The Ballotpedia Podcast
The Ballotpedia Podcast was released from February to May 2016 as a series of short audio features from the Encyclopedia of American Politics. It covered everything from specific ballot measures to the inner workings of state and federal government, as well as interviews with Ballotpedia staff, political figures, and policy experts. Each episode included a trivia question. Listen to get the answers, or click on "Show more" below each episode.
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Episodes and trivia
Find descriptions of all Ballotpedia podcast episodes below. Each episode is followed by a trivia question. To reveal the answers, click on the "Show more" links. Note that, due to changing laws and procedures around the country, the answers to the trivia questions below can only be confirmed as accurate as of the date of the episode in which they were featured.
2016
Episode 18
On May 30, 2016, host Terry Phillips has a one-minute quiz on American elected officials.
Trivia question: How many federal, state, and local officials are elected in the United States?
Episode 17
On May 23, 2016, host Terry Phillips has a one-minute quiz on voter registration.
Trivia question: Which is the only American state without formal voter registration requirements?
Episode 16
On May 15, 2016, host Terry Phillips has a special one-minute podcast focusing on important dates in the 2016 presidential race.
Trivia question: How many more presidential primaries and caucuses remain before the national nominating conventions?
Episode 15
For the week of May 9, 2016, host Terry Phillips has news about elections in West Virginia, Nebraska, and Delaware, plus some fact checks from our Verbatim project.
Trivia question: What happens to GOP presidential delegates pledged to Sen. Ted Cruz following his withdrawal from the race?
Episode 14
For the week of May 2, 2016, host Terry Phillips has headlines from our newsletter, The Tap. Items include the Puerto Rico debt and Indiana elections.
Trivia question: Can the Republican national convention nominate a presidential candidate who did not win a majority of delegates in primaries and caucuses?
Special Edition
Host Terry Phillips reviews the complexities and possible pitfalls of voting in primaries. The rules vary from state to state and from party to party. He uses the upcoming California primary election as an example. (April 26, 2016)
Episode 13
For the week of April 25, 2016, host Terry Phillips has news about healthcare insurance as well as presidential, congressional, and local primaries. BP’s editorial consultant and veteran Washington journalist Rich Cohen talks about the value of political endorsements. (April 25, 2016)
Trivia question: Who was the first deaf lawyer to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court?
Michael Chatoff
Episode 12
For the week of April 18, 2016, host Terry Phillips presents news from The Tap: the U.S. Supreme Court’s final session; the appointment of a New Jersey high court justice; a change to the “right-to-try” law in Mississippi; April 19 elections from coast to coast; and allegations against the governor of Alabama. (April 18, 2016)
Trivia question: What percentage of Americans participated in the 2014 midterm elections?
Episode 11
For the week of April 11, 2016, we have some stories from Ballotpedia’s newsletter, The Tap. There are two trivia questions about the history of the United States Supreme Court. (April 11, 2016)
Trivia question: Who was the youngest person ever appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court?
Justice Joseph Story, age 32 (1811 to 1845)
Episode 10
For the week of April 4, 2016, host Terry Phillips reviews GOP Rule 40, plus key elections in Wisconsin. Ballotpedia's Alma Cook explains the selection of judges. (April 4, 2016)
Trivia question: What percentage of American citizens age 18 and over are registered to vote?
65 percent (as of 2014)
- See also: U.S. Census Bureau
Episode 9
Host Terry Phillips summarizes some races to watch. Senior staff writer Brittany Clingen notes trends in cannabis legalization. (March 28, 2016)
Episode 8
Episode 8 has updated political news from The Tap. Jim Barnes concludes his analysis of possible contested nominating conventions. And the answer to our trivia question comes from Fact Check by Ballotpedia's Autumn Lewien. (March 21, 2016)
Episode 7
Episode 7 looks at upcoming local, state, and national political events. Veteran journalist and BP senior staff writer Jim Barnes talks about the history of presidential nominations. This week's trivia question is about American citizens who lose the right to vote. (March 14, 2016)
Trivia question: What group of American citizens are prohibited from casting a ballot?
Those convicted of a felony.
Episode 6
Episode 6 reviews elections from coast to coast and overseas. We learn something about school board elections from BP staffer Mandy Gillip. And there's a trivia question on brokered presidential nominating conventions. (March 7, 2016)
Trivia question: When was the last time a presidential nominee was chosen after the primary elections?
Adlai Stevenson (D) in 1952
Bonus question: Which presidential candidate went through the largest number of ballots at a nominating convention?
John W. Davis (D) in 1924
Episode 5
Episode 5 taps into Ballotpedia's weekly newsletter, The Tap, for a look at other elections taking place on Super Tuesday. There's also an interview with neutrality expert Larry Sanger and a trivia question about the physical barrier between the United States and Mexico. (February 29, 2016)
Trivia question: How many miles of fencing currently exist along the U.S.–Mexico border?
So far, more than 650 miles.
Episode 4
Episode 4 has information about how prospective Supreme Court nominees get on a president's list of nominees. There's news from The Tap and an excerpt from an exclusive BP interview with Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. This week's trivia question focuses on ballot measures. (February 22, 2016)
Trivia question: How many states allow citizens to put prospective laws directly onto the ballot?
26 states plus D.C.
Episode 3
Episode 3 explores some stories from Ballotpedia's weekly newsletter, The Tap. There's an interview with David Borman from the BP Influencers Desk and a trivia question about the Affordable Care Act. (February 15, 2016)
Trivia question: How has Obamacare affected the short-term cost of healthcare?
In general, short-term costs have gone up.
Episode 2
Episode 2 includes news about some upcoming mayoral elections, an interview with BP Federal Desk writer Emily Aubert to discuss the 2016 presidential campaign, and a trivia question on tax cuts. (February 8, 2016)
Trivia question: When John Kennedy ran for president, did he promise to cut taxes?
Not explicitly.
Episode 1
Episode 1, the pilot program, has United States Supreme Court news, an interview with BP State Desk writer Tyler King, and a trivia question about state poll opening and closing times on Election Day. (February 1, 2016)
Trivia question: Which will be the very last polling place in the United States to remain open on Election Day (November 8, 2016)?
Answer: Aden, Alaska
See also
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