Philadelphia-based attorneys William J. Brennan and Michael van der Veen represented Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial. As the president’s current hush money trial continues, Brennan and van der Veen share their experience defending the former president in the latest episode of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk.Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: :30  – Did the Trump impeachment trial feel different from other cases?2:36 – Preparing for the impeachment trial6:00 – Reacting to the jury6:30 – How they almost lost Mitch McConnell7:45 – The politics of the impeachment trial8:32 – Why Brennan and van der Veen felt like Rocky9:13 – Did they think they would lose Pat Toomey?11:27 – Realizing the world was watching the trial14:05 – How the Senate works 16:02 – The impact of today’s politics and media on how lawmakers work together See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Philadelphia-based attorneys William J. Brennan and Michael van der Veen once represented former President Donald Trump’s payroll corporation in a tax fraud trial as well as Trump himself in his second impeachment trial. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, both attorneys share their insights on Trump’s current hush money trial and how it compares to the tax fraud trial, which featured the same judge.Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: 1:26 – Brennan and van der Veen speak about being in the same courtroom with the same judge while representing Trump’s company3:31 – Brennan and van der Veen describe the nature of their case representing the Trump Payroll Corporation4:27 – The process of picking a jury 6:20 – The types of questions asked during their jury selection 7:56 – The biggest challenges in choosing a jury 11:39 – The importance of the venue 12:27 – Trump’s history in New York and how it impacts jury selection 13:27 – What Brennan and van der Veen learned from representing Trump  15:34 – Thoughts on Trump in and out of court 19:35 – How much involvement will Trump likely have in his defense?  22:37 – Will Trump testify?  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you’re a registered Democrat or Republican in Pennsylvania, you’ll get to vote in April’s primary elections. If you’re an independent not affiliated with the party however, you won’t get a say until November. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk speaks with David Thornburgh – the former head of the Committee of 70 and current chair of Ballot PA – about the push to allow independents to vote in Pennsylvania’s primaries. Here is a full breakdown of the episode: 0:09 – Who gets to vote in the Pennsylvania primary election?0:25 – Pennsylvania’s registered voters by the numbers0:47 – Lauren introduces David Thornburgh, Chair of Ballot PA1:18 – David shares the why behind Ballot PA1:37 – Who the independent voters are in Pennsylvania2:49  – What makes the current push to allow independents in the Pa. primaries different from previous efforts? 4:59 – What kind of change would this idea bring?5:09 – David speaks on the cost of primary elections and who gets to participate in them5:31 – Political extremism and incentives to govern8:04 – Party switching and temporary party registrations10:00 – The growth of independent voters and the state of young voters12:19 – Different states, different kinds of primary elections13:53 – Lauren asks about the possibility of this proposal being tucked into another bill 16:08 – How the support of governors, past and present, and bipartisan support came to be17:50 – What’s next and what’s ahead for Ballot PA19:07 – The 2024 election and whether it helps or hurts the causeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

NBC10’s Lauren Mayk visited Washington, DC, for President Biden’s State of the Union address. For the latest episode of her Battleground Politics podcast, Lauren asked local members of Congress one simple question: what can they actually get done this year? Lauren spoke with Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pennsylvania), Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-New Jersey), Senator Tom Carper (D-Delaware), Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware) and Michael Hagen, an associate professor of political science at Temple University. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: Interview with Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon 1:52 - The role of bipartisanship in getting things done 2:25 – The accomplishments of the legislative body 2:29 – Keeping the government open, kicking out George Santos Interview with Congressman Jeff Van Drew 3:01 – What can get done this year? 3:38 – The border, HR2 and the legislative session Interview with Senator Tom Carper 5:04 – Senator Bill Cassidy, Program of All-Inclusive Care6:07 – Carper on Trump’s influence Interview with Senator Chris Coons 6:41 – What can get done this year? Interview with Michael Hagen 8:05 – Election anxiety and congressional campaigns 9:28 – Control of both chambers of Congress up for grabs and Trump’s influence 12:31 – Impact of the State of the Union 14:57 – The State of the Union and the presidential campaign 15:18 – “Blaming the other side for inaction is a tried-and-true strategy.” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner spoke with Lauren Mayk about his ongoing fight against Act 40, a new law that would give a special prosecutor jurisdiction over any crime committed on SEPTA’s property. Krasner also spoke about his disagreement with Governor Josh Shapiro over Act 40, the recent violence on and near SEPTA properties, working with the city's new mayor and new police commissioner and whether or not he plans to run for a third term.Here is a full breakdown of the episode: 1:43 – Preparing for the possibility of a special prosecutor2:36 – Krasner on Shapiro’s stance on Act 404:37 – Support for Krasner’s fight against Act 405:41 – Protecting the upcoming election in Philly 7:37 – Reaction to SEPTA’s stance on Act 40 9:30 – Krasner on Act 40’s sponsor 10:39 – How a special prosecutor would handle SEPTA violence 13:50 – How to stop SEPTA violence 15:35 – SEPTA cracking down on all crime16:35 – Crime in Philly 18:11 – Krasner’s relationship with Mayor Parker, Commissioner Bethel 19:08 – Crime and drug use in Kensington 20:19 – Krasner’s role in Philly drug arrests 21:43 – Will Krasner run for re-election?25:19 - Shapiro administration’s response to Krasner25:52 – Senator Langerholc’s response to Krasner  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rep. Dwight Evans invited Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker to Washington, DC, as his guest for President Biden's State of the Union Thursday night. Hours before the address, Mayor Parker and Rep. Evans spoke with NBC10's Lauren Mayk about the recent gun violence in Philly and the upcoming presidential election as well as the challenges that Philly, the country and the president face.Here is a full breakdown of the episode. :38 – Why did Dwight Evans invite Mayor Parker to the State of the Union? 1:18 – Working with DC to help Philly3:20 – A divided Washington5:17 – Philadelphia and the presidential race6:23 – Connecting with voters8:25 – What changes should Philadelphians expect in the aftermath of the recent violence?12:38 – Idea of using National Guard14:52 – Making SEPTA saferSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk is speaking with residents and leaders in the Philadelphia area and surrounding suburbs about how voters are feeling about various issues, including the economy. While Philadelphia is heavily democratic, whether voters turn out or whether Republicans peel some votes away can have a big impact on the presidential race in Pennsylvania. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren speaks with Philly Democratic ward leader Sharon Vaughn, Mikal Ellis, the owner of a High Level Cutz barbershop, and Patrick Murray, the director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, about the current pulse of voters in our area. Sharon Vaughn interview :41 – Is Vaughn more worried that Philly voters will vote for Trump or that they’ll stay home? 1:18 – Are Biden and Harris speaking enough to Black voters? 1:48 – How local leaders in city hall can connect with voters 2:33 – What Vaughn is seeing in her ward as far as voting frequency 4:04 – Will Cherelle Parker impact who Philly residents vote for in the presidential electionMikal Ellis interview 5:33 – How do Philly residents feel about the economy? 6:25 – What are the signs of a good or bad economy? 7:40 – Are Biden’s visits to Philly making a difference? 8:40 – What would it take for Ellis to vote in 2024? 9:31 – Could Trump convince Ellis to vote for him? Patrick Murray interview 10:16 – Are there determining factors on whether people feel they’re benefitting from the economy? 13:25 -- How much does it take to change opinions of the economy? 14:56 – How much credit is Biden getting for the growing economy?17:48 – How much of a factor will people’s personal financial situation play into their vote? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro recently gave his budget address in Harrisburg. He laid out how he wants to spend taxpayer dollars over the next year and he’s proposing some big investments. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk spoke with the governor about what his plans would look like, the negotiations ahead and the 2024 presidential race in Pennsylvania. The governor also discussed investing in the state without raising taxes, his plan to help SEPTA, higher education and his signage of a controversial state law that affects who has the power to prosecute certain crimes in Philadelphia. Here is a full breakdown of the episode. :41 – How will Gov. Shapiro negotiate with Pa. lawmakers?1:39 – School vouchers3:15 – Future spending, Pennsylvania surplus, taxes6:20 – Money for SEPTA8:37 – SEPTA special prosecutor11:41 – Higher education plan 15:33 – Israel-Hamas war protests against President Biden17:41 – Voters’ feelings about the economy20:23 – Shapiro and 2028 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the latest episode of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, new Philadelphia Council President Kenyatta Johnson talks moving forward and helping the city improve following his acquittal in his federal corruption trial. He also talked about working with new Mayor Cherelle Parker, how he plans to tackle the city’s ongoing gun violence crisis, his thoughts on stop and frisk, Act 40 and the 76ers arena proposal.Here's a full breakdown of the episode:1:00 – What will city council look like with Kenyatta Johnson as president?1:57 – Johnson’s approach to his new leadership role2:33 – Working with Mayor Cherelle Parker4:13 – How will Johnson’s acquittal after his corruption trial influence his time as council president?4:55 – Advice for new city councilmembers 5:41 – Does Johnson want to make any changes to city council?6:15 – How does Johnson feel about working with the DOJ after they tried to put him in prison? 6:50 – Tackling the issue of gun violence9:15 – Johnson’s thoughts on stop and frisk11:22 – Johnson’s thoughts on Act 4013:53 – Johnson’s thoughts on the 76ers arena proposal 15:37 – Making city hall more inclusive  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, outgoing Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney spoke with Lauren Mayk about his future plans and reflected on his eight years in office. Kenney discussed his best days and the worst ones. He also spoke about how he handled Philly’s gun violence, the city’s finances and the stress that came along with the job. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: 00:30 – Kenney’s future plans3:30 -- Does Kenney feel like Philly is better now than it was before he took office?6:00 – Kenney’s conversations with city workers in the final days of his term7:00 – Kenney’s reaction to violence involving Philly children12:00 – Does the Parker administration have a better chance at dealing with Philly’s violence? 13:48 – Kenney and DA Krasner14:57 – Did Kenney fail to bring city leaders to the table as mayor?15:43 – Kenney speaks on his controversial quote on the July 4th, 2022 shooting 16:56 – Kenney reacts to Cherelle Parker’s comments on his July 4th quote18:00 – How did Kenney deal with the stress and emotions of being mayor?20:51 – Lessons learned from the city’s response to the George Floyd protests23:02 – Kenney’s reaction to federal wiretaps24:10– Kenny’s thoughts on John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty25:55 – Kenney’s thoughts on former President Donald Trump27:35 – Will Kenney be part of the Biden campaign?28:08 – What was Kenney’s best day in office?31:50 – What was Kenney’s worst day in office?34:13 – Could Kenney have done more to help with Kensington’s drug crisis? 36:38 – Is Kenney completely finished with politics? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The big upcoming changes for Philadelphia’s City Hall don’t just include the new mayor. Darrell Clarke, who has been the president of City Council since 2012 and served on the council for more than a decade before that, is leaving. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk spoke with Clarke about his future, Philadelphia’s future, power in city hall and whether or not he thinks he would have been a good mayor. Clarke also discusses his expectations as a member of Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker’s new intergovernmental roundtable, how much power convicted former labor leader John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty had in city hall and ways the city can be more “aggressive” in fighting crime.  Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: :37 -- How is Darrell Clarke feeling about his city council tenure coming to an end? 1:28 – Clarke’s future plans 2:28 – Is Clarke still comfortable with his decision to leave? 3:17 – Expectations as a member of Mayor-elect Parker’s intergovernmental roundtable5:52 – Can a focus on different neighborhoods coincide with a “One Philadelphia” vision?7:43 – Will Philly have a Chief Public Safety Director? 10:13 – Has the balance of power shifted at city hall? 12:34 – Does Clarke think he would’ve been a good mayor? 13:37 – How much power did Johnny Doc have in city hall? 16:30 – Does city council’s structure potentially put councilmembers in compromising positions? 18:02 – Did city council do everything they could to curb gun violence during Clarke’s tenure? 21:15 – Being more ‘aggressive’ on solving crime in Philly 24:30 – Would Clarke take a job in the Parker administration? 25:00 – Clarke talks potential upcoming role on the State Liquor Control Board See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While Democrats are the dominant party in Philadelphia, historically Republicans have had two at-large city council seats that were reserved for the non-majority party. That changed however after the Working Families Party won both of those seats in the city’s recent General Election.In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk spoke with City Commissioner Seth Bluestein – one of the only elected Republicans left in Philly city government – about his party’s dwindling presence in City Hall, the future of the GOP and how he’s preparing for another presidential election year.Here's a full breakdown of the episode: :53 – How does it feel to be one of two Republicans left in Philly’s city government? 2:35 – Can a third party contribute to Philly bipartisanship?  3:18 – Why couldn’t Republicans get the two non-majority city council seats?  5:09 – How can Republicans in the Philly area move forward in 2024?7:10 – Is it worth it for Republican candidates to compete in Philly?8:00 – Will changing Republican leadership in Philly make a difference?8:45 – How much of a factor is Donald Trump in the Philly area?9:30 – Was the GOP’s push for mail-in voting too little too late?11:55 – Preparing for the potential spotlight on Philly during the 2024 Election14:28 – Has Seth Bluestein’s experience in 2020 helped prepare him for 2024?15:30 – Thoughts on potential GOP presidential candidates See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Working Families Party has been gaining power in Philadelphia and recently won two City Council seats. Kendra Brooks was elected in 2019 as part of the Working Families Party and then reelected in November along with Nicolas O’Rourke. In the latest episode of Battleground Politics, Lauren Mayk spoke with Brooks about how they did it, what’s ahead in City Hall and what she and her supporters will do in 2024. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: 1:00 – How will City Council be different with two Working Families Party members?  2:51 – What issues would Kendra Brooks like to take on in the next year? 4:40 – Relationship with Democratic Mayor-Elect Cherelle Parker 6:28 – Why is Kendra Brooks not a Democrat? 8:38 – What’s next for the Working Families Party? 10:28 – Will Working Families Party voters support President Joe Biden in 2024? 12:02 – Are Working Families Party voters satisfied with President Biden? 14:18 – Is there anything President Biden needs to do to win over non-supporters? 15:08 – Does Kendra Brooks support President Biden? 15:30 – What did Kendra Brooks learn from the primary? 17:56 – What conversations helped the Working Families Party appeal to voters? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Episode 9 of Battleground Politics, NBC10’s Lauren Mayk speaks with Republican Carolyn Carluccio and Democrat Dan McCaffery about their heated and expensive race for Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court. The race between both candidates has gotten plenty of attention outside of Pennsylvania due in part to the possibility that the Pa. Supreme Court could see cases involving abortion and elections in the future. Democrats hold the majority on the court and the race won’t change the balance of power. But if Carluccio wins, it would cut the margin down to only one justice. Here's a full breakdown of the episode:Republican Carolyn Carluccio:50 - How and why the race has become heated1:18 - How else should judges get selected if we didn’t elect them?1:45 - Why Carolyn Carluccio is a Republican and her political alignments2:15 - Carluccio responds to allegations that she wiped anti-abortion language from her website3:15 - Pa. Pro-Life Federation endorsements and Carluccio's stance on abortion access5:25 - Judicial activism6:40 - Election laws in Pennsylvania and voting by mail8:47 - 2020 election10:46 - Possibility of changing Pennsylvania’s constitution11:40 - Why Carolyn Carluccio wants to be on the Pa. Supreme CourtDemocrat Daniel McCaffery12:25 - The race has become national and heated14:05 - Why Daniel McCaffery is a Democrat15:03 - Democrats and abortion rights16:17 - What McCaffery could do while on the court to protect abortion access and women's rights18:01 - Judicial activism19:15 - Responding to attack ads, scandal accusations21:55 - Constitution as a living document and what that means23:01 - Debate over election laws24:12 - Handling mail-in ballots25:05 - Pennsylvania’s constitution potentially amended by voters, Supreme CourtSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the latest episode of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, Pennsylvania Republican Chair Lawrence Tabas talks about why his party as well as former president Donald Trump have recently embraced mail-in ballots ahead of the 2024 election. Meanwhile, political consultant Mustafa Rashed discusses whether the GOP change will alter the tactics of Democrats. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode. 1:17 – How Republican voters are reacting to the ‘Bank Your Vote’ campaign 2:22 – Why Trump changed his stance on mail-in ballots 3:05 – How can Republicans catch up with Democrats on mail-in ballots?4:36 – Changing the minds of Pennsylvania Republican voters 5:56 – Is Lawrence Tabas comfortable about mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania? 6:36 – How Republicans developed the ‘Bank Your Vote’ campaign 7:21 – Are Republicans getting pushback on mail-in ballots? 8:16 – What would the GOP consider a success for mail-in ballots? 9:50 – How are Democrats currently approaching mail-in ballots?11:11 – Do Democrats need to handle mail-in ballots differently? 12:30 – The importance of Philly’s General Election14:10 – The impact of local organizations on mail-in ballot voting 15:30 – GOP voters beginning to embrace mail-in ballots 16:30 – The future of mail-in and early voting in PennsylvaniaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Episode 7 of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, Philadelphia's Republican candidate for mayor, David Oh, discussed a wide range of issues, including crime in the city, the search for a new police commissioner, stop and frisk, the proposed 76ers arena, the future of the GOP and accusations that he falsely claimed to have served in the Green Berets.Oh also spoke about the deadly police shooting of Eddie Irizarry, building trust between police and the community, and the city’s ghost gun and gun shop lawsuits.Here’s a full breakdown of the episode:1:30 – Crime in Philadelphia3:33 – Looting in the city5:16 – Who would David Oh pick for police commissioner?7:10 – Deadly police shooting of Eddie Irizarry9:02 – Building trust between police and the community11:15 – Philly’s ghost gun and gun shop lawsuits12:25 – Proposed 76ers arena15:33 – Can Republicans hold their seats in City Council?18:36 – Green Beret controversy25:50 – Who will David Oh support in the 2024 presidential race?29:15 – David Oh speaks on his military service See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Episode 6 of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, former GOP congressman Charlie Dent, who represented Pennsylvania’s 15th congressional district from 2005 to 2018, shares his thoughts on the recent ousting of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Dent also weighs in on potential candidates to replace McCarthy and whether or not bipartisan support for a new speaker is actually realistic. Here’s a full breakdown of the episode: :46 McCarthy ousted2:15 Finding a new speaker after McCarthy5:31 What does Washington think of McCarthy being gone?7:20 Is bipartisan support for a new speaker realistic?9:20 What mistake did McCarthy make?11:18 Is there enough political will for a bipartisan agreement?12:31 Is Brian Fitzpatrick a potential candidate for speaker?14:41 An unprecedented situation15:06 Does Charlie Dent want to be the new House Speaker?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Episode 5 of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, 'Meet the Press' moderator and former NBC10 reporter Kristen Welker talks 2024, the current political landscape, her Philly-area roots and Pennsylvania’s role in the upcoming election cycle.Welker also talks about the division in U.S. politics, women who mentored her throughout her career and what it was like covering the Philadelphia region as a reporter with NBC10.Here’s a full breakdown of the episode::47 - Becoming the new 'Meet the Press' moderator2:43 - Dealing with the current media landscape3:52 - Important political voices for 20244:57 - Chaos in Washington?6:40 - Division in U.S. politics8:00 - How important is Pennsylvania in the election cycle?9:30 - What was it like growing up and reporting in Pennsylvania?10:57 - What was it like covering politics in the Philly region?13:22 - Casey vs. McCormick 15:42 - Will voters show up on Election Day?17:12 - Women who mentored Kristen throughout her career See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Episode 4 of Battleground Politics with Lauren Mayk, she talks with Philadelphia's Democratic candidate for mayor Cherelle Parker about a wide range of issues facing the city.Included in their conversation are Parker's views on the search for a new police commissioner, the shooting of Eddie Irizarry, and a recent controversy involving her staffers and an email that was accidentally sent to a Philadelphia news publication.Here's a full breakdown of the episode.1:40 - Potential police commissioner candidates?5:10 - Eddie Irizarry shooting6:46 - What’s Parker’s stance on stop and frisk?8:59 - Should the Sixers arena plan go forward?13:05 - Supervised injection sites17:00 - Democrats, GOP and Working Families Party19:35 - The influence of labor groups21:44 - Should Philly families have access to lifelong scholarships?24:44 - What change could Parker bring to Philly?27:00 - Staff email controversy and reporter accessSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As GOP presidential candidates court voters in early voting states, Lauren Mayk talks to Republican voters in Battleground Pennsylvania, and political science professor Christopher Borick, the director of Muhlenberg College’s Institute of Public Opinion.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.