It’s March 4th. This day in 2004, Pat Toomey is challenging Republican Senator Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania senate race — trying to outflank him from the right in the state’s primary.
Jody, Niki, and Kellie look back at the moment where “to primary someone” became a political phenomenon, and talk to Nick Troiano of Unite America about why the primary system has been weaponized.
Nick’s new book is “The Primary Solution” — it’s out now!
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Our team: Jacob Feldman, Researcher/Producer; Brittani Brown, Producer; Khawla Nakua, Transcripts; music by Teen Daze and Blue Dot Sessions; Audrey Mardavich is our Executive Producer at Radiotopia
Polling Week: Let's Get Thermostatic w/ Harry Enten
Polling Week: The Red Wave (1994) w/ Harry Enten
Polling Week: Harry Reid's Upset (2010) w/ Harry Enten
Referendum Week: Prop 13 (1978)
Referendum Week: The Badass Grandmas of North Dakota (2018) w/ Joshua Graham Lynn
Referendum Week: Direct Democracy In Action (1778) w/ Joshua Graham Lynn
Mid-Term Favorites: The Murkowski Write-In (2010)
Mid-Term Favorites: Paul Wellstone Plane Crash (2002)
Mid-Term Favorites: Contract with America (1994) w/ Kirsten Soltis Anderson
The Whiskey Rebellion and the Fear Of The Tax Collector (1794)
Franklin in France (1776) w/ Mike Duncan
Rudy vs Brooklyn Museum (1999) w/ Harry Siegel
Rural Free Delivery (1896)
No Crime Day (1986) w/ Josh Levin
Pauli Murray Shoots Her Shot (1971)
Dogs as Deflection: Fala and Checkers (1944/1952)
The Cleveland BalloonFest Fiasco (1986) w/ Clare Malone
Romney's Secret 47% Tape (2012) w/ David Corn
The Christiana Resistance (1851)
The Basket Of Deplorables (2016)
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