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Beyond the Polls with Henry Olsen

Ricochet
Donald Trump
Democratic Party
Republican Party
Joe Biden
Polling
Kamala Harris
Virginia
Redistricting
Polish Presidential Race
Inflation
Immigration
Midterm Elections
Illinois Democratic Primaries
Early Voting
Government Shutdown
2024 Presidential Election
Trump
Texas
Donald Tusk
Jarosław Kaczyński

Each week Henry Olsen, columnist and senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, will talk about the presidential and congressional races with leading political journalists and analysts, people who are out in the field and won't give you media spin. Find out who's leading the pack and who's an also-ran, with Beyond the Polls with Henry Olsen.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes177Founded7 years ago
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PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Latest Episodes

There's no getting around the fact that Republicans are unpopular these days and that they're in for an unpleasant midterm. But should we really believe the flood will reach the Midwest or Rust Belt districts that elevated President Trump to double-d... more

The midterms are just weeks away, and Democrats are still enjoying a historically large lead in the generic congressional ballot. In response, the president is jetting about to rally support in key states. However, unlike the boldly expansive campaig... more

There's good news and bad news, Toto: We are still in Kansas, but it's not the safe state we'd grown used to. With the midterms less than a month away, and reports confirming the GOP's move to divert funds to tightening races in the agricultural belt... more

Americans are often in a hurry, always looking for ways to save time. Yet back in the olden days, whenever Americans held an election, the public had to wait until every ballot was tallied before an official announcement of the results. Though that r... more

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Recent Guests

Joe Lenski
Executive Vice President of SSRS and Co-Director of The Voter Poll
SSRS
Episode: All About Exit Polls
Jon Lerner
Principal at Red Sea, LLC and Basswood Research; GOP pollster
Red Sea, LLC; Basswood Research
Episode: Reasonably Random Thoughts on Polling
Kyle Kondik
Kyle Kondik of Sabato's Crystal Ball, University of Virginia
Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia
Episode: Americans Won't Tolerate a Loser
Erin Covey
House editor at Cook Political Report
Cook Political Report
Episode: Rate Changes and Coordinated Expenditures
Dante Scala
Professor of Political Science, University of New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire
Episode: Take Nothing For Granite
Steve Kornacki
Chief data analyst for NBC News and live election coverage guru
NBC News
Episode: Dissuadable Disapprovers?
Jessica Taylor
Senate and Governor's editor at the Cook Political Report
Cook Political Report
Episode: A MAGA Contest, Southern Cackalacky-Style
Peter Schorsh
Florida Politics editor
Florida Politics
Episode: Heat Lightning Over the Sunshine State
Craig Gilbert
Political columnist and analyst, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Episode: America's Dairyland or the Progressives' Fairyland?

Host

Henry Olsen
Host of Beyond the Polls

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 107 ratings
  • A Beautiful Mind

    Olsen is a wonderful pollster and thinker. I think the show scratches my itch for political content but let’s throw a little fun into it too!!!! I think having video would absolutely elevate the podcast and bring far more options. For instance, I would LOVE an episode called STRIP TRIVIA, wherein Olsen and his esteemed guest MUST take off an article of clothing for each bit of Trivia missed. LOL. Just a silly idea hahha. Keep up the good work!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Age 12
    United States9 months ago
  • WEAK Interviewer

    Olsen has some interesting things to say, but he has some serious weak spots. His interview with Michael Tamasky was a joke. Tamasky indicated a lot that progressive aren't confrontational enough and said they never choose a villain for their stories like they should. Seriously? Hitler and Trump comparisons aren't good enough? Olson did not push back one bit. Also, it would help if Olson was honest and knew what he is talking about with certain issues. On one podcast, he said over and over and o... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Textdgh
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great content

    Figure out the ads

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    speakformyself
    United Statesa year ago
  • Podcast subject suggestion

    Here is a good subject fir yoy to cover:

    Do my political small monetary donations do anything? $100 etc

    Are matching donations real?

    Is there a formula “if I donate $500 is that worth say 1.7 votes?

    Why should I donate?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    qewrfdgfcy65y7
    United States2 years ago
  • Thanks!

    I love geeking out with all the election information. The podcast is a must for everyone, but especially for political junkies.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mysterybug
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Audiences appreciate balance and clear explanations of polling and election mechanics.
Some listeners want more production elements (e.g., video) to enhance engagement.
Listeners praise the data-driven approach and deep political insight.
Guests are well-chosen authorities who add credibility and nuance.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#177
Philippines/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Reasonably Random Thoughts on Polling
Q: How did you get into the business? What is it that led you to become a pollster?
Lerner explains a mixed path through math and politics, learning from mentors like Arthur Finkelstein, starting his own firm in 2001 to provide strategic advice, advertising, and polling, and eventually focusing on polling as the core specialty. He highlights a combination of formal background, self-taught skills, and practical campaign experience that shaped his approach.
Americans Won't Tolerate a Loser
Q: What is the big takeaway about polling data quality from this conversation?
Polls are often biased by weighting and sampling choices; to interpret them properly one must look under the hood at cross-tabs, weightings, and the composition of likely voters to understand the true electoral dynamics.
Americans Won't Tolerate a Loser
Q: What role do likely voter screens play in current polls, and should we trust the shifts between registered voters and likely voters?
Likely voter screens can produce large shifts; they depend on enthusiasm and how accurately the sample reflects who actually shows up, so analysts should scrutinize cross-tabs and methodology rather than rely on toplines alone.
Americans Won't Tolerate a Loser
Q: Why is the Senate battleground so central right now, compared to the House or other races?
Because the Senate map contains several states where the environment favors Democrats, yet Republican candidates can still be competitive depending on turnout and candidate quality, making the chamber a focal point for overall control.
Rate Changes and Coordinated Expenditures
Q: What would the best conceivable night look like for a Republican, and what would have to happen for that to occur?
The best-case scenario for Republicans would be a relatively neutral environment where they retain a slender majority, requiring them to hold a significant chunk of toss-up seats and have outside money and messaging align to defend vulnerable districts, while the national environment is not decisively unfavorable.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Beyond the Polls

What is Beyond the Polls about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on political races and polling with a data-driven lens, featuring conversations with top political journalists and analysts who provide on-the-ground insights and methodological context. Episodes repeatedly cover presidential and congressional contests, polling trends, district dynamics, and election administration, often blending rigorous data interpretation with scenario planning to assess what may happen next. A notable strength is the host's emphasis on avoiding spin and grounding analysis in precinct-level understanding, polling nuances, and live observation from the field. This makes it useful for listeners who want clear, evidence-based sharp takes on elections, with frequent guest expertise from leading policy and p... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Beyond the Polls?

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1. The Ricochet Podcast
2. 3 Whisky Happy Hour
3. The Editors
4. Law Talk with Epstein, Yoo & Cooke
5. Uncommon Knowledge

How many episodes of Beyond the Polls are there?

Beyond the Polls launched 7 years ago and published 177 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Beyond the Polls?

Recent guests on Beyond the Polls include:

1. Joe Lenski
2. Jon Lerner
3. Kyle Kondik
4. Erin Covey
5. Dante Scala
6. Steve Kornacki
7. Jessica Taylor
8. Peter Schorsh

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