Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Specter Switches Parties to Democrats

    Pennsylvania's US Senator was elected as a Reagan Republican in 1980. Today Arlen Specter said the party's moved so far to the right that Republicans in his state are becoming Democrats, so he is too . John Mercurio is Executive of The Hotline , National Journal's daily briefing on politics.

    • rss
    • Share
    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Pennsylvania's US Senator was elected as a Reagan Republican in 1980. Today Arlen Specter said the party's moved so far to the right that Republicans in his state are becoming Democrats, so he is too. John Mercurio is Executive of The Hotline, National Journal's daily briefing on politics.

    The full episode

    1 of 3
    Remember...Iraq?
    1. 0:00Specter Switches Parties to DemocratsYou’re reading this
    2. 0:00Remember...Iraq?
    3. 43:35What's Next for Swine Flu?
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

      Sonya Geis

      Senior Managing Editor

    • KCRW placeholder

      John Mercurio

      The Hotline

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    1 of 3
    Remember...Iraq?
    1. 0:00Specter Switches Parties to DemocratsYou’re reading this
    2. 0:00Remember...Iraq?
    3. 43:35What's Next for Swine Flu?
    Back to To the Point