Best Zac McCrary Podcasts (2025)

1
Pro Politics Podcast: Pause 2:34

Play Pause

3M ago2:34

2:34

Send us a text The Pro Politics Podcast is taking an indefinite pause, though feel free to reach out to me directly for any reason at my personal email: mccrary.zachary(at)gmail.com. Thanks for listening.By Zac McCrary

1
10 Findings from a New Media Consumption Study with Adam Wise of National Media and Mitch Kline & Pat McGee of Katz Media 53:36

4M ago53:36

53:36

Send us a text Two media firms, Katz Media & National Media, recently partnered to conduct an in-depth media consumption study in the aftermath of the 2024 elections. For the first time publicly, Mitch Kline / Patrick McGee (Katz) & Adam Wise (National) talk in-depth about this study, what motivated it, and 10 core findings from their data. IN THIS…

1
A Master Class in Political Communications, with Democratic Comms Veteran David Bergstein 57:01

4M ago57:01

57:01

Send us a text David Bergstein, Communications Director for Senator Cory Booker, is one of the most accomplished communications professionals working in Democratic politics - working tough campaigns across the country and stints at the DNC, DCCC, and DSCC. In this conversation, we talk his path to politics out of a political family in Portland, OR,…

1
Yasmin Radjy, ED of Swing Left, on Grassroots Tactics That Work & Those That May Not 58:06

5M ago58:06

58:06

Send us a text Yasmin Radjy is the Executive Director of Swing Left and Vote Forward, and was featured recently in The Atlantic after her organization released data showing some of ther field and canvassing tactics in the 2024 election did not work. In this conversation, Yasmin talks her family's path as Iranian refugees to the US, how the '08 Obam…

1
Morris Katz, Lead Media Strategist for Zohran Mamdani for NYC Mayor 51:38

5M ago51:38

51:38

Send us a text Morris Katz, ad-maker at the Fight media firm, is the lead media strategist for Zohran Mamdani's insurgent campaign that secured the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City in a decisive upset over the long-favored Andrew Cuomo. In this conversation, Morris talks his NYC roots, coming from an artistic family, his accidental …

1
Mike Nellis: Founder of Authentic digital, former Senior Advisor to Kamala Harris, & co-founder of White Dudes for Harris 1:07:22

5M ago1:07:22

1:07:22

Send us a text Mike Nellis is the founder of Authentic, a digital fundraising firm that's raised over $1 billion for it's clients including Kamala Harris, Adam Schiff and numerous Governors, Senators, and high profile organizations. He was also a Senior Advisor to Kamala Harris 2020 presidential campaign, the co-founder of White Dudes for Harris in…

1
Congressman Mike Quigley, Why He Called on Biden to Step Aside, & Why It Remains A Necessary Conversation 47:23

6M ago47:23

47:23

Send us a text Congressman Mike Quigley is in his 9th term representing Chicago's North Side and Lakefront as a Democrat in the House. He made waves last year after the first presidential debate as one of the first elected Democrats to publicly urge President Biden to step aside as the party's nominee. In this conversation, we talk through what led…

1
Eight Years in the Reagan White House with Veteran GOP Staffer Frank Lavin 1:19:38

6M ago1:19:38

1:19:38

Send us a text Frank Lavin served under Presidents Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush in positions as varied as personnel, national security, international trade negotiations, Ambassador to Singapore, among others. In this conversation, we discuss his 8+ years in the Reagan White House from 1981-1989 - which is chronicled in his recent bo…

1
Patrick McHugh, Co-Founder of Gambit Strategies & Former E.D. of Priorities USA 1:01:21

7M ago1:01:21

1:01:21

Send us a text Patrick McHugh, co-founder of Gambit Strategies, was the Executive Director of Priorities USA in 2020 as the main super PAC allied with the Biden Presidential campaign. Prior to that, he had stints at the DSCC and working in the opp research department on major Democratic campaigns. In this conversation, we explore Patrick's roots in…

1
Checking Back in with Dr. Michael Cohen on the New Edition of His Book, Modern Political Campaigns 1:09:53

7M ago1:09:53

1:09:53

Send us a text Catching up this week with return guest Dr. Michael Cohen, who just released a new edition of his book Modern Political Campaigns this month. He studied under iconic pollster Bill Hamilton as a student, worked in the trenches in Republican campaigns, spent time at Gallup, apprenticed under renowned GOP pollster Tony Fabrizio and work…

