National Journal Radio

Editor-in-Chief Jeff Dufour and Cook Political Report with Amy Walter founder Charlie Cook discuss the latest news on redistricting, the impending government shutdown, and how thermostatic politics could affect the dynamics of the midterm elections. 

Red states like Texas and Missouri have yielded to the White House's calls and redrawn their congressional maps to get more GOP-friendly seats. In response, Democratic states have also considered redraws to counteract their Republican counterparts. But with differences among state legislatures and complications in the redistricting process, it could be easier said than done. Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado talks to House races correspondent James A. Downs on the tense arms race between red states and blue states, the legal battles behind redistricting, and the real-life impacts of what redistricting could have on communities.

In this bonus episode, National Journal Editor in Chief Jeff Dufour talks to Max Stier, President and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service in the third installment of the Trump 2.0 From Platform to Policy webinar series. They  unpack the Trump administration's proposed and enacted changes to the federal workforce and how that could affect policy in return. You can follow along with the presentation they discuss in the episode here. You can also look at this one-pager recap of the webinar here.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has shaken up the department, from his anti-vaccine stances to his firing of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Susan Monarez. National Journal Daily Managing Editor Ledyard King brings on congressional-policy reporter Nancy Vu to go in-depth on the backlash toward RFK Jr. from Democrats and Republicans at his recent congressional hearing.

Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado sits down with the authors of the Almanac of American Politics, Louis Jacobson and Richard E. Cohen, as the Almanac's 2026 edition is released. Listen as they discuss the process for writing this edition, keeping up with the rapid political environment before the publishing deadline, and why the Almanac still matters after 53 years. Buy the 2026 edition here: https://www.thealmanacofamericanpolitics.com/index.aspx 

In this bonus episode, National Journal Editor in Chief Jeff Dufour, NJ Daily Managing Editor Ledyard King, Hotline Editor Kirk Bado, and congressional policy reporter Nancy Vu are gathered in a virtual roundtable discussion to discuss a hectic August recess. They'll discuss what's going on in Washington in the weeks ahead, the state of the 2026 midterms, and how congressional retirements are impacting ideological composition in both parties. 

Being an appropriator isn't what it used to be. Senior congressional reporter Casey Wooten breaks down the Trump administration's efforts bucking against Congress' ability to spend money. He brings on Molly Reynolds, a senior fellow of governance studies at the Brookings Institution, to discuss what these battles between the executive and legislative branches mean for the political landscape.

Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado brings on Senate races correspondent Nicholas Anastácio and House races correspondent James A. Downs to give the big picture on the House and Senate battlefield this midterm season. They discuss the recently-published Hotline Power Rankings on which House and Senate seats are most likely to flip.  Check out the House Power Rankings and the Senate Power Rankings. 

Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma joins National Journal Radio for the first time, where he sits down with Senate correspondent Savannah Behrmann. He discusses his liaison role during the process of passing the Big Beautiful Bill, his response to criticism over the bill, and his position on the Epstein files.

Hotline House campaign correspondent James A. Downs talks to Cook Political Report with Amy Walter founder Charlie Cook about the latest updates in redistricting efforts in Texas, who could retire next from the Senate, and the political fallout facing President Trump over information on sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. 

President Trump's actions in the U.S. continue to resonate around the world, from his tariffs impacting European stakeholders to his controversial decision to send arms shipments to Ukraine. NJ Daily managing editor Ledyard King brings on foreign policy and defense reporter Cristina Maza to share her reporting on Trump's recent foreign policy actions and entanglements. 

House and Senate GOP leaders walked a careful tightrope in trying to get the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' approved. NJ Daily managing editor Ledyard King brings on senior congressional correspondent Casey Wooten, Senate correspondent Savannah Behrmann and congressional policy reporter Nancy Vu to break down the drama and recap behind the scenes of the 'Big, Beautiful Bill' on the Hill.

The next Senate midterm cycle looks to be varied with Democrats looking at rare pickup opportunities, messy primaries and swing state retirements. Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado brings on Senate races reporter Nicholas Anastácio to give the current scope and dynamics of the Senate battlefield. 

Editor-in-Chief Jeff Dufour and Cook Political Report with Amy Walter founder Charlie Cook discuss President Trump's polling numbers after a busy news week with threats of war with Iran, infighting in the West Wing, and Dems in disarray. Plus, a guest appearance from Hotline House races reporter James A. Downs.

Hotline editor Kirk A. Bado brings on new national correspondent Erika Filter to discuss Democrats' struggles with messaging in the Trump 2.0 era, the White House's new communication strategy, and more.