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Artwork for Political Theater

Political Theater

CQ Roll Call
Congress
Donald Trump
Republican Party
Democratic Party
California
House Of Representatives
Ohio
Texas
Abortion Rights
Capitol Hill
Thomas Pynchon
One Battle After Another
Roll Call
Trump Administration
Redistricting
2024 Election
Political Theater
Kamala Harris
Supreme Court
Democratic National Convention

Have you ever asked, “WTF?,” about politics? Or, “who are these people making decisions about my life?” Political Theater pulls back the curtain on the stunts, antics and motivations that drive Washington. Host Jason Dick and the Roll Call team spotlight the spectacle, the players and what’s going on behind the curtain in Washington’s long-running drama: Congress.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes496Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsGovernmentPolitics

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Artwork for Political Theater

Latest Episodes

Jason Dick talks with George Condon, long-time White House reporter, historian and a past president of the White House Correspondents Association, about Saturday's White House Correspondents Dinner, putting the assassination attempt on President Dona... more

YouTube

Real estate magnates, secret societies, alternative means of communicating, psycheledic drugs used as therapy? It's not our world; it’s the world of Thomas Pynchon’s ”The Crying of Lot 49.”Jason Dick, Sean Carswell and Alan Tuszynski discuss Silent T... more

YouTube

Jason Dick and Molly Reynolds discuss the Brookings Institution’s latest update to Vital Statistics on Congress, the recent resignations of two members of the House for alleged misconduct and whether the legislative branch is truly representative of ... more

Jason Dick and Jessica Wehrman wonder what members of Congress are doing on their two-week recess, coming as it does while the Homeland Security Department isn't being funded by Congress, as well as what they did, and observed, on recent trips back h... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

George Condon
National Journal's White House Correspondent, former WHCA president
National Journal
Episode: A White House Correspondents Dinner like no other
Alan Tuszynski
Political Theater producer; on-mic debut
Political Theater (Roll Call)
Episode: ‘Shall I project a world?’ — ‘The Crying of Lot 49’ episode
Brody Mullins
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and co-author of The Wolves of K Street, Roll Call alumnus
Wolves of K Street / Newsphere / Deciders
Episode: Everything is being disrupted
Brian Ballard
Lobbyist, influential figure in the Trump era
Ballard Partners / Trump era lobbying
Episode: Everything is being disrupted
Mike Sommers
President of the American Petroleum Institute
American Petroleum Institute
Episode: Everything is being disrupted
Brandon Wetherbee
Roll Call columnist and expert on Donald Trump's use of imagery and entertainment
Roll Call
Episode: That's entertainment! Or not. State of the Union 2026
Mark Schoeff Jr.
President of the National Press Club and journalist covering financial services and banking
CQ Roll Call
Episode: Spotlight on the National Press Club, and its new president
Sean Carswell
Pynchonian scholar and professor at Cal State Channel Islands
Cal State Channel Islands
Episode: Buy the 'Shadow Ticket,' take the ride
Justin Papp
Journalist specializing in congressional coverage
Roll Call
Episode: Can Congress save itself?

Host

Jason Dick
Host of Political Theater with Roll Call involvement; long-running political talk show host.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 48 ratings
  • Great for politics nerds!

    I thoroughly enjoy the cheerful and neutral approach that this podcast usually takes in analyzing the spectacle of politics. The specific theme allows concentration on fun and interesting stories that are often otherwise overlooked. Great for politics nerds!

    Also, I have tremendous respect for the reporters’ recent coverage of the invasion of the Capitol. The podcast on the following day was extremely insightful into the events that occurred and the potential next steps. More than anyone else,... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    andydbaxter
    United States5 years ago
  • Hill Staffer

    Audio is terrible and is what holds this podcast back

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Hill Staffer
    United States7 years ago
  • always timely and enjoyable

    great quick hit podcast that brings together timely political news with cultural insights

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nbee2
    United States7 years ago
  • Usually a decent podcast

    But it’s disappointing that the episode on the Kavanaugh hearing overlooked Mazie Hirono as a senator up for re-election.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    AntieWHC
    United States8 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Regulars enjoy deep dives into lobbying and media dynamics.
Some listeners critique audio quality but praise insightful, trustworthy reporting.
Show is timely and engaging, though occasional episodes feel uneven in pacing.
Audience appreciates the mix of political analysis with cultural references.
Guest diversity is valued, though some want more policy-specific takeaways.

Top Politics Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Immigration, race and ‘One Battle After Another'
Q: What kind of movies do you usually like to see?
Chris expresses his eclectic tastes in movies, highlighting the importance of engaging with films that drive public discourse, and notes his recent viewings of both classic and contemporary films.
How Democrats hope to flip the script on energy as a campaign issue
Q: What is the political strategy moving forward regarding energy issues?
Democrats are looking to frame rising energy costs as a failing of the Republican-led changes to energy policy, creating a narrative that may resonate with voters concerned about household expenses.
How Democrats hope to flip the script on energy as a campaign issue
Q: Why is energy demand increasing suddenly?
Energy demand has remained flat for years, but it's starting to climb due to increased reliance on data centers and the rise of artificial intelligence.
How Democrats hope to flip the script on energy as a campaign issue
Q: What happens now that the Trump administration has changed energy policies?
There's a shift away from renewable sources like wind and solar to more traditional baseload sources like nuclear and geothermal, while also facing challenges from rising energy prices.
The ‘rock and roll poetry’ of Joe Iconis’ Hunter S. Thompson musical
Q: How did you connect with Thompson's widow, Anita, for your musical?
I had never communicated with the family until I was invited to visit their home, where I was able to share that the point of the show is to honor Hunter's artistic legacy rather than to sensationalize his later years.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Political Theater

What is Political Theater about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, policy-forward show that pulls back the curtain on Washington's power plays, lobbying, and media dynamics. Episodes blend political analysis with cultural touchstones, spotlighting how Capitol Hill, journalism, and influence ecosystems intersect in real time. Regular guests include lobbyists, reporters, and scholars, offering practical context for listeners who want to understand not just what happened, but why it happened and who benefited. Noteworthy is the blend of traditional outlets, independent journalism, and literary or cultural lenses to interpret current events, which can help prospective sponsors reach policy-minded, media-savvy audiences.

Across recent episodes, the show emphasizes the mechanics of Congress, media ethi... more

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How many subscribers and views does Political Theater have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Political Theater has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Political Theater?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Political Theater:

1. CQ Roll Call Policy and Politics
2. CQ Budget
3. CQ Morning Briefing
4. The Inside Elections Podcast
5. The Daily Punch

How many episodes of Political Theater are there?

Political Theater launched 10 years ago and published 496 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Political Theater?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Political Theater?

Recent guests on Political Theater include:

1. George Condon
2. Alan Tuszynski
3. Brody Mullins
4. Brian Ballard
5. Mike Sommers
6. Brandon Wetherbee
7. Mark Schoeff Jr.
8. Sean Carswell

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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