It's A Free Country: The Podcast

Episode #9: The push from the Iowa Caucuses through Super Tuesday is done, and Brian Lehrer, Anna Sale and Todd Zwillich are going to pack up the big tent until the Fall. Brian plays his lasting clip of Mitt Romney talking about firing people; Todd looks to the Fall for where women voters will land; and Anna talks about why no one seems to be connecting for the GOP. Thanks to all who've listened, we'll be back with more It's A Free Country: The Podcast in the runup to the conventions!

Episode #8: Brian Lehrer's back, and so is Mitt Romney? Brian, Todd Zwillich and Anna Sale discuss the Michigan and Arizona results; Rick Santorum's latest wild statement about "college snobs"; and how President Obama is going to use the auto bailout in his favor. Plus: do you believe the Rand Paul conspiracy theory?

Episode #7: Brian Lehrer is on vacation, so Buzzfeed's Ben Smith steps in to compete with Todd Zwillich and Anna Sale to play the week's most revealing clip. Todd isn't buying President Obama's enthusiasm about bipartisan progress in Washington; Ben can't believe everyone is talking about "transvaginal sonograms"; and Anna sees race and affirmative action on the 2012 horizon.

Episode #6: It may be the lull between Florida and Super Tuesday, but lots still going on in GOP race, including an interesting rural/urban divide as Rick Santorum gains momentum. Brian Lehrer, Anna Sale, and Todd Zwillich discuss what class warfare means for the GOP; if Romney can talk about the auto industry but not the bailout; and how the Tea Party continues to put Republican leadership in a bind. Oh, and yeah: Jeremy Lin.

Episode #5: Anna Sale is on vacation, so It's A Free Country blogger Karol Markowicz steps in alongside Todd Zwillich and Brian Lehrer to bring the week's most revealing clip. Karol is humored by Erick Erickson's "endorsement" in the GOP 2012 race; Todd bends the rules and puts a previous week's clip in a new context to talk about Obama and SuperPACs; and Brian sees Red America and Blue America united in Clint Eastwood's Super Bowl ad. Plus: a bonus, late-breaking clip from Todd on the Obama administration, contraceptives, and religious voters.

Episode #4: After Romney's decisive victory in Florida, is it just a matter of going through the motions until he's the nominee? Not according to Newt Gingrich and Todd Zwillich. Todd, Anna Sale and Brian Lehrer play their most revealing clips of the week and discuss the disappearing issue of poverty; Gingrich's February strategy; and Rick Santorum's "third-way" approach. Plus, Brian impersonates Howard Dean.

Episode #3: At the State of the Union, President Obama talked about the "corrosive influence of money in politics," but perhaps most revealing was what he didn't mention. Anna Sale, Brian Lehrer and Todd Zwillich bring their most revealing clips of the week and discuss Obama's SuperPAC strategy; Eric Cantor's admission that bipartisanship doesn't always work; and how Todd should nap as he works the morning shift.

This is Politics Bites. Every once in a while we'll post short audio to It's A Free Country: The Podcast that deserves a little extra attention. The Story Pirates take stories written by kids and turn them into musical theater. For the State of the Union 2012, It's A Free Country asked our audience to answer the question: “What would you say if you were addressing the country?” The Story Pirates compiled the answers and some responses from their own workshops - with kids from ages 6 to 17 - and here are the results. Take a listen, download for free!

Episode #2: Mitt Romney revealed this week that he pays an effective tax rate of 15% — Brian Lehrer, Anna Sale, and Todd Zwillich discuss Romney's inability to shake the "Richie Rich" image. Plus, what White voters in South Carolina are looking for, and how Newt Gingrich may be using his conservative "dog whistle" on them. And special guest Ana Marie Cox of the Guardian brings a clip to the competition.

It's the day after a Romney sweep of Iowa and New Hampshire - and all eyes shift to South Carolina. Brian Lehrer, Anna Sale, and Todd Zwillich play their most revealing clips and talk about comparisons of Obama to fascists; why moderates feel left out; and how to play "cornhole."

Brian Lehrer and Caitlin Thompson welcome you to the podcast -- launching on January 11th.