New Hampshire Journal

Come for the rank NH politics punditry, stay for the conversation about "Sextober" at UNH (You should --if you're a New Hampshire taxpayer, you're paying for it!)On an eclectic edition of the NHJournal podcast, host Michael Graham talks to Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies about the crisis at the southern border and the Biden administration's role. Is it a winning issue for pro-border-security candidates?Then Katelyn Regan, the head of the UNH Students for Life chapter, talks about being a political conservative in one of the most far-Left corners of the state. And she shares the brow-raising details about "Sextober" on the UNH campus, put on by the school's Health and Wellness center.And the pod begins with a round of rank punditry from your host.

Over the past three election cycles, Robert Cahaly of the Trafalgar Group has emerged as the most trusted GOP pollster in America, predicting races -- like Trump's 2016 victory -- nearly everyone else missed. He just dropped a poll from the NH Senate race and he talks to host Michael Graham about the mood of the Granite State electorate (not good) and the prospects that a wild-card candidate like retired Gen. Don Bolduc could beat incumbent Democrat Sen. Maggie Hassan (better than you think.)And Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan joins the show to talk about the current state of the GOP and whether there's a path for a moderate governor from a blue state to be a 2024 POTUS contender. He also throws down on Biden's college debt bailout and NH Democratic Party chair Ray Buckley's controversial comments about parents.Enjoy!

In this special post-debate edition of the NHJournal podcast, UNH political science professor Dante Scala joins NHJournal Managing Editor Michael Graham to review the performances and pick the winners in WMUR's U.S. Senate GOP primary debate -- the only statewide, televised debate of the campaign.SPOILER ALERT: The reviews aren't good.They also discuss the impact of Gov. Chris Sununu's endorsement of State Sen. Chuck Morse, the races in the NH-01 and NH-02 primaries, and why Sen. Maggie Hassan could be in trouble no matter who the Republicans nominate (except Bruce Fenton.)

How should Granite State Republicans talk about abortion? Based on their behavior during the 2022 campaign, the answer appears to be "only under duress."Mallory Carroll with Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America doesn't agree. She joins host Michael Graham to discuss how Republicans are mishandling the abortion issue and the opportunity they have in the midterms.The podcast begins, however, with Graham's analysis of the NHGOP's "strategery" -- or lack thereof -- and NH-01 candidate Gail Huff Brown's politically risky move of making her pro-choice stance a centerpiece of her GOP primary campaign. Plus -- did that ad just say "hoe bag?"Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.

Former Ambassador Ric Grenell is an outspoken advocate of President Trump's foreign policy and he makes the case for the former president's record in the podcast. From Russia and Ukraine to Iran and Israel, Grenell argues the Trump approach made progress President Biden has squandered.Grenell was in the Granite State campaigning for his former State Department colleague Matt Mowers, a Republican candidate in the NH-01 primary. Also on the podcast, a new UNH poll hits showing Don Bolduc with a big lead over state Sen. Chuck Morse in what appears to be a two-man race. Host Michael Graham puts the latest numbers in perspective.Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua, and by NHJournal readers who "subscribe" to  the free newsletter for $4.99/month by clicking here.

David Drucker is senior correspondent for the Washington Examiner, author of the book "In Trump's Shadow," and a longtime reporter on American politics. He joins the pod to talk about how the New Hampshire GOP Senate primary is looking to Republicans in DC, and why the GOP insiders aren't panicking about a crash of the "Red Wave" -- yet.Also, Drucker's theory on why President Donald Trump may choose to sit out the NH GOP primaries. WARNING; The podcast starts with a rant from the host on President Biden's $300 billion college debt bailout plan. (He's not a fan.) Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.

Former NH-02 Congressman Paul Hodes is no stranger to wave elections. He was swept into office during the GOP collapse of 2006 and ran (unsuccessfully) for U.S. Senate during the Republican sweep of 2010.In this edition of the NHJournal podcast, Hodes talks about the possibility of a "red wave" hitting the Granite State in 2022, rebuts the argument that progressive politics in New Hampshire is dead, and offers advice for first-time candidates.Today Hodes is a principal at Shanti Energy, a net-zero development solar energy company, when he's not on the road with one of his bands. You can hear some of his music in the podcast!Hosted by Michael Graham.

After a year of whistling past the political graveyard, New Hampshire Democrats are now facing the very real likelihood the Democratic National Committee is going to strip them of their prized "First in the Nation" primary status. Worse, says NHJournal host Michael Graham, is the reason they're giving for taking the primary way: Granite State voters are 'too white.'Politically problematic, to say the least.State Rep. Ross Berry (R-Manchester) joins the podcast to talk about the politics of the DNC's potential move, as well as the mechanics. As for the argument that "the New Hampshire law will save us," Berry points out there's a "poison pill" possibility that could end the Dems' FITN primary, regardless of the law.Meanwhile, the GOP presidential primary will proceed on schedule, creating yet another headache for Granite State Democrats.PLUS! Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, talks about his optimistic view of the GOP's chances to win control of the U.S. Senate. And he pushes back on the argument that Republicans have weak nominees in places like Georgia who will lose otherwise winnable seats.If you want to hear Herschel Walker get more blocking and tackling than when he was playing for the Georgia  Bulldogs -- tune in!

Maryland Gov.  Larry Hogan was in New Hampshire talking housing policy and politics, and he sat down with NHJournal's Michael Graham to talk about Republican politics, just how big the GOP tent truly is, and different U.S. policy would have been if he had taken the oath of office in January 2021 instead of Joe Biden.Hogan also talks about why he thinks resentment within the GOP base is misguided and his theory way, even when the Republican brand is low, approval of GOP governors stays high.Plus -- a bonus round of rank punditry from Graham in the wake of the refusal of Sen. Maggie Hassan and her fellow NHDem members of Congress to answer questions about President Biden's age, competence and possible 2024 POTUS bid.

After trending on Twitter earlier in the week, Rep. Jason Osborne joins host Michael Graham on the NHJournal podcast to talk about his controversial 4th of July message and how the reaction confirms his decision to keep his tweets private.Osborne also talks about the midterms and why the NHDems' decision to center their campaign message on guns and abortion is just fine by him. Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.