A new podcast that aims to humanize “The Swamp” — one interview at a time
Hey there, everybody. My name is Steve Pierce, and I want to tell you a little bit about this new podcast I’m hosting called Party People that introduces you to the people behind the politicians — the staffers and strategists that silently shape our politics from behind the scenes.
I’ve spent the better part of the last decade working here in DC as a Democratic operative and consultant, and what I’ve found is that — interestingly enough — virtually none of the people I’ve come across in my line of work bears any resemblance to the cutthroat power-seekers portrayed on House of Cards or the hapless buffoons satirized on Veep — much less the evil, swamp-dwelling boogeymen criticized so often by our current president. …
The Republican nominee uses cable news networks to drive an all-consuming narrative that revolves completely around his own antics — but data show his free pass may be ending.
Of all the factors that fueled Donald Trump’s rampage to the Republican presidential nomination, perhaps none has been more consequential than the reality TV provocateur’s knack for generating free publicity via an avalanche of breathless media coverage. A recent study estimated that Trump received the equivalent of $55 million in free advertising during 2015 via positive and neutral news coverage from media outlets — 50 percent more than his next closest Republican challenger.
This massive advantage in complimentary exposure — especially from cable news networks such as CNN, MSNBC and Fox News — was a boon to Trump throughout the primary, essentially subsidizing the rest of his spare, largely self-financed operation. The Trump campaign spent a paltry $18.5 million on paid advertisements throughout the primary — less than every other top-tier candidate in either party, according to Wesleyan Media Project — and still dominated the race from wire to wire. …
7 out of 10 voters say the Senate should reject a nominee with Gorsuch’s record of helping wealthy special interests buy elections.
By Steve Pierce and Kate Pazoles
This piece was originally published on The Huffington Post.
President Donald Trump’s decision to nominate 10th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court on Tuesday won praise from Republican elites hoping for the second coming of the late Justice Antonin Scalia. But the nomination also put the administration on the wrong side of one of the top issues on the minds of a supermajority of voters: the influence of big money in politics. …
When the Supreme Court legalized marriage equality in June 2015, LGBTQ people across the country celebrated a monumental achievement, gained through the persistence, dedication and hard work of countless individuals over many years.
This victory was a long time coming — but it was by no means the end to the LGBTQ community’s struggle for equality and acceptance. …
To my fellow Super Tuesday voters who have expressed some form of anti-Trump sentiment on Facebook or some other social platform of your choice over the last few days, I have a message for you:
If you truly do not want Donald Trump to be the next President of the United States, you need to vote for Hillary Clinton — now and in November.
Trump’s path to the Republican nomination is virtually assured at this point. The electoral math simply doesn’t add up for any other candidate to reach the requisite number of delegates — and it’s most likely that Trump will have the whole thing wrapped up by the end of this month in an historic rout. …
He turned down a chance to chase rings in Houston to stay put in Miami—and that shouldn’t surprise you.
As far as elite professional basketball players go, Chris Bosh has always been a somewhat unusual case study. Cerebral, reserved and a bit nerdy, Bosh seems to march just slightly out of step with his alpha-male peers.
When they’re hitting the clubs with the boys after a game, he’s content to have a quiet dinner with his wife and maybe unwind by laying down some JavaScript while sipping a nice microbrew. …
How the Spurs’ marksman resurrected his jump shot just in time to save his team in Game 1
By Steve Pierce
Danny Green is used to playing the hero.
A year after he lit up the Miami Heat from long-range with an historic barrage early in the 2013 NBA Finals, Green returned with a vengeance Thursday to torment the visitors from South Beach yet again on the same stage.
With LeBron James forced out of the game by painful leg cramps, the Spurs took advantage, riding a 4-for-4 fourth quarter shooting performance from Green (including 3-for-3 from deep) to a 105-90 victory. …
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