New Hampshire Journal

A year after taking office, Gov. Kelly Ayotte tells NHJournal, “I love the job." And she's ready to defend her record -- assuming the Democrats can find a viable opponent to run against her.In a wide-ranging conversation, the first-term Republican says she's happy with the results from the budget she and the GOP passed and has no regrets. She reiterated her anti-tax-hike stance -- including the so-called "Paint Tax" passed by the legislature.She touted New Hampshire's outlier stance in New England, defended the state's efforts to push back on restrictive local zoning rules and even offered some advice for Gov. Tim Walz in politically-war-torn Minnesota.Plus -- Greg Moore with Americans for Prosperity and UNH political science professor Dante Scala join NHJournal's Michael Graham to discuss the state of New Hampshire's races for governor, Congress and the U.S. Senate Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.

Former U.S. Senator Scott Brown knows that the Republican establishment -- including the NRSC -- is backing his opponent, former U.S. Senator John E. Sununu, in the 2026 GOP Senate primary -- but he says he doesn't care. He's ready for that fight and he believes he'll win the grassroots of the New Hampshire Republican Party.Brown, a military veteran who spent decades in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, also has some thoughts about Rep. Maggie Goodlander's controversial video that appears to be urging members of the military to ignore orders from the Commander In Chief.Plus, host Michael Graham concludes the podcast with the question: Are NH Democrats being dumb on purpose? And perhaps more important: If the economy doesn't change, will it matter?Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.

When it comes to federal elections, New Hampshire Republicans have a losing streak that compares with the Cleveland Browns. But Greg Moore and Sarah Scott, senior advisors to AFP Action, believe Republican John E. Sununu can break that streak next year. For the first time ever, AFP Action has endorsed a candidate in a New Hampshire U.S. Senate primary, backing Sununu over his fellow former U.S. Senator Scott Brown, and they explain their strategy on the podcast.PLUS: Three things NHDems keep saying about the recently deceased Democratic government shutdown that are driving NHJournal Managing Editor Michael Graham crazy.The podcast is sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.

A confident John E. Sununu (not to be confused with the many other N.H. Sununus, right Bret Baier?) joins the New Hampshire Journal podcast to talk about his newly-launched bid to return to the U.S. Senate.In a conversation at the Bridge Cafe in Manchester, N.H. Sununu shares his take on the current federal shutdown, as well as the current state of GOP politics -- a very different party than it was during his last race in 2008.Sununu on Shaheen, on Pappas, on the NHGOP and -- of course -- on Donald Trump.Hosted by Michael Graham, Managing Editor of NHJournal.com.Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua. 

Immediately after Charlie Kirk's assassination, NHJournal issued an invitation to every elected NH Democrat to join us on the podcast and say, well, anything!Of the hundreds of election NHDems, just one took us up on the offer: Rep. Jennifer Mandelbaum.Dr. Jennifer Mandelbaum is a public health expert and dedicated public servant representing Portsmouth and Newington in the New Hampshire House of Representatives. She joins NHJournal Managing Editor Michael Graham to discuss NH politics, the current state of the NH Dem party, and the issues that matter to her.All made possible by our friends at Perfect Smiles of Nashua.

Live from Castro's in Bedford, NH it's 'Cigars & Snark!' NHJournal Managing Editor Michael Graham is joined by his WTKK-FM producer 'The Great and Powerful Tom,' Tom Shattuck. They attempt to explain why the Jimmy Kimmel story isn't generating the 'Free Speech Now!' outrage from the Right that the mainstream media seem to expect. They also tell some stories from their career doing conservative talk radio from deep-blue Boston.Find Tom Shattuck's "Burn Barrel" podcast here.

On a special edition of the NHJournal podcast from Castro's in Bedford, political operative and NH native Matthew Barlett joins NHJournal managing editor Michael Graham from his regular stool at Shelly's Backroom in Washington, D.C. to discuss -- and debate -- the assassination of Charlie Kirk and what it means for American politics. Bartlett calls the shooter a 'lone wolf.' Graham disagrees. Also, what could this spike in political violence mean for the 2026 midterm elections in New Hampshire and beyond?Click here to support NHJournal and our podcasts!

Kevin Sabet is President and CEO of the group Smart Approaches to Marijuana. He was in New Hampshire to talk to the National Association of Attorneys General about the impact of America's mass experiment with the commercial marijuana industry. His first book was called Reefer Sanity: Seven Great Myths About Marijuana, and he talks to NHJournal's Michael Graham about how New Hampshire's decision to stay out of the pot business may put it at the forefront of new thinking regarding legal weed.Graham also gives a shout out to the New Hampshire progressives who've taken a break from chanting "Globalize the Intifada" and "From the River to the Sea" to denounce the handful of neo-Nazis who showed up at the state house.Plus -- Why are your energy bills so damn high?Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.To support NHJournal and its content as a "subscriber," please click here to kick in $4.99/month. 

Want to know why the Sydney Sweeney "Good Jeans" ad upset political progressives so much? Just check the reaction to Gov. Kelly Ayotte's decision to sign bills banning sex-change procedures for minor children.PLUS -- Why GOP midterm gerrymandering in Texas means there's almost no chance you'll see it in New Hampshire.Hosted by Michael Graham, managing editor of NHJournal.com.Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.And by the wonderful NHJournal readers who "subscribe" to the newsletter for $4.99 each month. (Click here to become one of them!)

A new NHJournal/Praecones Analytica poll has dropped, and NHJ Managing Editor Michael Graham talks about it with New Hampshire Institute of Politics (NHIOP) Director Neil Levesque. But first, it's Executive Councilor John Stephen venting his outrage at Magistrate Stephanie Johnson and her mishandling of two high-profile cases, including the horrific murder-suicide in Berlin. He says it's time for Johnson to go and the court has the power to kick her out.Plus, a bit of rank punditry from Graham as he tries to figure out what the heck NH Democrats are up to. Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.