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Matt Mackowiak's Mack On Politics

Smart political talk every week from Austin, Texas political consultant Matt Mackowiak, who has served in senior roles for two U.S. Senators and the Bush administration.
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Now displaying: February, 2018
Feb 21, 2018

Gun control is the subject of this episode, in light of the horrific recent school shooting in Parkland, FL.

Our guest is Washington Free Beacon staff writer Stephen Gutowski, who covers these issues and is a licensed gun safety instructor.

We begin by assessing what happened in Parkland, to what extent law enforcement failed to prevent the shooting, whether school safety is a realistic solution, how concealed carry for teachers might work in conjunction with the Gun Free School Zone Act, whether there is real momentum for banning bump stocks, passing mental health reform and fixing the NICS background check system, how concealed carry reciprocity would function and whether bans on high capacity magazines or an age limit for gun purchases make sense. Finally, we discuss the power of the NRA.

Feb 20, 2018

With March Madness looming and a pivotal Supreme Court case ruling around the corner, on the 70th episode we talk exclusively about sports betting with ESPN Staff Writer David Purdum.

We began by discussing the upcoming Supreme Court ruling in Christie vs. NCAA and what the effect will be across the country.

We then talked about high volume wager events like the Super Bowl and March Madness.

We turned to Daily Fantasy Sports and how two successful companies found this market and whether the court case will matter for their customers.

We then delved into how betting lines are set and how professional bettors move lines with their action.

We next explored whether cheating concerns are warranted.

Finally, we discussed how he got this unusual beat at ESPN, and how and why ESPN started openly discussing sports betting on air.

Feb 15, 2018

White House reporter Olivier Knox, currently of Yahoo News and previously of the wire service AFP, is our guest for the 69th episode.

We dig into the Rob Porter story with the latest on where it stands, what his job was, and how the security clearance process works. We then looked at the White House’s crisis communications response, how Chief of Staff John Kelly is doing, and what it’s like covering this White House.

Finally, we talked about this year’s legislative agenda and discuss his journalism career.

Feb 8, 2018

The Daily Caller’s Chuck Ross joins us for the 68th episode.

He has been a news-breaking machine on the recent revelations about rogue FBI agents and FISA abuse.

In this timely conversation, we begin with his view of the state of play, what the FBI agent text messages tell us, what the mysterious text about President Obama “wanting to know everything” could mean, what questions he has about the dossier at this point, whether Steele might have been used by Russian sources, what Sid Blumenthal’s involvement signifies, where he thinks the story is headed and what the hysteria on the left portends.

Feb 2, 2018

For the 67th episode, we turn to CBS News correspondent Bianna Golodryga, who is also a CNN contributor.

Fluent in Russian and a native of Moldova, we begin by discussing the newly released Nunes memo, whether the debate will turn to declassifying the FISA application, whether this qualifies as reasonable congressional oversight, whether it appears the ultimate goal is firing special counsel Robert Mueller, and what risk Donald Trump, Jr. and Jared Kushner may have. 

Then we talk about Trump’s business profile in New York, the state of the economy, the current media environment, as well as finishing with a bit about her upbringing.

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