Battleground Politics With Lauren Mayk

Here’s a full breakdown of the episode.00:26 – What Pennsylvanians will notice about AG Dave Sunday1:23 – Opioid epidemic in Kensington3:31 – Relationship with Philly DA Larry Krasner6:33 – SEPTA’s special prosecutor9:13 – The Trump administration and immigration12:58 – Listening to everyone13:34 – Recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania16:57 – Abortion laws in Pennsylvania18:10 – Mental health in Pennsylvania Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Interview with U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Pennsylvania) Rep. Mackenzie represents Pennsylvania’s 7th congressional district which includes Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties and parts of Monroe County. 00:43 – Initial uncertainty over speaker of the House 1:19 – How things will go with a slim GOP majority 2:15 – Balancing working with GOP, Trump and representing a “purple” district 3:39 – What Congress could do to help prevent another tragedy like the New Orleans attack Interview with U.S. Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Delaware) Rep. McBride made history as the first openly transgender member of Congress. 5:45 – First day on the job 6:33 – Lowering costs for families 7:52 – Making history as the first openly transgender member of Congress 8:44 – Handling legislation related to the transgender community 10:14 – Improvements in having difficult conversations11:05 – Legislation she plans to introduce Interview with Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Delaware) Sen. Rochester is the first woman and first African American to represent Delaware in both chambers of Congress. 11:45 – How it feels to be a U.S. senator 12:38 – Legacy of the Biden-Harris administration 14:50 – Opportunities amid Trump administration, GOP-controlled Congress 16:23 – The meaning and family history of her scarf Interview with Sen. Andy Kim (D-New Jersey) Sen. Kim is the first Asian American senator from New Jersey. 17:58 – Excitement over serving New Jersey 18:24 – How it feels being a senator rather than a congressman 19:17 – The environment of the Senate 20:22 – Working with the Trump administration 21:37 – H-1B visas 22:58 – Deadly New Orleans attack and preventing future tragedies 25:00 – Reflecting on the Jan. 6 attack Interview with U.S. Rep. Herb Conaway (D-New Jersey) Rep. Conaway represents New Jersey’s 3rd congressional district which includes parts of Burlington, Mercer and Monmouth counties. 26:58 – Representing New Jersey 27:25 – Working as a Democrat in a GOP-controlled Congress29:42 –Rep. Conaway’s background in the medical field30:15 – Thoughts on President-elect Trump’s health care team31:42 – Working with the Trump administration Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: 00:17 – What Untermeyer has been doing since becoming special prosecutor 1:11 – Strategy for SEPTA safety 4:24 – Why Untermeyer hasn’t taken any cases so far 5:35 – Where Untermeyer’s office will be based 5:58 – How long it will take before Untermeyer handles more serious crimes 6:50 – Why Untermeyer hasn’t met with DA Larry Krasner 8:38 – How Krasner’s office has handled crime on SEPTA 9:07 – Whether or not a special prosecutor is necessary for SEPTA 10:02 – Untermeyer’s jurisdiction 11:30 – Hiring qualifications for Untermeyer’s office 12:16 – Untermeyer’s staffing goal 13:04 – When Untermeyer will be ready to take a case 13:35 – Legislators and Act 40 14:08 – Would Untermeyer run for District Attorney? 15:38 – Assaults on SEPTA employees 16:09 – Handling non-assault cases 17:31 – Untermeyer’s current office Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: 1:00 – Making the transition from congressman to senator 1:48 – Challenges after Democrats lost control of the Senate2:38 – Finding common ground between Democrats and Republicans 3:43 – President-elect Trump’s nominees 4:51 – Thoughts on Senator Rubio 5:45 – Martial law declaration in South Korea 7:14 – Relationship between the U.S. and South Korea 8:35 – Preparing for the Senate 9:17 – What went wrong for Democrats in the presidential election 11:03 – President Biden’s pardoning of his son Hunter Biden Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Here’s a full breakdown of the episode.Interview with Senator-elect Joe Picozzi:37 – Why Picozzi won Northeast Philly1:30 – Picozzi’s pitch to voters2:10 – Picozzi’s plans for Harrisburg2:44 – Picozzi on Mayor Parker, Commissioner Bethel3:50 – Final push in his race 4:27 – Relationship with local Republican party5:32 – Trump’s success in Northeast Philly6:32 – Republicans and younger voters 9:17 – Picozzi on SEPTA’s financial issues11:13 – Funding education in Pennsylvania12:30 – Republican control in Washington 13:56 – Trump picking Matt Gaetz for Attorney GeneralInterview with Rep. Brendan Boyle15:34 – What Boyle heard in Northeast Philly17:28 – Split ticket voters18:13 – Why Boyle was more successful with Northeast Philly voters than Kamala Harris19:30 – Changing political climate in Northeast Philly20:30 – What Democrats need to focus more on in Northeast Philly22:37 – Getting back working-class residents who voted for Trump23:13 – What went wrong for Democrats in Pennsylvania24:34 – What Boyle is prepared for in his next term Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hours after Donald Trump’s victory winning Pennsylvania and the White House, Philadelphia Democratic Chair and former congressman Bob Brady slammed Kamala Harris’ campaign, claiming their lack of communication with him and his organization contributed to her loss. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Brady spoke with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk who also has a response to Brady’s criticism from the Kamala Harris campaign. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The congressional race in the Lehigh Valley could help decide who controls the House of Representatives in Washington. Incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Susan Wild is facing Republican challenger Ryan Mackenzie in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District. NBC 10 reached out to both campaigns to interview the candidates - only Wild agreed to speak with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, they spoke about a wide range of issues, including inflation, the cost of childcare, immigration, abortion and more. Here’s a full breakdown of their interview: :30 – Inflation and unsatisfied voters 3:39 – Inflation and the federal government 5:05 – The cost of childcare 7:17 – ‘No taxes on tips’ proposals from presidential candidates 8:34 – Trump’s proposal for no taxes on social security, overtime 10:26 – Differences between Biden and Harris 12:19 – Foreign policy and aid for Ukraine 15:23 – Immigration and border security 21:42 – Abortion rights 23:56 – The 7th District race and Pennsylvania Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

1:01 - On corruption in New Jersey politics2:30 - Kim's effort to change "county line" ballots3:53 - How to tackle inflation and high prices6:37 - On critiques from Bashaw on government spending8:42 - Kim's stance on tax policy10:33 - How would a Senator Kim deal with a President Donald Trump?11:56 - Potential changes to the structure of the Supreme Court13:37 - On abortion law16:04 - On immigration Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