1
Senator Pat Leahy, the Third Longest Serving Senator in US History 48:49

8M ago48:49

48:49

Send us a text Pat Leahy is a giant of the US Senate...the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Vermont...the third longest serving Senator in US history...the Senate President Pro Tem...Chair of Appropriations, Agriculture, and Judiciary...and 8 terms in the US Senate. In this conversation, we talk his roots in small town Vermont, overcoming …

1
Documentary Filmmaker Yoav Attias & The American Housing Crisis 46:50

8M ago46:50

46:50

Send us a text Yoav Attias is a documentary filmmaker whose projects include Brick City chronicling the inner-workings of Newark, NJ under then-Mayor Cory Booker and CNN's Chicagoland featuring then-mayor Rahm Emanuel. His most recent role is as Director on the new documentary film Fault Lines - which examines the issue of affordable housing in Ame…

1
Karen Defilippi, Democratic Campaigns, & The Launch of Versus Media Group 49:49

9M ago49:49

49:49

Send us a text Karen Deflippi is launching Versus Media Group, after nearly 20 years in politics - including running campaigns, being a House Chief of Staff on the Hill, senior positions at Emilys List and the DCCC, and her current role as a media consultant for Democratic candidates and progressives causes. In this conversation she talks her path …

1
Taegan Goddard, Founder of Political Wire, on the Intersection of Politics, Tech, & Media 50:41

9M ago50:41

50:41

Send us a text Taegan Goddard is the founder and editor of Political Wire, one of the most widely-read political news sites over the last 25+ years. He created Political Wire in the late 1990s after stints as a Senate staffer on Capitol Hill and several years in state government in his home state of Connecticut. In this conversation, he talks his o…

1
Remembering Peter Rodino, "Watergate's Unexpected Hero", with Staffer & Author Larry Spinelli 1:06:22

10M ago1:06:22

1:06:22

Send us a text Dr. Larry Spinelli has worn numerous hats in and around politics...Hill staffer, senior positions in the federal bureaucracy, political science professor, historian and author. His new book is Watergate's Unexpected Hero, about the life of the incredibly impactful New Jersey Democratic Congressman Peter Rodino - to whom Spinelli was …

1
The Ballad of Mary Bono 1:05:58

10M ago1:05:58

1:05:58

Send us a text Mary Bono served 15 years in the House, representing a Palms Springs-based seat in Riverside County, CA. She initially entered politics and the House after the tragic passing of her late husband Sonny Bono - the world-famous singer / TV star turned mayor and ultimately congressman. In this conversation, she talks the political rise o…

1
Ryan Davis, Co-Founder of People First, on Why 2024 Was "The Influencer Election" 59:00

11M ago59:00

59:00

Send us a text Ryan Davis, co-founder of the digital political firm People First, has long been at the cutting edge of digital politics and the rise of digital influencers and has dubbed 2024 as "The Influencer Election". In this conversation, Ryan talks his roots in politics, a detour through the NYC theater community, being part of the influentia…

1
Mark Harris, General Consultant for Dave McCormick in Pennsylvania, on 2024's Lone Senate Upset 1:14:02

11M ago1:14:02

1:14:02

Send us a text Mark Harris, co-founder of ColdSpark strategies, was the General Consultant for the successful Dave McCormick 2024 Pennsylvania Senate race - arguably the lone true upset of the '24 Senate cycle. In this conversation, Mark talks his roots in PA politics - including running for office himself, ousting a sitting legislator in a GOP pri…

1
Inside the 2024 North Carolina Governor's Race with Josh Stein Senior Strategist Morgan Jackson & Campaign Manager Jeff Allen 1:08:17

12M ago1:08:17

1:08:17

Send us a text Senior Strategist Morgan Jackson & Campaign Manager Jeff Allen helped guide Democrat Josh Stein to a historic win in the 2024 open-seat North Carolina Governor's Race over GOP lighting rod Mark Robinson. In this conversation, they both discuss how Stein went from trailing in many of the early polls to winning on Election Day by a his…

