David Nir, publisher of The Downballot, and Aaron Rupar, publisher of Public Notice, held their monthly live chat on Thursday to share their insights on some of the most important stories in American politics, including:

* Why Trump calling himself “king” matters—and how New York is fighting back.

* What it actually means to have a constitutional crisis, and why we’re in one already.

* Why Democrats in Congress should not bail out Republicans on any votes, and much more.

David and Aaron also took a wide range of questions from those who participated live.

If you missed the event, you can watch it by clicking above! You can also find a complete transcript.

Tune in at 2 PM ET on the second Thursday of each month to join in the discussion and fire away with your questions! Our next event will take place on March 14. You can participate by downloading the free Substack app or by clicking the link in the email we send out when we go live.

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The most important election between now and November will take place on April 1 in Wisconsin, when liberals will defend their hard-won majority on the state Supreme Court. Joining us on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast is veteran Badger State strategist Joe Zepecki, who breaks down every aspect of the race for us: who the candidates are, what kind of attack ads each side is running, and how Elon Musk's seven-figure cash infusion threatens to end Democrats' financial dominance. Plus, why you'll want to keep an eye on Green Bay as the bellwether on election night.

Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard also dive into the Minnesota Senate race, which was just transformed by Democrat Tina Smith's retirement. They explain why, contrary to conventional wisdom, retirements can actually be a good thing and discuss the troubles the GOP is likely to have in recruiting a top-shelf candidate. As if to make their point, one of the strongest possible Republicans they mention, Rep. Pete Stauber, announced he wouldn't run just after the Davids finished recording!

It’s the third anniversary of The Downballot podcast this week, and it’s our pleasure to welcome Semafor’s Dave Weigel on the show!

Dave's ubiquitous coverage of elections has been indispensable reading for years. In our conversation, he details how his attention to grassroots politics has helped him build unusual levels of trust with so many sources on both sides of the aisle. He also offers a thoughtful guide to handling the news onslaught that's accompanied the second Trump era and explains why races for party chair—whether of the DNC or RNC—seldom bring ideological shifts.

Meanwhile, co-hosts David Nir and David Beard dive into the wreckage in New York City, where a letter from Trump's Justice Department letting Mayor Eric Adams off the hook has blown up all semblance of the rule of law. But if there's any recompense, it's that Adams' political career looks just as doomed now as it did a week ago. They also catch listeners up on the latest regarding a New York special election and the resolution of a long power struggle in the Minnesota House.