Sabato's Crystal Ball / University of Virginia
Kyle Kondik is managing editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball and director of communications at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. He is the author of The Bellwether: Why Ohio Picks the President.
A blue surge in Virginia elections and across the nation Last night saw the first major statewide elections since Donald Trump became President one year ago. In New Jersey, and especially in Virginia, Democrats scored big victories. Even some Republicans are saying the difference was President Trump. Virginia Republican Congressman Scott Taylor called the results a referendum on Trump. House Speaker Paul Ryan says last night's defeats put more pressure on the GOP. "We've got to deliver." Kyle Kondik, managing editor for Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia's Center for Politics looks at the Democratic sweep and what it portends for midterm elections.
What to watch for as the polls close As voting continues in the rest of the country, polls will be closing in the Eastern states -- most importantly, Florida. It could determine quickly whether Hillary Clinton’s the winner -- or if the nation will be in for a long night.
A nasty campaign for the White House is almost over The last few days may seem like forever, with candidates, surrogates and new TV and Internet commercials almost impossible to avoid. Donald Trump is telling himself to "stay on point," which means claiming, untruthfully, that Hillary Clinton is under a "criminal investigation." He’s trying to lower the turnout in urban centers, while Clinton is trying to increase it -- claiming that Trump is biased against blacks and Latinos. Do early voting and last minute polls mean the dynamic is really changing with so little time left to go?
Trump's Unconventional Convention Gets More Chaotic than Ever Last night's introductory address by Vice Presidential nominee Mike Pence has been completely overshadowed by outspoken hostility among Republicans. Texas Senator Ted Cruz used his prime time speech to infuriate Trump supporters by refusing to endorse the presidential nominee. Whatever Trump himself says tonight in a bid for unity, disputes over the "Soul of the Party" are bound to continue — win or lose in November. The management of the convention has raised questions about the potential staff in a Trump White House. In the meantime, Trump has told the New York Times he might reduce support for NATO allies — a sweeping change in decades of foreign policy.
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?