Heading into the Mid-Terms, Here’s Who I’m Listening To
We are less than 45 days from another election. While it has become a redundant saying, there is a lot at stake with the mid-term elections. The US Senate has a 50/50 split, with the Vice President as the tie-breaking vote. In the House of Representatives, the Democrats hold a slim majority with 222 of the 435 House seats. And while local races don’t generate the type of headlines that national races do, there are many hotly contested races.
In Minnesota, all 67 Senate seats are for election. On the House side, there are 134 seats up for election. To say these races will have a tremendous impact on the state’s future is an understatement since Minnesota was one of only three states in the Union to have a divided government. What’s unique about Minnesota politics is that we’ve had a divided government for nearly 30 years.
With all that is at stake this fall, finding information is often hard. My go-to for news, current issues, and talking points are podcasts. I’ve come to enjoy podcasts due to their long-form factor. Each podcast is anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour and I typically listen to my podcasts at 1.5x speed, making them more manageable. This long-form medium may not be fore everyone but it has huge upside when compared to TV. Because of their long form factor podcasts allow for more information and more depth, as commenters are allowed to unpack complex issues and positions. I also find they aren’t fishing for clickbait or “slay queen”/viral moments because of the long format. With that said, I wanted to share the top five podcasts I’m listening to and why you should listen to them, too, as we countdown the days to November 8, 2022.
- The Megyn Kelly Show. I think Megyn has the best podcast. She’s a self-described independent, and as a former lawyer, she isn’t afraid to ask tough questions and voice her opinions. Her podcast always has depth, and I always find myself learning something new. She also does a terrific job bringing on guests from different perspectives, even ones she may disagree with. Megyn’s engagement with her guests and topics allows for rich and insightful conversation. She is worth your time.
- The Ben Shapiro Show. He is one of the most influential conservative voices and has the largest conservative podcast. During my political journey from left to right, Ben Shapiro was one of the biggest voices of influence. He is one of the co-founders of the Daily Wire, now Daily Wire +. The Daily Wire has done some amazing things in the last couple of years. Some of these things include the un-canceling of Gina Carano after she was fired from Disney, leading the lawsuit against the Biden Administration for the overreaching vaccine mandate, and spearheading the conservative position in the culture war. As for Ben, I find him to be principled and follow where the data leads. He’s a staunch defender of the US and the Constitution. In addition to his daily podcasts, Ben also has a weekly podcast episode called the “Sunday Special”. During these episodes, he sits down 1–1 with a guest and has insightful conversations and parses through the topics he discusses. He’s recently had individuals like Seth Dillon, Bill Maher and and Robert Kiyosaki. And if that is not enough for you, there are countless “Ben Shapiro Destroys” videos on Youtube for your entertainment.
- Tim Pool. Tim is a self-described libertarian. Like Megyn Kelly, he calls things pretty straight down the middle. Although Tim has a podcast, I typically watch him on Youtube. He does extraordinary work putting out multiple 30–40 minute segments on the day’s news. Along with his daily segments, Tim also hosts the Timcast IRL, where he invites guests and engages with them in long-form discussions. Like the Daily Wire, Tim and his crew also engage in creating culture and has recently released a new song that hit that nearly topped the iTunes charts.
- Relatable. Relatable is a podcast hosted by Allie Beth Stuckey. This podcast is specifically for Christians because I think Christians struggle with treading between faith and politics, especially since one’s faith can become a punching bag. As a Christain Conservative, Allie does a wonderful job discussing how politics and faith flow into one and other. She is particularly great at speaking from a woman’s perspective on the battlefield of politics and it’s a great insight. Along with Lila Rose, Allie is one of my go-to’s when it comes to defending the pro-life position. If you’re a mom, Allie would be my top recommendation for you.
- The Morning Wire. This podcast is for those who want to know what’s going in the news in 15 minutes. This is the podcast I listen to in the morning driving to work or as I start my work day. The show is hosted by Daily Wire Editor-in–Chief, John Bickley, and co-host Georgia Howe. John and Georgia do a great job sharing information concisely and informatively while keeping the conversation moving forward. It’s a great podcast that “brings balance to the national discussion” and it’s only 15 minutes (10 if you listen to it at 1.5x speed).
Being an informed citizen is the responsibility of each individual voter. So there you have it. These are the five podcasts I make an effort to listen to every day to stay on top of the news and issues I care about. But don’t just listen to these, there are plenty other good ones. To paraphrase Ben Shapiro, listen to these and then listen to those on the other side.
“A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.” — Thomas Jefferson