:32 - Why should voters take a chance on Bashaw?1:22 - On the economy2:31 - How Bashaw would vote on tax policy and government spending4:44 - Where Bashaw thinks the government can make cuts5:59 - On Trump's tariff plan7:22 - Bashaw's stance on abortion10:30 - What is Bashaw's relationship with Trump?11:58 - On the integrity of the 2020 election13:30 - On immigration17:52 - On corruption in New Jersey politics19:06 - How Bashaw, a gay man, felt about an LGBTQ-equality group endorsing his opponent Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pennsylvania’s Senate race is one of the most-watched in the country. Senator Bob Casey, a Democrat, is facing Republican Dave McCormick. NBC10’s Lauren Mayk invited both candidates to speak with her. Sen. Casey is the first to accept. He spoke with Lauren following a West Philadelphia campaign event and covered a wide range of topics, including the economy, Medicare, abortion, immigration, and aid for Israel and the situation in Gaza. Editor’s Note: The interview took place before the death of Hamas leader Yahwa Sinwar was confirmed. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: :43 – The economy, high prices and ‘greedflation’ 2:43 – Social security and Medicare 5:05 – Abortion and women’s health care 6:49 – Immigration and the border 9:33 – Israel-Hamas war Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We traveled across Pennsylvania talking to voters and local leaders about the presidential electionNBC10’s Lauren Mayk spent a week in October traveling across Pennsylvania, a key swing state that is expected to play a pivotal role in the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren shares highlights from her tour in which she spoke with voters, volunteers, officials and political leaders about Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump and key issues of the election. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: :33 – Speaking with voters in the Pittsburgh area 2:10 – Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker talks the importance of Beaver County, Pa.3:50 – House Speaker Joanna McClinton on the political differences across Pennsylvania 4:27 – Fracking and the energy industry 6:28 – Speaking with voters and volunteers in Erie County, Pennsylvania 11:13 – Penn State University students on the presidential election 14:13 – Gov. Josh Shapiro on Kamala Harris and the election 18:42 – Eric Trump talks about his father Donald Trump and Pennsylvania 23:12 – Scranton Mayor and voters speak on the election 24:49 – Hazleton Latino voters and the presidential election in Luzerne County28:15 – Lancaster County voters and the presidential election 29:47 – Berks County leader, voter speak on the election Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Republican Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance and Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz were both in Pennsylvania for campaign rallies over the weekend. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spoke with Vance at his rally in Leesport about Donald Trump’s controversial statements on Haitian immigrants, how a Trump presidency would handle healthcare and IVF treatments and a recent report alleging that Mark Robinson, the Republican candidate for governor in North Carolina, referred to himself as a “Black Nazi” in an online post.Lauren also spoke with Trump supporters at the Leesport rally as well as Kamala Harris supporters at Walz’s rally in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, including a Kenyan native and US citizen who spoke out against Trump’s comments on immigrants.Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:JD Vance interview :44 – The Mark Robinson allegations2:03 – How healthcare and IVF would work under a Trump presidency4:28 – What Vance would say to immigrants who are upset about Trump’s rhetoricInterview with voters at Tim Walz rally 6:29 –US citizen from Kenya on Trump’s comments on immigrants6:53 – Harris supporter on why she’s ‘desperate’ to keep Trump out of the White House7:45 – Harris supporter explains why Tim Walz appeals to her and how she feels about the presidential raceInterview with voters at JD Vance rally 10:30 – Pa. voters explain why they support Donald Trump and JD Vance12:00 – Trump supporters discuss the issues that matter to them the most14:44 – Trump supporter discusses racial division and how to solve it Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are set to face off at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia for the presidential debate on Tuesday, Sept. 10. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk speaks with National Constitution Center president and CEO Jeffrey Rosen about the preparations being made. She also speaks with Pennsylvania voters about what they want to hear from both Trump and Harris during the debate and the rest of the presidential race. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:Jeffrey Rosen, National Constitution Center President and CEO :33 – The significance of having the presidential debate in Philadelphia1:08 – How the National Constitution Center is preparing for the debate1:49 – The stakes of Tuesday’s presidential debate2:27 – How the rules impact the dynamics of the presidential debate3:18 – The importance of watching the entire presidential debate 4:07 – Appearance vs. substance in presidential debates5:34 – The impact of the 2008 debate between Obama and Clinton at the National Constitution Center6:31 – Things to watch for during Tuesday’s debateMajesty Moreland, voter 7:50 – How she feels about the presidential race8:09 – What she’s looking for in Tuesday’s debate9:00 – How she feels about Kamala Harris and her policies10:35 – Whether or not she will vote in November11:20 – Issues she hopes Harris, Trump address in the debateNeil Stolar, voter 11:53 – Keeping an open mind as the presidential race continues12:40 – Whether or not the debate will influence who he votes forIrma Fralic, voter14:10 – What she wants to hear during the debate14:35 – Whether or not she has an idea of what both candidates would do with foreign policyPam Barnes, voter15:17 – What she hopes to hear from Harris, Trump during the debate16:33 – Who she will vote for and why Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

NBC10 political reporter Lauren Mayk was on the floor with delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. In this episode, hear her conversations with lawmakers (Philadelphia Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Congresswoman Madeleine Dean and Senator Chris Coons) - and an unexpected appearance by Delaware Governor John Carney - on the night Hillary Clinton and President Biden took the stage at the DNC. She also spoke with former Congressman Patrick Murphy from Bucks County about his friendship with Gov. Tim Walz and his family. 1:06 – Philadelphia Council member Katherine Gilmore Richardson reflects on Hillary Clinton’s run in 20161:34 – Richardson on chants of “Lock Him Up” during Hillary Clinton’s speech2:44 – Pennsylvania Congresswoman Madeleine Dean how she’s feeling being at the DNC for the first time4:47 – Rep. Dean on President Joe Biden stepping aside and not running again5:55 – Delaware Gov. John Carney joins the conversation to reflect on President Biden’s life in politics8:30 – Delaware Senator Chris Coons on the historic nature of the DNC9:21 – Sen. Coons shares the advice Pres. Biden shared with him10:07 – Coons talks about Biden’s decision to step aside for Vice President Kamala Harris to run for the White House11:05 – Coons discusses Biden’s potential impact on VP Harris’ campaign and possible administration13:20 – Coons on protests regarding the Israel-Hamas War and the election14:55 – Former Congressman Patrick Murphy from Bucks County shares insight into knowing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz17:02 – Murphy shares his thoughts on former President Donald Trump’s criticism of Walz’s military service18:33 – Murphy how Bucks County voters will view Walz’s record as governor in Minnesota Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker’s spirited statements during the ceremonial roll call has made him one of the breakout stars of the Democratic National Convention. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk spoke with Mayor Walker about his late sister and how she inspired him. She also spoke with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg about Harris and the importance of Pennsylvania in the 2024 presidential election. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:Interview with Pete Buttigieg:38 – The importance of Pennsylvania in the 2024 presidential election1:18 – Kamala Harris’ stance on fracking2:05 – Whether or not a Harris administration would be similar to Biden’s administration3:02 – What the VP nomination process was like4:05 – Attacks on Tim Walz’s military service4:21 – Robert F. Kennedy Jr.5:16 – Whether or not Buttigieg would serve in a Harris administration5:31 – Whether or not Buttigieg would run for president againInterview with Mayor Dwan B. Walker6:15 – Mayor Walker introduces himself and Aliquippa6:30 – What the roll call was like at the DNC7:03 – How Walker’s late sister inspired him9:43 – What it’s like to nominate a Black woman as president11:08 – What made Walker attend the DNC11:34 – What Walker represents12:33 – Speaking with voters about the economy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker attended the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk spoke with Parker about Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, Harris’ choice of Tim Walz as a runningmate over Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and Parker’s plans to turn out voters in Philadelphia this fall. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode. :37 – Parker’s goals at the DNC 1:45 – Parker on whether Harris can win Pa. without Shapiro as her running mate 3:12 – Whether or not promoting Shapiro for VP ended up backfiring 4:46 – How Parker’s connections with Philly voters will impact the presidential election 6:50 – Whether or not Parker is nervous about what Harris could face as a woman of color running for office8:21 – Trump’s comments on Harris’ race 9:23 – Whether she would consider no taxes on tips in Philly 12:06 – Whether she’d consider serving in a Harris administration Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There has been some political drama in Montgomery County connected to the presidential race. A local Republican Committee official says he will not vote for the Republican nominee, former President Donald Trump, and has encouraged others to join him. Matthew McCaffery said that led to a formal complaint against him and talk of a disciplinary hearing if he didn't resign. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10's Lauren Mayk sat down with both McCaffery and the chair of the Montgomery County Republican Committee to ask about what happens now as well as talk of ticket-splitting and winning over voters. Here's a full breakdown of the episode: 0:44 – Matthew McCaffery discusses being a lifelong Republican and why he’s not supporting candidate Donald Trump2:15 – McCaffery explains his previous votes3:12 – McCaffery talks about why choosing Joe Biden or Kamala Harris is a better choice in his eyes4:40 – Why he voted for Nikki Halley in PA’s primary5:20 – Reflecting on Nikki Haley supporting Donald Trump6:42 – Going against his own party8:20 – McCaffery discusses where any disciplinary actions stand against him9:37 – McCaffery explains why he thinks he should still hold his seat despite breaking the bylaws10:22 – The fight for the Republicans who are pushing back against Donald Trump and his supporters11:43 – McCaffery discusses other candidates and who he supports in the upcoming election12:43 – McCaffery looks ahead at what his future looks like in the Republican party and as a voter14:14 – Christian Nascimento explains Montgomery County Republican Committee bylaws16:11 – Nascimento on the difference between being a voter, being part of party leadership16:30 – November election17:44 – Nascimento on fighting for every vote19:40 – Impact of change at the top of the Democratic ticket20:32 – Potential impact on down-ballot races21:32 – The excitement of voters on the ground in Montgomery County22:52 – If having a woman on the top of the Democratic ticket changes Republican’s strategy22:37 – How Montgomery County’s committee works with nearby counties24:17 – Nascimento shares his thoughts on the possibility of voters ticket-splitting24:55 – How rare is a situation like the one with McCaffery26:45 – If Matthew McCaffery would be kicked out in the event he doesn’t resign Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

United States Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recently visited Philadelphia to meet with city employees who’ve benefitted from the public service loan forgiveness program. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spoke with Cardona about a wide range of issues, including student loan forgiveness, campus protests, education funding and whether he’d serve in a Harris administration. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: :51 – Student loans 2:36 – Timeline of student loan forgiveness plan 5:00 – The Hatch Act 6:00 – Access to financial aid 7:50 – Campus protests amid the Israel-Hamas War 10:00 – School funding in Pennsylvania12:15 – Possibility of serving in a Kamala Harris administration Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Earlier this year, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spoke with undecided Pennsylvania voters about the 2024 presidential race. Now that President Joe Biden has dropped out of the race and former President Donald Trump has a running mate, Lauren reconnected with those voters to hear their thoughts about the changes as well as whether or not they’ve made a decision. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: 1st interview: Michele Frankel of Bucks County, Pennsylvania 1:44 – Thoughts on the presidential race now that Biden is out 2:37 – State of the economy 2nd interview: Pam Barnes of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania 4:23 – The current presidential race 4:50 – Thoughts on Kamala Harris 6:04 – RNC and JD Vance 6:54 – Hearing from Donald Trump’s granddaughter3rd interview: Ian Callaghan, Temple University student 8:02 – Whether or not he’ll support Kamala Harris 9:02 – Kamala Harris and Biden’s policies 10:30 – Whether or not the country would be ready for a female president 10:53 – Concern over Harris’ chances of winning Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Editor's Note: This interview took place before Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the presidential race. Senator Kim Ward is the President Pro Tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate and the highest-ranking Republican in the Pennsylvania legislature. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk spoke with Sen. Ward outside the Republican National Convention about a variety of topics, including the current political environment and what’s ahead for Pennsylvania. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:1:00 – How Pennsylvania is being viewed1:50 – Trump’s chances in Pennsylvania2:50 – The impact of inflation on Pa. voters3:45 – Immigration and the border5:00 – Mass deportation5:52 – Strong rhetoric during the presidential race8:35 – Changing the political environment10:40 – Potential reactions if Trump loses11:18 – The GOP’s plans for Pennsylvania12:04 – The likelihood of knowing the election results early in Pa. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

