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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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes179Founded7 years ago
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PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Latest Episodes

Henry warned Republicans they were in for a terrible night—and called it close!—but how could anyone have anticipated an electoral massacre of such proportions? Henry's got a short rant to go over what we know so far and to consider some of the popul... more

Midterms are just days away, so it's busy season for everyone in the election prediction biz. This week, there's no rant and no ads; just Henry and a couple of sleep-deprived friends to help you get your bearings ahead of another high-stakes cycle. F... more

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

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Recent Guests

Sean Patrick Maloney
Former U.S. ambassador to the OECD and CEO of the Coalition for Prediction Markets
Coalition for Prediction Markets
Episode: The Prediction Exchange
Jessica Taylor
Senate and Governor Editor at The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter
Episode: The Prediction Exchange
Scott Braddock
Editor of The Quorum Report
The Quorum Report
Episode: The Prediction Exchange
Patrick Rufini
Founding partner of Echelon Insights and writer on polling
Echelon Insights
Episode: Throwing Cold Water on the Blue Wave
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

Host

Henry Olsen
Host of Beyond the Polls

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 108 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 States10 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
#205
Mexico/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#246
India/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Prediction Exchange
Q: How would you prevent somebody with that access to non-public information from putting a bet or buying a contract on their own candidate?
Maloney says responsible exchanges prohibit insider trading, screen out people with access to restricted information, use surveillance to identify suspicious activity, and refer suspected violations to law enforcement.
The Prediction Exchange
Q: What is a prediction market, and what is the theory behind why they are relevant to people who want to try and understand future events?
Maloney describes prediction markets as derivatives exchanges where people trade contracts tied to future outcomes. They can help businesses hedge risk and give journalists and voters a market-based forecasting signal.
Throwing Cold Water on the Blue Wave
Q: How would you advise my listeners to interpret this flood of data that will be coming at them?
Rufini recommends looking at polling averages and how they trend, rather than focusing on individual polls, which may be released to advance a particular narrative.
Throwing Cold Water on the Blue Wave
Q: Can we trust the polls?
Rufini says some polls are more trustworthy than others. He has more confidence in national polling than individual state polls, which can be affected by modeled electorates and regional polling errors.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Age Range
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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?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Beyond the Polls:

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

How many episodes of Beyond the Polls are there?

Beyond the Polls launched 7 years ago and published 179 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. Sean Patrick Maloney
2. Jessica Taylor
3. Scott Braddock
4. Patrick Rufini
5. Joe Lenski
6. Jon Lerner
7. Kyle Kondik
8. Erin Covey

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