1
Rebecca Katz, General Consultant for Ruben Gallego & John Fetterman, on Running & Winning Tough Races 48:56

12M ago48:56

48:56

Send us a text Rebecca Katz, founder of New Deal Strategies, is coming off her second consecutive cycle as General Consultant on signature Democratic Senate wins - including Ruben Gallego in Arizona and John Fetterman in Pennsylvania. In this episode, Rebecca talks in depth about both of those races and the lessons to be mined for Democrats in the …

1
Election 2024 Recap with Nathan Gonzales of Inside Elections 55:20

1y ago55:20

55:20

Send us a text Nathan Gonzales is the Editor and Publisher of Inside Elections, one of the foundations of American political analysis, and a frequent presence talking and writing about politics on TV and in print. In this conversation, recorded two weeks after Election Day 2024, Nathan weighs in on the headlines from the '24 campaign, surprises and…

1
Pro Politics Re-Release: Maggie Haberman on the Political Rise of Donald Trump 40:54

1y ago40:54

40:54

Send us a text [Originally released 11/22] Maggie Haberman is, of course, the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who's covered the political rise of Donald Trump for the New York Times...and her book, CONFIDENCE MAN: The Making of Donald Trump & The Breaking of America became an immediate best seller. In this conversation, Maggie dives into all things…

1
Republican Pollster Patrick Ruffini on the Increasingly Multi-Racial GOP Coalition 53:18

1y ago53:18

53:18

Send us a text [Initially Released 11/07/23] Patrick Ruffini, pollster at Echelon Strategies, returns to talk about his new book PARTY OF THE PEOPLE - on the transition of the Republican Party from being dominated by wealthy, suburban white voters to a more blue-collar and increasingly-multi-racial coalition. In this conversation, Patrick lays out …

1
Election Day 2024 Preview with Amy Walter 1:09:46

1y ago1:09:46

1:09:46

Send us a text With just hours until polling places open for the November 5th presidential election, this week's guest is analyst Amy Walter to provide her insights and instincts heading into Election Day. The editor and publisher of The Cook Report with Amy Walter, Amy has been a constant presence writing and thinking about US elections for nearly…

1
2024 Election Panel: Andy Blunt, Jim Ellis, & Zac McCrary 42:33

1y ago42:33

42:33

Send us a text This is a different type of episode this week as I have borrowed the audio from a panel I was part of last Thursday (10/24/24) to discuss the upcoming 2024 elections. This panel is hosted by the government affairs firm Husch Blackwell Strategies, and the video link can be accessed here. Moderating the discussion is Husch Blackwell CE…

1
Forrest Claypool & A Master Class in Chicago Politics 59:59

1y ago59:59

59:59

Send us a text Forrest Claypool has one of the most impressive and varied resumes in politics...early campaign and operative work with David Axelrod and Rahm Emanuel, two-time Chief of Staff to the mayor of Chicago, opposing Barack Obama in mock debates in his 2004 Senate race, running the Chicago Park District, Chicago Transit Authority, and Chica…

1
Senator Mark Udall & A Life in Politics 59:04

1y ago59:04

59:04

Send us a text Mark Udall, former Democratic US Senator and House member from Colorado, comes from the famed Udall family of the Mountain West - including his father, Congressman Mo Udall, and uncle, former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall under both JFK & LBJ. But Mark Udall largely stayed away from politics until his mid 40s - having an entire ca…

1
Caleb Smith on Working for 3 GOP House Speakers 1:02:18

1y ago1:02:18

1:02:18

Send us a text Caleb Smith may be the only political operative who's worked for three consecutive US House Speakers. During over a decade on Capitol Hill, he worked with Speakers Boehner, Ryan, and McCarthy. In this conversation, Caleb talks his path to politics from managing a legislative race in small-town Kentucky to working in some of the most …

1
2024 Digital Trends & Best Practices with Mark Jablonowski, President & CTO of DSPolitical 47:47

1y ago47:47

47:47

Send us a text Mark Jablonowski is the President and Chief Tech Officer of DS Political - one of the leading digital ad firms for Democratic campaigns and progressive causes. Mark's roots in campaign tech go back to 2004 and he was deeply involved in the Obama 2008 primary and general election digital innovations. In this conversation, Mark talks h…

1
Bryan Bennett, of Navigator Research, on Findings from Recent Polling of 4,000 Young Voters 59:54

1+ y ago59:54

59:54

Send us a text Bryan Bennett is the Senior Director for Polling & Analytics at The Hub Project and a pollster for Navigator Research who recently spearheaded a 4,000 sample survey among voters 18-34. In this conversation, Bryan talks his path to politics and polling and goes deep on this new massive project among younger Americans. This data uneart…