During the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Ohio Senator JD Vance was announced as Donald Trump’s running mate in the 2024 presidential race. The convention also included a speech by Dave McCormick, the Republican candidate for Senate in Pennsylvania who is looking to unseat Democratic Senator Bob Casey. NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spoke with McCormick and other RNC attendees about Vance, how Pennsylvania voters could react to him and other issues. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode. Interview with Dave McCormick :46 – What it was like to speak at the RNC 1:20 – Reacting to the assassination attempt on Donald Trump 2:12 – Political rhetoric in the aftermath of the shooting 2:50 – GOP VP nominee JD Vance’s impact on Pennsylvania Interview with Jeff Bartos 3:41 – How voters in the Philly suburbs will react to Vance 4:30 – How Pa. voters will react to Vance’s stance on abortion 5:21 – Vance’s stance on Israel Interview with Andy Reilly 6:11 – The importance of Pennsylvania Interview with Lawrence Tabas 6:35 – 2024 RNC and presidential race8:04 – The GOP’s messaging in Pennsylvania 8:46 – Mail-in ballots 10:10 – Thoughts on JD Vance Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Republican National Convention took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, only days after former President and current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump was injured in an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania that also left two people – including the gunman – dead and two others injured. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, delegates at the RNC share their reactions to the shooting as well as their thoughts on Trump and the current state of the GOP. Here's a full breakdown of the episode: 1st interview: James Hutchison of Lackawanna County, Pa. :41 -- Reaction to the assassination attempt 1:10 -- Concerns over Trump’s safety going forward 2:15 – Changes to the Republican party platform 3:50 – Reaction to Project 2025 2nd interview: Leslie Morgan of Delaware County, Pa.5:00 – Staying focused on the RNC platform after assassination attempt on Trump6:02 – Abortion and the current GOP platform 3rd interview: Michael Giannetta and Michael Giannetta Jr. of Lackawanna County, Pa.8:04 – Why Michael Jr. wanted to attend the RNC 8:24 – Reaction to assassination attempt on Trump 10:04 – Impact of assassination attempt on political rhetoric 4th interview: Patrick and Eve Cubbage of Northampton County, Pa. 11:08 – Overall feeling after assassination attempt on Trump Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Republicans will formally nominate Donald Trump for president for a third straight time at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk speaks with a panel of political insiders about what people can expect from the 2024 RNC. That panel includes Jim Worthington, the Chair of the Pennsylvania Delegation to the RNC, Guy Ciarrocchi of the Commonwealth Foundation, and Mustafa Rashed of Bellevue Strategies. Then Lauren speaks with University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor Michael Wagner who compares the two swing states Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: Jim Worthington, Guy Ciarrocchi, Mustafa Rashed preview the Republican National convention :48 – How the 2024 RNC will be different from past conventions 2:00 – Whether or not everyone at the 2024 RNC will be “all in” on Trump 2:45 – Unity among Republicans 4:15 – Democrats during the RNC5:28 – Appealing to independent voters 7:00 – The current GOP platform 8:45 – What Democrats are watching for at the RNC 10:51 – Potential impact of Trump’s criminal sentencing 13:00 – GOP strategies after the RNC Professor Michael Wagner compares Wisconsin to Pennsylvania as swing states 15:00 – Why Wisconsin is a swing state 15:40 – The current political state of Wisconsin 17:20 – The political geography of Wisconsin 18:22 – The politics of the Wisconsin suburbs 19:20 – Key counties in Wisconsin 20:09 – The impact of demographic changes in Wisconsin 21:04 – What people don’t realize about Wisconsin that could make a difference in the election22:07 – How Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are similar as swing states Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the hours after the presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk caught up with a Philly resident, a Montgomery County resident and a South Jersey resident to get their reactions. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, the three voters shared their thoughts on the debate and whether or not they’re closer to making a decision. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: 1st voter: Majesty Moreland of North Philadelphia :45 – Thoughts on the presidential debate 1:10 – Lack of confidence after debate 2:02 – Thoughts on Biden and Trump 2:36 – Whether or not Biden’s age impacts her vote 3:30 – Whether or not she will vote for Trump 4:00 – Where the debate leaves her as a voter 4:47 – Why she voted for Biden in 2020 5:30 – Whether or not Democrats should change their candidate 6:13 – Thoughts on Vice President Kamala Harris 2nd voter: Irma Fralic of Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania 6:58 – Thoughts on the presidential debate 8:11 – Unanswered questions during the debate 11:20 – Whether or not she wants Biden and Trump to debate again 11:55 – Changing the party system 13:52 – Deciding who to vote for 3rd voter: Bill Schmidt of East Greenwich, New Jersey 15:36 – Thoughts on the presidential debate 16:52 – Thoughts on Trump’s answers during the debate 18:37 – Thoughts on Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 20:45 – Who he would vote for today 21:13 – What he’s hoping comes out of the debate Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spoke with Philadelphia Managing Director Adam Thiel about the challenges the city faces, the future of Kensington and the status of an investigation into overspending by the Office of Homeless Services during the city’s previous administration. Thiel also spoke with Lauren about whether or not he would ever consider running for office.Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:1:05 – The transition from fire commissioner to managing director2:04 – The differences between Mayor Kenney and Mayor Parker3:13 – Thiel’s thoughts on his successor, Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson3:53 – The next steps for Kensington7:00 – The status of the people who were in Kensington’s homeless encampment8:32 – How housing works for the previously unhoused10:28 – Current timeline of the Riverview Wellness Village12:30 – City’s involvement with treatment centers13:41 – Status of homeless shelter in Fairmount after city council votes to block renewal of lease16:14 – Pushback from city residents on homeless shelters18:11 – The city budget proposal process19:57 – The investigation of overspending in the Office of Homeless Services24:00 – Fixing staffing issues at city prisons26:44 – Expectations for full-time return to office for city employees29:30 – Thiel on whether or not he would ever run for office Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Registered Democrats and Republicans are only separated by about 1,000 voters in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk speaks with Bucks County Republican Committee Chair Pat Poprik about what she’s doing to secure votes for Donald Trump. She also spoke with a Bucks County resident who remains undecided on who she plans to vote for in the 2024 election.Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: :22 – Undecided Bucks County voter’s concerns over Biden, Trump1:19 – Why Pat Poprik feels encouraged about the upcoming election 4:55 – Bucks County in the spotlight 6:12 – How Republicans are engaging with undecided voters7:30 – Pat Poprik speaks on Biden 9:20 – Voter decisions and Nikki Haley voting trends 12:38 – Pat Poprik on abortion issue15:05 – Upcoming plans and mail-in ballots Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

