for a region that desperately needs a champion.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Hacker describes how our kids are suffering from the polarization of the GOP that has undermined the constructive role that government used to play in partnering with business and fostering prosperity.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Katie Hill jumped the candidate line, ran in the primary, and won the Democratic nomination in this key swing district. She grew up here; she comes from a law enforcement family. At 30, Hill’s spent the last 8 years as Executive Director of PATH, a 50 million dollar a year organization that fights homelessness in Los Angeles County.…

Barkhuff is a 2001 Naval Academy graduate and a former Navy Seal. He believes moral courage is what is missing in Washington, D.C., but it’s alive and well in the U.S. military. What started as a Facebook page just after the 2016 election, VFRL is now a PAC with a mission to support veterans who are running for office in 2018.…

Kopser shares what he learned about the Zero Tolerance policy from a recent visit to the border, and reflects on his life's journey and describes his aspirations to work across the aisle and make a difference in congress.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Family separations, civil disobedience, sanctuaries. How should a people behave when a government makes immoral laws? It’s time to look at this time in history again.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Spend some time with the young prosecutor fighting to unseat Devin Nunes, one of the President's key allies in Congress.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

West of Chicago citizens worry about health care, tariffs and democracy and Democrats celebrate a rising star.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Get to know this former Navy pilot and prosecutor running in an open seat district near New York City.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

We journey to DC to talk with the hosts of the House Talk podcast, Ali Lapp, Democratic strategist at House Majority PAC, and Liesl Hickey, GOP strategist at Ascent Media.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

Heilbrunn, Editor of the National Interest, reviews recent actions by President Trump and has one word of advice for citizens: "Panic."Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

We check in with Elliott Morris, Data Journalist at the Economist for his analysis of the June 5th primary results and his outlook for the midterms.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood

The Former GOP Governor of NJ talks about leading the National Task Force for the Rule of Law and Democracy and reflects on a lifetime of public service.Oleh Nicie Panetta and Heather Atwood