1
Re-connecting with Election Analyst David Nir for the Launch of The Downballot 1:09:48

1+ y ago1:09:48

1:09:48

Send us a text Catching up this week with return guest David Nir, who for over a decade has been an influential election analyst and the creator of Daily Kos Elections. Within the past week, David has moved his analysis to an independent site - now called The Downballot. In this conversation, David provides an update on his transition: what is happ…

1
Tucker Eskew, Political & Corporate Comms Expert 1:04:26

1+ y ago1:04:26

1:04:26

Send us a text Communications expert Tucker Eskew has been a participant in some of the most seminal moments in American political history over the course of the past 30+ years...a protege of the famed Republican strategist Lee Atwater, senior aide to the Bush 2000 win over John McCain in the fractious South Carolina primary, working in the White H…

1
Deep Inside the World of Political Donors with David Callahan 1:03:37

1+ y ago1:03:37

1:03:37

Send us a text David Callahan is a prolific creator and thinker within Democratic politics. He helped start the progressive think tank Demos in the late 90s, founded the media outlet Inside Philanthropy as a Consumer Reports of sorts into the world of charitable giving, and more recently created Blue Tent - an advisory group to help progressive don…

1
Lisa MacLean, Founder of Moxie Media - the First Female-Founded Political Direct Mail Firm 45:48

1+ y ago45:48

45:48

Send us a text Lisa MacLean, founder of Moxie Media - the first female-founded political direct mail firm in the U.S - talks her path to politics...starting in St Louis and then Vassar, to impactful DC internships, managing campaigns in California and eventually starting her own mail firm in the late 1990s that recently celebrated its 25th Annivers…

1
Pro Politics Re-Release: Kinky Friedman from June 04, 2021 34:52

1+ y ago34:52

34:52

Send us a text Kinky Friedman passed away yesterday, June 27 2024. This is a re-release of a Pro Politics Podcast episode with Kinky originally released June 4, 2021. Kinky Friedman wore many hats in his 79 years - country music artist, bestselling novelist, political candidate, animal welfare activist, friend of multiple US Presidents, and a Texas…

1
Debbie Cox Bultan, CEO of NewDEAL, on 30+ Years Working in the Center-Left 39:54

1+ y ago39:54

39:54

Send us a text Debbie Cox Bultan has been working in Democratic politics for more than 30 years, including more than a decade at the Democratic Leadership Council and then helping start NewDEAL where she is now the CEO. At NewDEAL, she works to connect pro-growth progressive leaders and help raise their profiles and amplify their ideas. In this con…

1
Congressman Mickey Edwards...From Conservative Insurgent to House Leadership to Nonpartisan Iconoclast 57:18

1+ y ago57:18

57:18

Send us a text Mickey Edwards served 16 years in Congress, as the first Republican to represent his Oklahoma City-based district in almost 50 years. Prior to his time in the House, he'd already made a mark as a leader in early days of "New Right" conservative organizations like the Young Republicans and Heritage Foundation. In this conversation, he…

1
Heather Williams, President of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) 45:12

1+ y ago45:12

45:12

Send us a text Heather Williams is the President of the DLCC, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee - the party committee focused on state legislative races and chambers. In this conversation, Heather talks her initial path to politics, working in state legislative races in Iowa, early days working in finance, the many hats she's worn at th…

1
Remembering Political Innovator Hal Malchow, with Trish Hoppey & Rich Schlackman 41:48

1+ y ago41:48

41:48

Send us a text Hal Malchow was the incredibly innovative Democratic direct mail and fundraising consultant, who passed away several weeks ago. His final chapter was chronicled by Sasha Issenberg in Politico recently. Hal's was truly a creative mind, including breaking new ground on sophisticated political microtargeting and "social pressure" tactic…

1
Matt Robison & Confessions of a Hill Chief of Staff 58:33

1+ y ago58:33

58:33

Send us a text Matt Robison has worn many political hats, among them working in numerous positions across Capitol Hill - including serving as Chief of Staff for three members. He also managed the successful 2012 upset re-election of Rep. John Tierney, after Tierney was named the GOP's top takeover opportunity that cycle. With roots in Manhattan, Ma…

