Press Advance with Johanna Maska

On this episode, host Johanna Maska, and Press Advance's lead producer Christine Baratta look back on the impact of former President Barack Obama’s iconic 2004 convention speech 20 years ago, which inspired Johanna to join his 2008 presidential campaign in Iowa. They also discuss the significance of political discourse in shaping our democracy and provide a preview into the podcast’s transition to Substack featuring exclusive content and live interviews. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, host Johanna Maska talks with Press Advance's lead producer Christine Baratta to discuss Vice President Kamala Harris's announcement of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. They dive into why Walz was an unexpected pick, what he means to rural voters, and why he and JD Vance are more alike than expected.  Walz passed the vibe check—but does this mean he can win over the American public? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, host Johanna Maska breaks down this week's biggest political news with former acting Chief of Staff in the Trump White House, Mick Mulvaney, and Democratic strategist Michael Hardaway, who most recently worked with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. They discuss President Biden's push for Supreme Court reforms, backlash over JD Vance's resurfaced comments that "childless cat ladies" have ruined American values, and whether Donald Trump could or would drop Vance from the Republican ticket. Plus, extreme political divisions are driving up divorce rates in the nation’s capital—will the next 90 days make things worse? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, Johanna Maska speaks with national security experts Olivia Troye and Dr. Evelyn Farkas from the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington. They discuss the potential direction of foreign policy in a new presidential administration and who from Donald Trump's circle might be involved if he wins a second term. Since their conversation, there has been a whirlwind of political news. President Biden exited the presidential race, and Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt and unified the party at the Republican National Convention. So we caught up with Olivia Troye for an update. She shared her thoughts on the GOP convention, Donald Trump's treatment of military families, and the upcoming generation of political leaders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee takes up oxygen this week, Democrats are having tough conversations, including whether President Joe Biden could have another troubling debate. On this week's episode, host Johanna Maska talks with 21-year-old TikTok influencer Harry Sisson who is one of Biden's fiercest supporters online. Sisson believes that the 81-year-old President—who was born less than a year after the attack on Pearl Harbor during World War II—is the most qualified candidate to win over Gen Z voters and argues his generation is the most politically involved and politically intelligent generation in American history. They also discuss the appetite for political discourse among young people and the winning message from Democrats that might resonate with Gen Z voters this fall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices