Episode 11: Change and Continuity
So: just how have the caucuses changed since their inception in 1972? What are the ways they’ll never change? We learn about caucus history—also, Joe ...
Three Tickets: History and Culture of the Iowa Caucuses
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About
The presidential race is one of the most-watched and most important events in American politics. So why does the whole thing start in Iowa? If you remember the Howard Dean scream or Hillary Clinton “just chilling in Cedar Rapids,” you know how Iowa can have an outsized impact on this important national race. Three Tickets explores the weird and surprising history of the Iowa caucus, diving into what makes our little Midwestern state pivotal every four years in the biggest election nationwide. Starting from the very first caucus in 1972 to today, from Cedar Rapids to Council Bluffs, we’re your road map for understanding and following the 2020 presidential race in Iowa.
Episode 10: Evangelicals and the Caucuses
Social and religious conservatives exercise significant power and influence in Iowa's Republican caucuses. Here, you’ll meet some of Iowa’s the politi...
Episode 9: Native Iowans
Not everyone comes in from out-of-state if they want to participate in the Iowa presidential caucuses — some of them start here. Former U.S. Sen. Tom ...
Episode 8: Caucus economics
Politicians, their staff, their fans and the reporters coming them all flock to Iowa every four years, and some Iowans are cashing in. In this episode...
Episode 7: Being There
If you want to win in Iowa, it’s not enough to just run advertisements and talk in debates. You need boots on the ground, and this episode, we’ll show...
Episode 6: The Journalists
Following presidential candidates and their supporters around Iowa are the reporters documenting all of it. This episode reveals why national politica...
Episode 5: The Activists
People who care about politics aren’t shy about reaching out to politicians. In Iowa, that means potentially talking to future presidents. Meet four I...
Episode 4: The Candidates
So what’s it like running a caucus campaign? In this episode, you can hear directly from people who’ve ran — and won — in Iowa. Listen along as we tal...
Episode 3: Process and Controversy
The caucuses are complicated. This episode will tell you how the caucuses work and explores how their complicated nature has occasionally created the ...
Episode 2: Origins
How did the Iowa caucuses come to be? It’s a long story: but don’t worry—we can get you caught up. You’ll also hear the stories of Iowans who experien...