1
Talking Washington Books, with NYT Columnist Carlos Lozada...author of The Washington Book 49:20

1+ y ago49:20

49:20

Send us a text Carlos Lozada is currently an Opinion columnist at The New York Times, after spending nearly 20 years at The Washington Post - where he earned the Pulitzer Prize in 2019 for criticism as The Post's nonfiction book critic. He's also an author, with his second book - The Washington Book - recently published: a collection of essays expl…

1
Whit Ayres & 30+ Years as a Top GOP Pollster 58:26

1+ y ago58:26

58:26

Send us a text Whit Ayres, founder and president of North Star Opinion Research, has been a leading GOP pollster for more than 30 years. First a high school teacher then an academic, he cut his political teeth as state Budget Director for South Carolina Governor Carroll Campbell. As a pollster, upset Senate victories for Georgia Senator Paul Coverd…

1
Larry Huynh & His Unconventional Path as a Digital Trailblazer 55:39

1+ y ago55:39

55:39

Send us a text Larry Huynh is a Partner and founder of Trilogy Interactive, a trailblazing digital political firm. His path to politics is anything but typical...his family coming to the U.S. as refugees after the Vietnam War, his academic background in biochemistry, and early career in the finance sector. In this conversation, Larry talks his unco…

1
Chancellor & Congressman Kent Hance, the Best Storyteller in Texas 43:55

1+ y ago43:55

43:55

Send us a text Kent Hance served 6 years in the House from West Texas, was Chair of the Texas Railroad Commission, and had an 8-year tenure as Chancellor of the Texas Tech University System - but his most famous political accomplishment is as the only person to ever defeat George W. Bush in a political campaign. He also hosts his own podcast, The B…

1
What Morgan Searcy Learned from 200+ Interviews with First-Time Political Staffers 37:24

2y ago37:24

37:24

Send us a text Morgan Searcy is a graphic designer whose work has supported some of the top brands in corporate America (Nike, MTV to name a few) and has also worked in campaigns for names like Warren and Ossoff. After the 2020 cycle, she embarked on a new project to capture and record experiences of first-time political staffers - a project that t…

1
Jim Margolis, Founding Partner of Democratic Media Firm GMMB 54:46

2y ago54:46

54:46

Send us a text Jim Margolis, partner at GMMB media, is a pioneering Democratic media consultant who is featured in the new documentary, The Bigger Hammer, by filmmaker Keith Gaby that focuses on the message war behind the Obama vs. McCain 2008 race (now available on Amazon). In this conversation, Jim talks his path to politics through student activ…

1
Pro Politics Podcast Update: New Episodes Coming Soon 1:01

2y ago1:01

1:01

Send us a text Listen to a brief update about the Pro Politics Podcast, with the upshot that you should stay tuned for new episodes coming soon. For any feedback, feel free to drop me a line at mccrary.zachary(at)gmail.com. Thanks for listening.By Zac McCrary

1
Mark Z. Barabak, L.A. Times Political Columnist, on the Changing Politics of the New West 56:55

2y ago56:55

56:55

Send us a text Mark Barabak, the veteran political reporter and columnist for the L.A. Times, has just helmed a six-part series analyzing the political evolutions across the New West - Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oregon. In this conversation, Mark talks his recent series, touches on the politics in all six of these states…

1
How Beshear Kept the Bluegrass State Blue, with Beshear '19/'23 Manager Eric Hyers 50:12

2y ago50:12

50:12

Send us a text Eric Hyers, manager of both Andy Beshear's '19 and '23 gubernatorial races, goes deep on last week's election of Governor Beshear in Kentucky. Eric talks his initial theory of the race, key strategic decisions from both campaigns, how the Beshear campaign fought back against transgender attacks and leveraged the issue of abortion aga…

1
Author & Pollster Patrick Ruffini on His New Book, PARTY OF THE PEOPLE, & the Changing GOP Coalition 52:07

2y ago52:07

52:07

Send us a text Patrick Ruffini, pollster at Echelon Strategies, returns to talk about his new book (released today, 11/7/23) PARTY OF THE PEOPLE - on the transition of the Republican Party from being dominated by wealthy, suburban white voters to a more blue-collar and increasingly-multi-racial coalition. In this conversation, Patrick lays out the …