Off The Record With Paul Hodes

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.

Mike and I discuss the various labels you should be paying attention to in the stock market. For instance, a popular value index fund, the iShares S&P 500 Value ETF (ticker IVE) includes Microsoft which is typically a growth company. Here is where knowing the ingredients of the fund is crucial.

Two expert pollsters wanted to know what swing voters thought of the Republican candidates in the Presidential debate -- so they tested them with dials as they watched. The results should make the entire Republican Party nervous.

The first debate may be other Republican candidates' best chance to make up some ground on Donald Trump -- who isn't even showing up -- but it seems like the other candidates are going to defend him rather than try to beat him. Can that work? Or are these candidates just cementing his place as the eventual nominee?

As part of our financial life planning series, financial planner Mike Morton and Matt Robison explore why it is liberating to embrace the idea that individual lives may not hold significant meaning in the grand scheme of things. In fact, embracing that notion can help you do things that are more fulfilling, spend your time more wisely, and make better decisions.

What if the laws that allow billions of dollars of dark money to drive American politics are based on...a mistake? One of America’s most prominent legal scholars thinks that’s exactly what’s happened, and he’s going to give someone $50,000 to help him prove it. Lawrence Lessig is the Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership at Harvard Law School and the founder of Equal Citizens, an advocacy group whose mission is to fix democracy by establishing truly equal citizenship. On Labor Day, September 4, 2023, Equal Citizens will launch a video competition with (at least one) $50,000 prize for whoever can help clearly and concisely explain the legal argument for why SuperPACs can be regulated. To find out more about the contest and enter, go to the contest page: https://equalcitizens.us/crowdfund-video/ And to watch a longer explanation of Professor Lessig's argument, see this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPTY327iRJA&feature=youtu.be

Even before he became NPR's Kabul-based reporter on the war in Afghanistan, Sean Carberry had traveled the globe telling the on-the-ground stories from conflict zones that shaped our understanding of the world. Now out with his new book "Passport Stamps: Searching the World for a War to Call Home," the current Managing Editor of National Defense Magazine shares stories and lessons learned from over a decade in some of the most difficult and dangerous places on Earth.

The fourth Trump indictment in Georgia is being driven by the RICO statute, which has serious implications for what Trump and his conspirators can be charged with and found guilty of. Also, why haven't Republicans found a political way out of their Trump mess, and have two conservative legal scholars found a constitutional way out for all of us?

So many myths and lies come out of political mouths these days (especially, let's face it, from the leader of a party whose name rhymes with "Bepublican") it's hard to keep track. Then, they get reported by willing journalists who act as stenographers. The result is a doom-scroll narrative that hurts Democrats' ability to win and Republicans who want to defeat Donald Trump. Veteran radio host Matt McNeil has Matt Robison on to talk about some of the biggest ones going right now, and how to debunk them. MORE MATT MCNEIL: https://www.am950radio.com/events/the-matt-mcneil-show/