During the 2020 election, about 17,000 votes separated Joe Biden and Donald Trump in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with Biden winning by about four and a half points. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk speaks with State Senator Steve Santarsiero -- who serves as the Bucks County Democratic Committee Chair -- about the work his party is doing in Bucks County to secure votes for Biden. Lauren also spoke with a Bucks County resident who remains undecided on who she plans to vote for in the 2024 election. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: :35 – Undecided Bucks County voter’s concerns over Biden, Trump1:32 – Sen. Santarsiero on why he believes Biden will win Bucks County 3:03 – Biden’s chances of gaining Nikki Haley supporters 6:00 – Undecided Democratic voters9:33 – Voter registration numbers and party performance 11:20 – Local engagement with voters15:00 – The current situation in Harrisburg Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

President Joe Biden recently visited Girard College, a Philadelphia boarding school, as his campaign launched an initiative to reach out to Black voters. About three weeks before that, former President Donald Trump held a rally in Wildwood, New Jersey. For the latest episode of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk spoke to voters at both events about various issues, including the economy, the Israel-Hamas War, abortion and more. Here's a full breakdown of the episode: 1:05 – Voter discusses why she supports Joe Biden 1:50 – Challenges that President Biden faces 2:35 – Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas War 3:47 – Voter discusses what she wants to see more of from Biden 5:16 – Philly pastor shares his thoughts on President Biden 6:04 – Pastor speaks on his congregation’s political views 7:19 – Reaching Black voters in the Philly area 9:29 – Voters discuss whether or not Trump can win NJ 10:42 – Trump supporters talk the issues that are most important to them 11:39 – Trump supporters discuss abortion 13:33 – Trump supporters discuss their political involvement 14:51 – Trump supporters on the GOP and abortion rights Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Former Philadelphia councilmember Maria Quiñones-Sánchez spent years representing the city’s 7th district, which included the Kensington neighborhood. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, she spoke on the current and future state of Kensington, politics and the importance of listening to Latino voters during a high-profile election year.Here's a full breakdown of the episode: :55 -- Post-city council life for Maria Quiñones-Sánchez1:47 -- The city's current effort to improve Kensington3:46 -- Optimism for Kensington5:29 -- How would triage and wellness centers in Kensington work?7:57 -- Addressing problems in Kensington and Philly12:55 -- Philly's work to help the Latino community16:15 -- The Democratic party's relationship with the Latino community21:30 -- President Biden and Latino voters22:30 -- Latino voters' stances on abortion24:23 -- Appealing to voters who are going through economic hardships27:30 -- Philly's rule on leaving city council to run for mayor Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

During a weeklong stretch in mid-April, former President Donald Trump came to the Lehigh Valley two days before his criminal trial began while President Joe Biden made three stops in Pennsylvania, including in Philadelphia.In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk spoke with Pennsylvania voters as the candidates came to town. They spoke about abortion, the economy, immigration, Trump’s criminal trial, the Israel-Hamas War and who they plan to vote for. Lauren also spoke with Villanova University political science professor David Barrett about the presidential race and visits in the swing state. Here's a full breakdown of the episode:1:21 – Pennsylvania voters on what motivates them2:02 – Pa. voters speak on abortion4:12 – Pa. voters speak on economy, immigration, inflation and corruption5:25 – Pa. voters speak on his criminal trial6:29 – Philly voters speak on President Biden8:37 – Getting focused on issues and policies this election year9:37 -- Philly voter on what it means for President Biden to come to their neighborhood12:30 -- Voter speaks on Trump and criminal charges13:20 -- Protester speaks on Biden, Trump and Israel-Hamas War16:24 -- David Barrett, Professor of political science at Villanova, joins Lauren16:32 -- The impact of in-person visits in a campaign and the value in swing states17:28 -- How the type of event matters in a campaign19:00 – Does not having a running mate place Trump at a disadvantage?19:54 -- The dynamics of campaigning post-pandemic Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Philadelphia-based attorneys William J. Brennan and Michael van der Veen represented Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial. As the president’s current hush money trial continues, Brennan and van der Veen share their experience defending the former president in the latest episode of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk.Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: :30 – Did the Trump impeachment trial feel different from other cases?2:36 – Preparing for the impeachment trial6:00 – Reacting to the jury6:30 – How they almost lost Mitch McConnell7:45 – The politics of the impeachment trial8:32 – Why Brennan and van der Veen felt like Rocky9:13 – Did they think they would lose Pat Toomey?11:27 – Realizing the world was watching the trial14:05 – How the Senate works 16:02 – The impact of today’s politics and media on how lawmakers work together Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Philadelphia-based attorneys William J. Brennan and Michael van der Veen once represented former President Donald Trump’s payroll corporation in a tax fraud trial as well as Trump himself in his second impeachment trial. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, both attorneys share their insights on Trump’s current hush money trial and how it compares to the tax fraud trial, which featured the same judge.Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: 1:26 – Brennan and van der Veen speak about being in the same courtroom with the same judge while representing Trump’s company3:31 – Brennan and van der Veen describe the nature of their case representing the Trump Payroll Corporation4:27 – The process of picking a jury 6:20 – The types of questions asked during their jury selection 7:56 – The biggest challenges in choosing a jury 11:39 – The importance of the venue 12:27 – Trump’s history in New York and how it impacts jury selection 13:27 – What Brennan and van der Veen learned from representing Trump 15:34 – Thoughts on Trump in and out of court 19:35 – How much involvement will Trump likely have in his defense? 22:37 – Will Trump testify? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you’re a registered Democrat or Republican in Pennsylvania, you’ll get to vote in April’s primary elections. If you’re an independent not affiliated with the party however, you won’t get a say until November. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk speaks with David Thornburgh – the former head of the Committee of 70 and current chair of Ballot PA – about the push to allow independents to vote in Pennsylvania’s primaries. Here is a full breakdown of the episode: 0:09 – Who gets to vote in the Pennsylvania primary election?0:25 – Pennsylvania’s registered voters by the numbers0:47 – Lauren introduces David Thornburgh, Chair of Ballot PA1:18 – David shares the why behind Ballot PA1:37 – Who the independent voters are in Pennsylvania2:49 – What makes the current push to allow independents in the Pa. primaries different from previous efforts? 4:59 – What kind of change would this idea bring?5:09 – David speaks on the cost of primary elections and who gets to participate in them5:31 – Political extremism and incentives to govern8:04 – Party switching and temporary party registrations10:00 – The growth of independent voters and the state of young voters12:19 – Different states, different kinds of primary elections13:53 – Lauren asks about the possibility of this proposal being tucked into another bill 16:08 – How the support of governors, past and present, and bipartisan support came to be17:50 – What’s next and what’s ahead for Ballot PA19:07 – The 2024 election and whether it helps or hurts the cause Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

NBC10’s Lauren Mayk visited Washington, DC, for President Biden’s State of the Union address. For the latest episode of her Battleground Politics podcast, Lauren asked local members of Congress one simple question: what can they actually get done this year? Lauren spoke with Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pennsylvania), Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-New Jersey), Senator Tom Carper (D-Delaware), Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware) and Michael Hagen, an associate professor of political science at Temple University. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: Interview with Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon 1:52 - The role of bipartisanship in getting things done 2:25 – The accomplishments of the legislative body 2:29 – Keeping the government open, kicking out George Santos Interview with Congressman Jeff Van Drew 3:01 – What can get done this year? 3:38 – The border, HR2 and the legislative session Interview with Senator Tom Carper 5:04 – Senator Bill Cassidy, Program of All-Inclusive Care6:07 – Carper on Trump’s influence Interview with Senator Chris Coons 6:41 – What can get done this year? Interview with Michael Hagen 8:05 – Election anxiety and congressional campaigns 9:28 – Control of both chambers of Congress up for grabs and Trump’s influence 12:31 – Impact of the State of the Union 14:57 – The State of the Union and the presidential campaign 15:18 – “Blaming the other side for inaction is a tried-and-true strategy.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner spoke with Lauren Mayk about his ongoing fight against Act 40, a new law that would give a special prosecutor jurisdiction over any crime committed on SEPTA’s property. Krasner also spoke about his disagreement with Governor Josh Shapiro over Act 40, the recent violence on and near SEPTA properties, working with the city's new mayor and new police commissioner and whether or not he plans to run for a third term.Here is a full breakdown of the episode: 1:43 – Preparing for the possibility of a special prosecutor2:36 – Krasner on Shapiro’s stance on Act 404:37 – Support for Krasner’s fight against Act 405:41 – Protecting the upcoming election in Philly 7:37 – Reaction to SEPTA’s stance on Act 40 9:30 – Krasner on Act 40’s sponsor 10:39 – How a special prosecutor would handle SEPTA violence 13:50 – How to stop SEPTA violence 15:35 – SEPTA cracking down on all crime16:35 – Crime in Philly 18:11 – Krasner’s relationship with Mayor Parker, Commissioner Bethel 19:08 – Crime and drug use in Kensington 20:19 – Krasner’s role in Philly drug arrests 21:43 – Will Krasner run for re-election?25:19 - Shapiro administration’s response to Krasner25:52 – Senator Langerholc’s response to Krasner Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rep. Dwight Evans invited Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker to Washington, DC, as his guest for President Biden's State of the Union Thursday night. Hours before the address, Mayor Parker and Rep. Evans spoke with NBC10's Lauren Mayk about the recent gun violence in Philly and the upcoming presidential election as well as the challenges that Philly, the country and the president face.Here is a full breakdown of the episode. :38 – Why did Dwight Evans invite Mayor Parker to the State of the Union? 1:18 – Working with DC to help Philly3:20 – A divided Washington5:17 – Philadelphia and the presidential race6:23 – Connecting with voters8:25 – What changes should Philadelphians expect in the aftermath of the recent violence?12:38 – Idea of using National Guard14:52 – Making SEPTA safer Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk is speaking with residents and leaders in the Philadelphia area and surrounding suburbs about how voters are feeling about various issues, including the economy. While Philadelphia is heavily democratic, whether voters turn out or whether Republicans peel some votes away can have a big impact on the presidential race in Pennsylvania. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren speaks with Philly Democratic ward leader Sharon Vaughn, Mikal Ellis, the owner of a High Level Cutz barbershop, and Patrick Murray, the director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, about the current pulse of voters in our area. Sharon Vaughn interview :41 – Is Vaughn more worried that Philly voters will vote for Trump or that they’ll stay home? 1:18 – Are Biden and Harris speaking enough to Black voters? 1:48 – How local leaders in city hall can connect with voters 2:33 – What Vaughn is seeing in her ward as far as voting frequency 4:04 – Will Cherelle Parker impact who Philly residents vote for in the presidential electionMikal Ellis interview 5:33 – How do Philly residents feel about the economy? 6:25 – What are the signs of a good or bad economy? 7:40 – Are Biden’s visits to Philly making a difference? 8:40 – What would it take for Ellis to vote in 2024? 9:31 – Could Trump convince Ellis to vote for him? Patrick Murray interview 10:16 – Are there determining factors on whether people feel they’re benefitting from the economy? 13:25 -- How much does it take to change opinions of the economy? 14:56 – How much credit is Biden getting for the growing economy?17:48 – How much of a factor will people’s personal financial situation play into their vote? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro recently gave his budget address in Harrisburg. He laid out how he wants to spend taxpayer dollars over the next year and he’s proposing some big investments. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk spoke with the governor about what his plans would look like, the negotiations ahead and the 2024 presidential race in Pennsylvania. The governor also discussed investing in the state without raising taxes, his plan to help SEPTA, higher education and his signage of a controversial state law that affects who has the power to prosecute certain crimes in Philadelphia. Here is a full breakdown of the episode. :41 – How will Gov. Shapiro negotiate with Pa. lawmakers?1:39 – School vouchers3:15 – Future spending, Pennsylvania surplus, taxes6:20 – Money for SEPTA8:37 – SEPTA special prosecutor11:41 – Higher education plan 15:33 – Israel-Hamas war protests against President Biden17:41 – Voters’ feelings about the economy20:23 – Shapiro and 2028 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the latest episode of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, new Philadelphia Council President Kenyatta Johnson talks moving forward and helping the city improve following his acquittal in his federal corruption trial. He also talked about working with new Mayor Cherelle Parker, how he plans to tackle the city’s ongoing gun violence crisis, his thoughts on stop and frisk, Act 40 and the 76ers arena proposal.Here's a full breakdown of the episode:1:00 – What will city council look like with Kenyatta Johnson as president?1:57 – Johnson’s approach to his new leadership role2:33 – Working with Mayor Cherelle Parker4:13 – How will Johnson’s acquittal after his corruption trial influence his time as council president?4:55 – Advice for new city councilmembers 5:41 – Does Johnson want to make any changes to city council?6:15 – How does Johnson feel about working with the DOJ after they tried to put him in prison? 6:50 – Tackling the issue of gun violence9:15 – Johnson’s thoughts on stop and frisk11:22 – Johnson’s thoughts on Act 4013:53 – Johnson’s thoughts on the 76ers arena proposal 15:37 – Making city hall more inclusive Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, outgoing Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney spoke with Lauren Mayk about his future plans and reflected on his eight years in office. Kenney discussed his best days and the worst ones. He also spoke about how he handled Philly’s gun violence, the city’s finances and the stress that came along with the job. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: 00:30 – Kenney’s future plans3:30 -- Does Kenney feel like Philly is better now than it was before he took office?6:00 – Kenney’s conversations with city workers in the final days of his term7:00 – Kenney’s reaction to violence involving Philly children12:00 – Does the Parker administration have a better chance at dealing with Philly’s violence? 13:48 – Kenney and DA Krasner14:57 – Did Kenney fail to bring city leaders to the table as mayor?15:43 – Kenney speaks on his controversial quote on the July 4th, 2022 shooting 16:56 – Kenney reacts to Cherelle Parker’s comments on his July 4th quote18:00 – How did Kenney deal with the stress and emotions of being mayor?20:51 – Lessons learned from the city’s response to the George Floyd protests23:02 – Kenney’s reaction to federal wiretaps24:10– Kenny’s thoughts on John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty25:55 – Kenney’s thoughts on former President Donald Trump27:35 – Will Kenney be part of the Biden campaign?28:08 – What was Kenney’s best day in office?31:50 – What was Kenney’s worst day in office?34:13 – Could Kenney have done more to help with Kensington’s drug crisis? 36:38 – Is Kenney completely finished with politics? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The big upcoming changes for Philadelphia’s City Hall don’t just include the new mayor. Darrell Clarke, who has been the president of City Council since 2012 and served on the council for more than a decade before that, is leaving. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk spoke with Clarke about his future, Philadelphia’s future, power in city hall and whether or not he thinks he would have been a good mayor. Clarke also discusses his expectations as a member of Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker’s new intergovernmental roundtable, how much power convicted former labor leader John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty had in city hall and ways the city can be more “aggressive” in fighting crime. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: :37 -- How is Darrell Clarke feeling about his city council tenure coming to an end? 1:28 – Clarke’s future plans 2:28 – Is Clarke still comfortable with his decision to leave? 3:17 – Expectations as a member of Mayor-elect Parker’s intergovernmental roundtable5:52 – Can a focus on different neighborhoods coincide with a “One Philadelphia” vision?7:43 – Will Philly have a Chief Public Safety Director? 10:13 – Has the balance of power shifted at city hall? 12:34 – Does Clarke think he would’ve been a good mayor? 13:37 – How much power did Johnny Doc have in city hall? 16:30 – Does city council’s structure potentially put councilmembers in compromising positions? 18:02 – Did city council do everything they could to curb gun violence during Clarke’s tenure? 21:15 – Being more ‘aggressive’ on solving crime in Philly 24:30 – Would Clarke take a job in the Parker administration? 25:00 – Clarke talks potential upcoming role on the State Liquor Control Board Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

While Democrats are the dominant party in Philadelphia, historically Republicans have had two at-large city council seats that were reserved for the non-majority party. That changed however after the Working Families Party won both of those seats in the city’s recent General Election.In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk spoke with City Commissioner Seth Bluestein – one of the only elected Republicans left in Philly city government – about his party’s dwindling presence in City Hall, the future of the GOP and how he’s preparing for another presidential election year.Here's a full breakdown of the episode: :53 – How does it feel to be one of two Republicans left in Philly’s city government? 2:35 – Can a third party contribute to Philly bipartisanship? 3:18 – Why couldn’t Republicans get the two non-majority city council seats? 5:09 – How can Republicans in the Philly area move forward in 2024?7:10 – Is it worth it for Republican candidates to compete in Philly?8:00 – Will changing Republican leadership in Philly make a difference?8:45 – How much of a factor is Donald Trump in the Philly area?9:30 – Was the GOP’s push for mail-in voting too little too late?11:55 – Preparing for the potential spotlight on Philly during the 2024 Election14:28 – Has Seth Bluestein’s experience in 2020 helped prepare him for 2024?15:30 – Thoughts on potential GOP presidential candidates Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Working Families Party has been gaining power in Philadelphia and recently won two City Council seats. Kendra Brooks was elected in 2019 as part of the Working Families Party and then reelected in November along with Nicolas O’Rourke. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk spoke with Brooks about how they did it, what’s ahead in City Hall and what she and her supporters will do in 2024. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: 1:00 – How will City Council be different with two Working Families Party members? 2:51 – What issues would Kendra Brooks like to take on in the next year? 4:40 – Relationship with Democratic Mayor-Elect Cherelle Parker 6:28 – Why is Kendra Brooks not a Democrat? 8:38 – What’s next for the Working Families Party? 10:28 – Will Working Families Party voters support President Joe Biden in 2024? 12:02 – Are Working Families Party voters satisfied with President Biden? 14:18 – Is there anything President Biden needs to do to win over non-supporters? 15:08 – Does Kendra Brooks support President Biden? 15:30 – What did Kendra Brooks learn from the primary? 17:56 – What conversations helped the Working Families Party appeal to voters? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Episode 9 of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk speaks with Republican Carolyn Carluccio and Democrat Dan McCaffery about their heated and expensive race for Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court. The race between both candidates has gotten plenty of attention outside of Pennsylvania due in part to the possibility that the Pa. Supreme Court could see cases involving abortion and elections in the future. Democrats hold the majority on the court and the race won’t change the balance of power. But if Carluccio wins, it would cut the margin down to only one justice. Here's a full breakdown of the episode:Republican Carolyn Carluccio:50 - How and why the race has become heated1:18 - How else should judges get selected if we didn’t elect them?1:45 - Why Carolyn Carluccio is a Republican and her political alignments2:15 - Carluccio responds to allegations that she wiped anti-abortion language from her website3:15 - Pa. Pro-Life Federation endorsements and Carluccio's stance on abortion access5:25 - Judicial activism6:40 - Election laws in Pennsylvania and voting by mail8:47 - 2020 election10:46 - Possibility of changing Pennsylvania’s constitution11:40 - Why Carolyn Carluccio wants to be on the Pa. Supreme CourtDemocrat Daniel McCaffery12:25 - The race has become national and heated14:05 - Why Daniel McCaffery is a Democrat15:03 - Democrats and abortion rights16:17 - What McCaffery could do while on the court to protect abortion access and women's rights18:01 - Judicial activism19:15 - Responding to attack ads, scandal accusations21:55 - Constitution as a living document and what that means23:01 - Debate over election laws24:12 - Handling mail-in ballots25:05 - Pennsylvania’s constitution potentially amended by voters, Supreme Court Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the latest episode of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, Pennsylvania Republican Chair Lawrence Tabas talks about why his party as well as former president Donald Trump have recently embraced mail-in ballots ahead of the 2024 election. Meanwhile, political consultant Mustafa Rashed discusses whether the GOP change will alter the tactics of Democrats. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode. 1:17 – How Republican voters are reacting to the ‘Bank Your Vote’ campaign 2:22 – Why Trump changed his stance on mail-in ballots 3:05 – How can Republicans catch up with Democrats on mail-in ballots?4:36 – Changing the minds of Pennsylvania Republican voters 5:56 – Is Lawrence Tabas comfortable about mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania? 6:36 – How Republicans developed the ‘Bank Your Vote’ campaign 7:21 – Are Republicans getting pushback on mail-in ballots? 8:16 – What would the GOP consider a success for mail-in ballots? 9:50 – How are Democrats currently approaching mail-in ballots?11:11 – Do Democrats need to handle mail-in ballots differently? 12:30 – The importance of Philly’s General Election14:10 – The impact of local organizations on mail-in ballot voting 15:30 – GOP voters beginning to embrace mail-in ballots 16:30 – The future of mail-in and early voting in Pennsylvania Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Episode 7 of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, Philadelphia's Republican candidate for mayor, David Oh, discussed a wide range of issues, including crime in the city, the search for a new police commissioner, stop and frisk, the proposed 76ers arena, the future of the GOP and accusations that he falsely claimed to have served in the Green Berets.Oh also spoke about the deadly police shooting of Eddie Irizarry, building trust between police and the community, and the city’s ghost gun and gun shop lawsuits.Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:1:30 – Crime in Philadelphia3:33 – Looting in the city5:16 – Who would David Oh pick for police commissioner?7:10 – Deadly police shooting of Eddie Irizarry9:02 – Building trust between police and the community11:15 – Philly’s ghost gun and gun shop lawsuits12:25 – Proposed 76ers arena15:33 – Can Republicans hold their seats in City Council?18:36 – Green Beret controversy25:50 – Who will David Oh support in the 2024 presidential race?29:15 – David Oh speaks on his military service Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Episode 6 of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, former GOP congressman Charlie Dent, who represented Pennsylvania’s 15th congressional district from 2005 to 2018, shares his thoughts on the recent ousting of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Dent also weighs in on potential candidates to replace McCarthy and whether or not bipartisan support for a new speaker is actually realistic. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: :46 McCarthy ousted2:15 Finding a new speaker after McCarthy5:31 What does Washington think of McCarthy being gone?7:20 Is bipartisan support for a new speaker realistic?9:20 What mistake did McCarthy make?11:18 Is there enough political will for a bipartisan agreement?12:31 Is Brian Fitzpatrick a potential candidate for speaker?14:41 An unprecedented situation15:06 Does Charlie Dent want to be the new House Speaker? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Episode 5 of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, 'Meet the Press' moderator and former NBC10 reporter Kristen Welker talks 2024, the current political landscape, her Philly-area roots and Pennsylvania’s role in the upcoming election cycle.Welker also talks about the division in U.S. politics, women who mentored her throughout her career and what it was like covering the Philadelphia region as a reporter with NBC10.Here’s a full breakdown of the episode::47 - Becoming the new 'Meet the Press' moderator2:43 - Dealing with the current media landscape3:52 - Important political voices for 20244:57 - Chaos in Washington?6:40 - Division in U.S. politics8:00 - How important is Pennsylvania in the election cycle?9:30 - What was it like growing up and reporting in Pennsylvania?10:57 - What was it like covering politics in the Philly region?13:22 - Casey vs. McCormick 15:42 - Will voters show up on Election Day?17:12 - Women who mentored Kristen throughout her career Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In Episode 4 of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, she talks with Philadelphia's Democratic candidate for mayor Cherelle Parker about a wide range of issues facing the city.Included in their conversation are Parker's views on the search for a new police commissioner, the shooting of Eddie Irizarry, and a recent controversy involving her staffers and an email that was accidentally sent to a Philadelphia news publication.Here's a full breakdown of the episode.1:40 - Potential police commissioner candidates?5:10 - Eddie Irizarry shooting6:46 - What’s Parker’s stance on stop and frisk?8:59 - Should the Sixers arena plan go forward?13:05 - Supervised injection sites17:00 - Democrats, GOP and Working Families Party19:35 - The influence of labor groups21:44 - Should Philly families have access to lifelong scholarships?24:44 - What change could Parker bring to Philly?27:00 - Staff email controversy and reporter access Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As GOP presidential candidates court voters in early voting states, Lauren Mayk talks to Republican voters in Battleground Pennsylvania, and political science professor Christopher Borick, the director of Muhlenberg College’s Institute of Public Opinion. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.