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Love 'em or hate 'em, political ads are everywhere in New Hampshire right now, and comms expert Scott Spradling joins the podcast for another round of campaign ad reviews. The 'Bleep' ad? Kelly & Joe 2.0? The ad Cinde Warmington wants the Attorney General to take down? They're all reviewed here! Then a conversation with NH-02 GOP nominee Lily Tang Williams fresh off her first debate with Rep. Maggie Goodlander.  It's all on the NHJournal podcast, made possible by listeners like you (click here to kick in a few bucks) and our friends at Perfect Smiles of Nashua.

Twenty years after a Democratic wave swept both of New Hampshire's Republicans out of Congress and the NHGOP out of power in Concord, veterans of that election cycle see familiar warning signs heading into November. Former Rep. Jeb Bradley, former NHGOP chair Fergus Cullen and NHGOP operative Jeff Grappone debate and discuss. Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua. Enjoy the podcast? Please support NHJournal's independent journalism by clicking here.

You've got questions about polling? Spencer Kimball, director of Emerson College Polling, has answers. Is polling in a crisis? How should you use the results? What they can-- and can't -- tell you about the state of the NH elections? It's all here in the podcast. PLUS: A round of rank punditry with UNH political science professor Dante Scala. Is 2026 shaping up to be another 2018 or -- worse for NHGOP -- 2006?  Hosted by NHJournal's Michael Graham. Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua. Want to support NHJournal's reporting? Thanks -- click here!

In the NHJournal podcast, GOP NH-01 nominee Anthony DiLorenzo repeatedly compared his working-class background and business success to Democratic opponent Stefany Shaheen’s life as a beneficiary of her mother Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s influence. “I got my first job when I was eight years old. I’ve been working ever since,” DiLorenzo said. And Shaheen? “I don’t think she’s ever received a job that wasn’t because of her mother’s influence.” Then it’s time to talk property tax cap with Rep. Ross Berry (R- Weare), one of the strongest proponents of the policy to let voters decide if they want to cap the growth of local education property taxes. Is it a good policy for New Hampshire or a smart political move for the NHGOP? Berry’s answer: “Yes!” Hosted by NHJournal’s Michael Graham. Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua. Want to support NHJournal and its coverage of the 2026 general election? Just click here to do your part!

Cinde Warmington says New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account program is picking taxpayers’ pockets and driving up local property taxes. Drew Cline, president of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, has a two-word fact check: It isn’t. “That’s one of the more ridiculous claims that comes out in politics,” Cline told the NHJournal Podcast. “It really doesn’t have any bearing on reality whatsoever.” EFA “pickpocketing” is just one of many claims being made in the current campaign cycle and fact-checked by Cline, with an assist or two from NHJournal Managing Editor Michael Graham. Also covered: Will the property tax cap on the November ballot “cut” education spending?Have business tax cuts “downshifted” costs onto local towns?Has Israel committed “genocide” in its war with Hamas in Gaza?Are data centers really destroying our environment and driving up electricity costs?It’s a great conversation that you won’t find anywhere else. If you want to help NHJournal continue to provide its unique coverage of NH politics, consider “subscribing” for just $4.99 a month by clicking here. And thanks for supporting NHJournal!

When NHJournal Managing Editor Michael Graham looked around the room at Castro's Cigar Lounge in Bedford the Friday after the primary and saw three campaign pros/reporters gathered around, he did the obvious thing: Turned on the mic! The result is this improvised podcast with GOP strategist Michael Dennehy, Republican comms pro and Union Leader columnist Patrick Hynes, and NY Sun reporter (and Seacoast resident) Caroline McCaughey.  Shaheen vs. Sullivan. Pappas vs Manzur. Sununu vs. Pappas. And a preview of the 2028 FITN primary. It's all here!

On the eve of the Granite State's 2026 primary elections, two veteran politicos join the NHJournal podcast to talk about the state of the races and the state of New Hampshire politics. Matt Mowers is president of Valcour, a global strategy firm. Before that, he was a political operative in New Hampshire who ran for Congress in the First Congressional District twice. He offers his insights — and predictions — about the upcoming election, as well as his view of the state of play in New Hampshire politics. Then, Mark Halperin, editor-in-chief of the 2WAY political platform and host of “The Morning Meeting,” says the Granite State’s U.S. Senate race remains largely overlooked by the national political establishment — but it could ultimately determine control of the chamber. Hosted by NHJournal Managing Editor Michael Graham. Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.

After a week of debates and poll drops, it's time for a full hour of political analysis and -- a fan favorite -- "Rank Punditry!" The podcast starts with Boston Globe political reporter and NH politics veteran James Pindell, who talks about the competitive races in both New Hampshire and the Bay State, and why a certain Granite State Republican might be on the 2028 VP list. Then we get a national take on New Hampshire politics from the chief author of the Almanac of American Politics, Lou Jacobsen. He ranks the competitive U.S. Senate races and talks about how nationalizing elections is impacting contests in states like New Hampshire. Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua (Thank you!) And by great NHJournal fans like you! (Click here to kick in $4.99/month)

New Hampshire House Speaker Sherman Packard reflects on “probably the toughest three terms almost any speaker has ever had” in his farewell interview with NHJournal.com. The Londonderry Republican recounts the challenges he faced, from the COVID-19 pandemic to an almost evenly divided House and growing political turmoil. Packard also discusses the recent overrides of Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s vetoes, his belief that government is spending “the people’s money,” and the impact of social media on politics. Then it’s “Rank Punditry” with veteran GOP strategist Jim Merrill, who analyzes the results of the new Saint Anselm College poll and the state of the hotly contested NH-01 Democratic primary. Hosted by NHJournal Managing Editor Michael Graham. Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua. Want to "subscribe" to NHJournal for $4.99 a month and help support independent journalism in the Granite State? Click here!

John E. Sununu drops by Castro's Cigar Lounge in Bedford to talk about his race for U.S. Senate and the surge in socialist politics among Democrats. “The socialists are in charge right now of the Democratic Party. They’re driving it, and that’s one of the reasons this is an important election,” Sununu said. “Chris Pappas has gone along with them, hook, line and sinker.” Then it's "Lights! Camera! Election!" as media strategist Scott Spradling joins NHJournal's Michael Graham to play Siskel and Ebert with the current crop of NH politics' TV ads. Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.

Forget “Suck it up, Buttercup.” Terry Shumaker says it’s time for his fellow New Hampshire Democrats to stand up to the DNC, and he expects presidential candidates who want to win in 2028 to do the same. “I’m not interested in supporting anybody for president who’s afraid of some party bosses down in Washington,” Shumaker told the NHJournal podcast this week. Then it's Rank Punditry with Caroline McCaughey of the New York Sun and UNH political science professor Dante Scala.

Former NH-01 Congressman Frank Guinta joins the podcast to talk about the current state of the race for his old seat, how the 2026 cycle is shaping up for his fellow Republicans and the news that the DNC is stripping NH of its First in the Nation primary. Then it's Rank Punditry time with AFP's Sarah Scott and grizzled GOP campaign veteran Dave Carney. Will the Democrats' struggles with their Socialist base (which was part of the FITN decision) hurt the party's brand enough to give the GOP a fighting chance to avoid a Blue Wave in November? Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.

As the Rep. Ellen Read (D-Newmarket) saga continues, it can be hard to keep up with all the twists and turns, so NHJournal asked our very own Damien Fisher, who's been covering the story from the beginning, to bring you up to speed. From her work on behalf of the Satanic Temple to her attempt to aid Hamas to her adventures as New Hampshire's most lead-footed legislator, it's all here. Then campaign pro Jim Merrill and Rep. Ross Berry (R-Weare) are the Rank Pundits of the week, talking about the Maine U.S. Senate race, the financial situations of the two parties in New Hampshire and their prognosis for November. Sponsored by NHJournal readers like you (click here to chip in!) and our good friends at Perfect Smiles of Nashua. Hosted by Michael Graham.

NH-01 GOP candidate Anthony DiLorenzo joins the NHJournal podcast to talk about his path to success in the primary, and in the general election -- likely against Democrat Stefany Shaheen. He also breaks the news that he's reporting his campaign took in more than $1 million in Q2 (most of it from DiLorenzo himself), which he says shows that this will be the first cycle in at least a decade when the GOP had the cash to go toe-to-toe with Democrats in the 1st CD. Then it's "Rank Punditry" with Boston Globe political reporter James Pindell -- live from Graham Platner's neighborhood in Maine! He joins AFP's Greg Moore and host Michael Graham to talk about the impacts (if any) of the Dems' Platner faceplant on New Hampshire politics. And the eternal question: Why don't NH Democrats ever have any Platners (or AOCs or Sanders or Warrens) of their own? Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.

Forget politics and partisanship. In this episode of the NHJournal podcast we celebrate America's (REAL) 250th anniversary by getting our patriotism on! History writer J. Mark Powell and Drew Cline, president of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, join host Michael Graham to talk about America's greatest moments, then debate -- who was the best Founding Father, and who was the worst? Plus -- what is the most "America, [Bleep] Yeah!" thing the U.S. has done in its 250 years as the greatest nation on earth? Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua. NOTE: If you'd prefer to watch or listen on Youtube, the link is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jTbuybjF18