Keepin' It 1600

Tara joins U.S. Representative Kelly Armstrong (North Dakota) on Capitol Hill to pull back the curtain on a chaotic and deeply divided House Speaker race. They discuss the likelihood of a Jim Jordan victory, search for bipartisan possibilities, and speculate on how the GOP will be able to climb out of its internal turmoil. For more of Tara’s reporting, please sign up for her newsletter, 'The Best & the Brightest,' at puck.news/tarapalmeri and use the discount code TARA20. Host: Tara Palmeri Guest: Kelly Armstrong Associate Producer: Chris Sutton Production Supervision: Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara starts the pod by delivering an update on the race for House speaker. She's then joined by Sarah Matthews, who served as deputy press secretary for Donald Trump. They dive into Sarah’s experiences working within the chaos and examine the adjustments that the current Trump campaign team has made to limit the flow of information going in and out of the organization and to maintain its edge over its political rivals. For more of Tara’s reporting, please sign up for her newsletter, 'The Best & the Brightest,' at puck.news/tarapalmeri and use the discount code TARA20. Host: Tara Palmeri Guest: Sarah Matthews Associate Producer: Chris Sutton Production Supervision: Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, House Republicans chose Steve Scalise to be the next House speaker via a secret vote, but will he pass a floor vote? Tara is joined by fellow Puck writer Abby Livingston to break down what led to Scalise’s nomination and examine the splintering his selection caused within the party. For more of Tara’s reporting, please sign up for her newsletter, 'The Best & the Brightest,' at puck.news/tarapalmeri and use the discount code TARA20. Host: Tara Palmeri Guest: Abby Livingston Producers: Devon Manze and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara and Jake discuss the ongoing saga surrounding the speaker vacancy in Congress. Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan appear to be the front-runners, but don’t count out a surprise contender—and we’re not talking about Kevin McCarthy. For more of Tara's reporting, please sign up for her newsletter "The Best & The Brightest" at puck.news/tarapalmeri and use the discount code TARA20 Host: Tara Palmeri Guest: Jake Sherman Producers: Devon Manze and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following the historic ousting of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Tara sits down with fellow Puck writer Abby Livingston to examine the chain reaction that led to this monumental decision in the House, theorize what could have kept McCarthy in office, and discuss what exactly happens next. Plus, Tara and producer Conor discuss a recent poll showing Nikki Haley pulling well ahead of Ron DeSantis in New Hampshire. For more of Tara's reporting, please sign up for her newsletter 'The Best & The Brightest' at puck.news/tarapalmeri and use the discount code TARA20 Host: Tara Palmeri Guest: Abby Livingston Producers: Devon Manze and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara is joined by NBC News correspondent Jon Allen to discuss the obstacles and fears facing aspiring Democrats who may want to challenge Joe Biden and the DNC establishment in the upcoming primaries. They touch on the growing resentment within the party regarding Biden’s age and leadership, and ponder whether abortion issues and anti-Trump resentment will be enough to get him back into office. To sign up for Tara’s newsletter 'The Best & The Brightest,' go to puck.news/tarapalmeri and use the code TARA20 for 20 percent off a subscription. Host: Tara Palmeri Guest: Jon Allen Producers: Chris Sutton and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara reports live from Simi Valley following the weirdest GOP debate yet! After debriefing in the spin room, Tara recruits Axios political correspondent Alex Thompson to give out awards and discuss the night’s winners and losers. For more of Tara's reporting, please sign up for her newsletter 'The Best & The Brightest' at puck.news/tarapalmeri and use the discount code TARA20. Host: Tara Palmeri Guest: Alex Thompson Producers: Devon Manze and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the other GOP challengers trailing far behind Donald Trump in the polls, are this week’s debates even worth paying attention to? Mark McKinnon—former chief strategist to John McCain and George W. Bush, advisor, and host of 'The Circus'—says yes. For more of Tara's reporting, please sign up for her newsletter 'The Best & The Brightest' at puck.news/tarapalmeri and use the discount code TARA20 Host: Tara Palmeri Guest: Mark McKinnon Producers: Devon Manze and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Polls show that voters are begging for more choices among their candidates, but a third-party contender might not be the right answer when it comes to shutting down Trump. On today’s episode, Tara chats with political strategist and Lincoln Project cofounder Reed Galen to figure out whether this is the moment