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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    A History of Primaries and Caucuses

    Republican presidential candidates are getting ready to rumble in Las Vegas tonight in the final GOP debate of 2015. But the real presidential fight kicks off February 1. That’s when the Iowa caucuses take place, followed by the New Hampshire primaries on February 9. So what’s the difference between a caucus and a primary?

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    By Madeleine Brand • Dec 15, 2015 • 1 min read

    Republican presidential candidates are getting ready to rumble in Las Vegas tonight in the final GOP debate of 2015. But the real presidential fight kicks off February 1. That’s when the Iowa caucuses take place, followed by the New Hampshire primaries on February 9. So what’s the difference between a caucus and a primary? Is one any better than the other? Also, why do two relatively smaller states get to be such big factors in deciding our nation’s highest office?

    New Hampshire presidential primary plaque in Concord, NH

    Photo by Billy Hathorn

    The full episode

    4 of 5
    LAUSD Threat, Violence in San Bernardino, and Porter Ranch Leak
    1. 0:00LAUSD Threat
    2. 11:59Everyday Gun Violence in San Bernardino
    3. 20:11On the Ground in Porter Ranch
    4. 27:22A History of Primaries and CaucusesYou’re reading this
    5. 44:11'Jewish Christmas' at L.A. Chinese Restaurants
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Matt Holzman

      Producer, 'The Document'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jolie Myers

      Managing Producer, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Ken Rudin

      Political Editor, National Public Radio

    • KCRW placeholder

      Steffen Schmidt

      Iowa State University

      News

    The full episode

    4 of 5
    LAUSD Threat, Violence in San Bernardino, and Porter Ranch Leak
    1. 0:00LAUSD Threat
    2. 11:59Everyday Gun Violence in San Bernardino
    3. 20:11On the Ground in Porter Ranch
    4. 27:22A History of Primaries and CaucusesYou’re reading this
    5. 44:11'Jewish Christmas' at L.A. Chinese Restaurants
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand