What could possibly be geekier than spending a night at a live taping of a political podcast just two weeks before Election Day?
Political analyst Nate Silver’s fivethirtyeight.com became a sensation four years ago when he correctly predicted the winner in all 50 states during President Barack Obama’s re-elect. The site has been a go-to for poll analysis, economics and sports blogging, with stints being controlled by both the New York Times and ESPN.
During the current election season, a team of fivethirtyeight’s political reporters have sat down regularly in front of a microphone to give regular analysis and insight on everything that’s happened during the process, from the primaries right on through to the November 8 general election. And as the election got closer, the crew of the fivethirtyeight Political Podcast started doing live shows.
The final show took place Monday night at the Playstation Theater on Broadway in New York City. It was 15 days before Election Day. And I just had to be there. The fivethirtyeight Political Podcast has been in regular rotation on my iPhone for a while now and I was excited to see the show live.
You probably can’t tell from the rather crappy photo up top, since I was in the dark and nearly the last row of the theater, but on stage was (from left) editor-in-chief Nate Silver, political writer Clare Malone, analyst “Whiz Kid” Harry Enten and host Jody Avirgan. The four members of the regular podcast crew discussed the previous week of election news, answered questions and analyzed polling for a packed theater.
I was a big fan of the round of 1992 Election trivia, where Avrigan and Enten teamed up to face of Silver and Malone in a tight contest.
An edited version of the show is up on the fivethirtyeight website and can also be downloaded from all the usual podcasting apps. The show is kicking off daily podcasts until November 8. They’ll also continue doing podcasts after the election and through Inauguration Day.
The show is absolutely worth checking out if you have any interest in politics.