Succession theme song by Nicholas Britell Kori Schake for The Atlantic: “ Biden Is More Fearful Than the Ukrainians Are”Īnatoly Kurmanaev, Ivan Nechepurenko, and Eric Nagourney for The New York Times: “ Drone Strike in Moscow Brings Ukraine War Home to Russians”Įrin Douglas and Robert Downen for The Texas Tribune: “ God, money and Dairy Queen: How Texas House investigators secured the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton”

The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden’s White House and the Struggle for America’s Future by Franklin Foer John Wagner for The Washington Post: “ Senate racing to pass debt ceiling bill ahead of Monday default deadline” Here are some notes and references from this week’s show: PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.This week, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss the debt-ceiling deal the Russia-Ukraine war with the Atlantic’s Kori Schake and the impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Whistlestop is a ride through the American campaign history with one of its most enthusiastic conductors guiding you through the landmarks along the way. Some of the most modern-feeling elements of the American presidential campaign were born before the roads were paved and electric lights lit the convention halls-if there were convention halls at all. In addition to the familiar tales, Whistlestop also remembers the forgotten stories about the bruising and reckless campaigns of the 19th century when the combatants believed the consequences included the fate of the republic itself. At the bar at the end of a campaign day, these are the stories reporters rehash for themselves and embellish for newcomers.

Whistlestop tells the human story of nervous gambits hatched in first-floor hotel rooms, failures of will before the microphone, and the cross-country crack-ups of long-planned stratagems.

As Mike Murphy the political strategist put it, 'Campaigns are like war without bullets.' The battle of ideas has a clear end, with winners and losers, and along the way there are sharp turning points-primaries, debates, conventions, and scandals that squeeze candidates into emergency action, frantic grasping, and heroic gambles. Presidential campaigns are a contest for control of power in the most powerful country on earth. From Face the Nation moderator and contributing editor for The Atlantic John Dickerson come the stories behind the stories of the most memorable moments in American presidential campaign history.

Whistlestop by John Dickerson