The Fly

In the final episode of The Fly's Post-Election Analysis Special, Andrea Smith brings together a diverse set of voices to unpack the results of this year’s election. With a deep dive into what led to the GOP's red wave, Andrea first sits down with Rick Wiley, a seasoned Republican strategist who shares insights on the winning message that propelled the party to victory, especially after the turbulent years following January 6th and the Roe v. Wade decision. Next, Andrea converses with Reed Howard and former CNN reporter Sarah Mucha about the Democrats' communication strategy—and where they faltered, particularly in key battleground states. The conversation delves into the challenges facing Democrats and what went wrong on the ground. Finally, Andrea speaks with Liam Richichi, president of Michigan State College Democrats, to gain a crucial Gen Z perspective on the election’s outcomes in a critical swing state. His reflections on voter engagement offer a sharp critique of the Democratic Party's direction and its relationship with younger voters. As the holiday season approaches, this episode reflects on the pivotal lessons from this election and what it means for the future of American politics. Tune in for this thought-provoking episode and a special look at how the political landscape may shift moving forward.

Today we are buzzing back in with GU politics fellow Ashley Gunn! Gunn has not only served as a special assistant to the president, the senior director of cabinet affairs for Donald Trump’s administration, but she had worked the behind the scenes of every republican convention since 1991. Tune in to this episode to hear more about Ashley’s take on the people behind our government, the experience of being a woman in politics, and the importance of balancing family and career.

We are incredibly honored to bring to you a very special, 2-part episode. Today, all across the country, Americans are voting in one of the most consequential and unique elections in American history. From the near assassination of Former President Donald Trump to President Biden passing the baton to Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black and South Asian Woman to lead a major party, we wanted to capture everything that has led up to today and what we can expect to see tonight. We spoke with Symone Sanders Townsend, the host of Symone on MSNBC and former Chief Spokesperson for Vice President Harris about her experience working campaigns and her takes on how both campaigns have operated. This week, history will be made, and America will change forever. How will America change? We will only know until all the votes are counted. Thank you for being here for this historic episode, and without further ado, we present our Election Day Special!

In part one of our election special, Senior Fly Andrea Smith sits down with former CNN embed Sarah Mucha and Reed Howard, Chief Public Affairs Officer for The Future Caucus. Together, they dive into the fascinating world of swing state voters, focusing on groups like Nikki Haley supporters in Pennsylvania and Gen Zers in Michigan. You’ll get an insider’s perspective on how different this presidential election cycle is compared to the last two, and learn how well (or not) each candidate is running their campaign. If you’ve ever wondered what goes into the planning and strategy of a campaign, this is your chance to hear all the behind-the-scenes details from those who have been in the thick of it!