It's My Party and I'll Try If I Want To

Host Ira Glass talks with Ben Calhoun about how Democrats are furiously trying to retake New York’s 19th congressional district. The sitting Republican is considered very vulnerable, and has been the subject of weekly protests that even have a house band. Nationally, Democrats are watching what’s happening in the district. They consider it one of the crucial seats they need to win back to retake the House. But the Democratic primary in NY-19 has been characterized by messy infighting playing out the stubborn split between the progressive and establishment wings of the party. (6 minutes)

Beals is running against six other candidates, many of whom say they, too, are progressive. Beals disagrees. He’s pitted himself against them. Beals’s opponents argue that his combative style is harming the party. Meantime, Beals finds himself increasingly at odds with a national arm of the Democratic party that keeps warning him he isn’t raising enough money. Progressive groups step in on Beals’s side as he forges ahead. (22 minutes)