for a third-party breakthrough. For more of Tara's reporting, please sign up for her newsletter, 'The Best & the Brightest,' at puck.news/tarapalmeri and use the discount code TARA20. Host: Tara Palmeri Guest: Reed Galen Producers: Devon Manze and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara speaks with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich about the Republican strategy behind pursuing an impeachment inquiry. Then, she asks Puck congressional reporter Abby Livingston whether the GOP’s game of brinksmanship will backfire. To sign up for Tara’s Puck newsletter, 'The Best and the Brightest,' visit puck.news/tarapalmeri Host: Tara Palmeri Guests: Newt Gingrich and Abby Livingston Producers: Mike Wargon and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Even prior to this week’s impeachment inquiry, Joe Biden has been dogged by attacks from Donald Trump and his allies … but so far, he hasn’t hit back. On today’s episode, Tara chats with First Lady Jill Biden's former press secretary, Michael LaRosa, about whether the president should be punching back. He also talks about what it's like to work with the Bidens, and how Joe likely sees his own polls. For more of Tara's reporting, please sign up for her newsletter 'The Best & The Brightest' at puck.news/tarapalmeri and use the discount code TARA20 Host: Tara Palmer Guest: Michael LaRosa Producers: Devon Manze and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Congress is back in session, just in time to decide if it will continue to fund the federal government. Tara talks to Puck News reporter Abby Livingston about the looming funding deadline and House Speaker McCarthy’s eternal standoff with his own party’s far-right faction. Plus, how Hakeem Jeffries and New York Democrats are handling the migrant crisis in their state. To sign up for Tara’s Puck newsletter, 'The Best and the Brightest,' visit puck.news/tarapalmeri Host: Tara Palmeri Guest: Abby Livingston Producers: Ashleigh Smith and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Poll after poll shows Joe Biden and Donald Trump neck-and-neck in a potential rematch, but President Obama’s re-election guru Jim Messina says to disregard the polls: Biden is stronger than you think. On today’s episode, Tara debates Messina on whether the warning signs are legitimate.  To sign up for Tara’s Puck newsletter, 'The Best and the Brightest,' visit puck.news/tarapalmeri Host: Tara Palmeri Guest: Jim Messina Producers: Devon Manze and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Republican Super PACs are betting big money on finding a candidate who can unseat Trump. On today’s episode, Tara speaks with her Puck colleague Teddy Schleifer on why these “Donor Daddies” keep making the same mistakes. Host: Tara Palmeri Guest: Teddy Schleifer Producers: Ashleigh Smith and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara is joined by public affairs strategist and former diplomat Matt Mowers to discuss the super-PAC phenomenon, admire the follow-through of Miami mayor Francis Suarez, and examine the major story lines that could emerge post-Labor Day. Host: Tara Palmeri Guest: Matt Mowers Producers: Devon Manze and Conor Nevins Theme: Devon Renaldo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara is joined by Republican pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson, who recently penned an op-ed in The New York Times saying we shouldn’t underestimate the enthusiasm most Republican primary voters have for Donald Trump’s candidacy. They’re not concerned he might be unelectable. In fact, they think he has the best chance to beat Joe Biden. Host: Tara Palmeri Guest: Kristen Soltis Anderson Producers: Ashleigh Smith and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara is on the ground in Milwaukee, where she’s joined by Alex Thompson to pick the winners and losers from the first Republican debate. Then she speaks with Matthew Bartlett in New Hampshire for a deeper look at the Spin Zone. Hosted by Tara Palmer Guests: Alex Thompson and Matthew Bartlett Producers: Ashleigh Smith, Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tara Palmeri welcomes you to the premiere of ‘Somebody’s Gotta Win.’ To start the show off, she is joined by NBC’s Jon Allen to set the stage for the first Republican presidential debate. They discuss Ron DeSantis’s multiple miscues and who has the most to gain—and lose—in Milwaukee. Then, Tara asks GOP consultant Matthew Bartlett which candidates Republican donors are highest and lowest on. Host: Tara Palmeri Guests: Matthew Bartlett and Jonathan Allen Producers: Ashleigh Smith and Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Puck senior political correspondent Tara Palmeri is here to help you get through what may be the most chaotic and consequential presidential election cycle of our lifetime. With 15 years covering politics, Tara speaks with the smartest political brains to discuss what is happening behind the scenes in Washington D.C., and on the campaign trail. Producers: Ashleigh Smith, Conor Nevins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices