Astead Herndon reports the 2024 campaign trail, from Iowa evangelicals to America's non-voters
The Run-Up treats the election as a set of live tensions rather than a horse race. Its reporting moves from grocery store parking lots to campaign headquarters, convention speeches, activist disputes, and party factions trying to decide what they can tolerate.
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The Run-Up is a New York Times podcast hosted by political reporter Astead Herndon that tracked the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign cycle from the primaries through the general election. The show alternates between narrative field reporting and interview-driven episodes, often built around one central question that Herndon returns to throughout an episode. Recurring subjects include the Republican primary and Trump's hold on the party despite criminal charges and civil findings against him, the role of evangelical voters in early states like Iowa, the RNC's transformation into a campaign operation under Trump allies, and data-backed reporting on non-voters and electoral abstention. Guests include campaign and party insiders (such as RNC member Henry Barber), presidential candidates (Vivek Ramaswamy), religious and political organizers (Bob Vander Plaats of the Family Leader), and ordinary voters and non-voters interviewed directly, drawing on outside research such as a Knight Foundation study of non-voters. Episodes frequently pair opposing voices — an establishment Republican against a MAGA-aligned figure, or several non-voters with different reasons for sitting out — to map internal divides rather than present a single narrative. The reporting relies on original interviews and campaign-trail scenes rather than roundtable punditry or daily news-cycle commentary. Listeners drawn to this show are politically engaged people, journalists, and campaign staff who want granular, reported accounts of how the election unfolded rather than horse-race polling analysis. Episodes run roughly 45 minutes to just under an hour and mix in-studio interviews with on-location segments. Herndon serves as the sole host and interviewer across sampled episodes.
Made for: Politically engaged listeners, journalists, and campaign staff seeking reported, on-the-ground analysis of the 2024 U.S. presidential election beyond horse-race polling.
What sets it apart: Builds episodes around single-guest interviews and field reporting that map internal party divides and voter/non-voter behavior using original research, rather than roundtable punditry.
“The Run-Up” is your guide to understanding the 2024 election. Host Astead W. Herndon talks to the people whose decisions will make the difference. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher.
Based on 4 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Election strategy becomes concrete through probing interviews with candidates, party figures, committed voters and people largely outside electoral politics.
The Run-Up follows the forces shaping a presidential election by putting Astead W. Herndon in conversation with political insiders, candidates, party loyalists and people who rarely vote.
Astead W. Herndon puts you across from nonvoters and candidates who dislike the premise.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A sharp look at how Republican reluctance gave way to the Trump-centered party that now exists.
The Run-Up treats Donald Trump's 2024 nomination as a live question, not a foregone conclusion. Ested Herndon opens with the hard contradiction: Trump becomes the presumptive Republican nominee again despite criminal charges, legal penalties, two impeachments, election denial,…
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Iowa is where the Trump rematch assumption gets tested against actual Republican voters.
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A focused look at why RFK Jr.'s independent run has Democrats organizing around spoiler risk.
The Run-Up treats Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s independent campaign less as a curiosity than as a live problem for Democrats trying to plan for November.
A sharp look at nonvoters that treats turnout as a trust problem, not just a campaign problem.
The Run-Up turns from the usual hunt for persuadable voters to the harder question of people who may stay home altogether. The episode gets its footing in the odd, funny business of trying to reach someone outside the political habit, then uses that encounter to ask whether…
New York Times reporter Ested Herndon investigates America's roughly 100 million non-voters ahead of the 2024 presidential election, drawing on a Knight Foundation study of 12,000 non-voters and phone interviews with people who sat out 2020.
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This episode explores the political challenges Republicans face after the overturning of Roe v.
This episode follows undecided voter Corey Zeck in Middletown, Ohio during a 2024 presidential debate watch party, exploring her shifting political allegiances and what undecided voters are thinking.
This episode analyzes the symbolic use of Lee Greenwood's 'God Bless the USA' as Donald Trump's theme music during his emotional first public appearance at the Republican National Convention after surviving an assassination attempt.
A journalist attends a Wisconsin tailgate to explore the growing political gender gap among young voters, observing beer dye games and discussing swing state dynamics.
This episode explores the political landscape and local culture of Lodi, Wisconsin, focusing on its voting patterns and the town's quirky mascot, Susie the duck.
This episode analyzes Kamala Harris's rapid ascension as the Democratic presidential nominee and examines how her policy agenda compares to traditional Democratic platforms.
This episode discusses Donald Trump's strategy to flip Georgia back to Republican control in the upcoming election, with additional content featuring an interview with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer about Democratic strategy.
This episode explores how the College Democrats of America publicly criticized President Biden's stance on anti-war campus protests, revealing internal divisions and examining its political implications for young voters.
This episode analyzes the final night of the Democratic National Convention, featuring discussions with political reporters about Kamala Harris's nomination acceptance and key voter perspectives.
This episode provides on-the-ground analysis from the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, focusing on Donald Trump's nomination and what it reveals about the current state of the Republican Party.
This episode analyzes the 2024 congressional elections, exploring who will control the House and Senate and what it reveals about both political parties.
This episode explores the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, focusing on flood damage in Canton and its impact on early voting in this battleground state.
This episode features a discussion with a pollster about navigating the final stretch of the 2024 election, analyzing trends and strategies.
A New York Times reporter takes colleagues to a scenic overlook in El Paso to discuss how the U.S.-Mexico border, a major political campaign issue, is also a personal home for local residents.
This episode explores a family murder case involving the narrator's cousin Alan, with reporters investigating at an Arizona trailhead.
This episode explores why billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban has become an open advocate for Kamala Harris's presidential campaign, focusing on his efforts to convince business-minded people to support her.
This episode analyzes the Democratic Party's strategic messaging at their national convention, focusing on efforts to reclaim patriotism and address skepticism among voters.
This episode examines why President Joe Biden isn't receiving public credit for strong economic indicators like low unemployment and reduced inflation despite his administration's emphasis on Bidenomics.
This episode of The Run-Up answers listener questions about the 2024 U.S.
This episode revisits Clallam County, America's only remaining bellwether county, to reflect on its political significance and the national mood during the presidential election.
This episode features an interview with a Republican voter discussing how Donald Trump's recent criminal conviction might influence his voting decision in the upcoming election.
This episode revisits the 2005 book 'What Women Really Want' by pollsters Kellyanne Conway and Celinda Lake, examining how its assumptions about women voters valuing integrity have shifted in light of events like Donald Trump's 2016 election and the overturning of Roe v.
This episode examines Kamala Harris's political identity and decision-making through reporter M.
This episode analyzes Trump's post-election appointments, focusing on Tom Holman's role in implementing aggressive border and immigration policies, including mass deportations.
This episode analyzes the upcoming Harris vs.
This episode analyzes the aftermath of President Biden ending his re-election bid and endorsing Kamala Harris, exploring what led to his campaign's downfall and where Democrats go next.
This episode explores the reasons behind Donald Trump's 2024 election victory by interviewing a voter named Monica to understand the motivations behind his widespread support.
This episode analyzes Donald Trump's shifting positions on abortion rights and reproductive issues, examining how his recent statements contrast with his previous stance on overturning Roe v.
New York Times reporters interview voters in Milwaukee about how economic issues like grocery prices are influencing their political views ahead of the election.
This episode analyzes key moments from day two of the Republican National Convention, where former Trump challengers like Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis voiced support for him, focusing on themes of political unity.
This episode discusses comedian Roy Wood Jr.'s performance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner and explores how the 2024 election provides material for political comedy.
This episode analyzes the political implications of the assassination attempt on Donald Trump, examining how his allies are framing it as evidence of persecution and its potential impact on the election.
This episode explores how anger over Israel's war in Gaza is manifesting at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago through protests and uncommitted delegates, examining whether it poses an electoral threat to the party.
This episode follows canvassers in West Philadelphia roleplaying voter outreach scenarios to help people navigate voting options for the upcoming election.
This episode explores the shifting political dynamics of young voters in the 2020 election, focusing on their increased turnout, declining support for President Biden due to age concerns and activism on issues like climate change and Gaza.
This episode provides live coverage and analysis of the first night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, featuring speeches from prominent figures like Joe Biden and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
This episode explains Project 2025, a Republican blueprint for the next conservative presidency under Donald Trump, which has gained widespread attention after being mentioned at the BET Awards and discussed on social media.
This episode examines how Nebraska's unique proportional electoral vote system could be pivotal in the 2024 presidential election, focusing on political mobilization efforts by Donald Trump and right-wing media figures like Charlie Kirk.
This episode features an interview with Leah Daughtry, a prominent Democratic National Committee member and convention organizer, discussing her role and insights as the Democratic National Convention gets underway, particularly in the context of the transition from Biden to Harris.
This episode analyzes the Democratic Party's panic after President Biden's poor debate performance against Donald Trump, highlighting widespread voter concerns about his age and mental fitness.
This episode analyzes the upcoming Trump vs.
This episode analyzes Vice President Kamala Harris's recent $200 million fundraising surge following President Biden's re-election withdrawal, focusing on grassroots Zoom events organized by diverse supporter groups.
This episode explores whether RFK Jr.'s political moment has passed by examining a chaotic campaign event in Michigan with protesters and satirical elements.
This episode features an interview with Senator Bernie Sanders discussing his views on the Democratic Party's current political landscape, including his support for Kamala Harris and the challenge of defeating Donald Trump.
This episode analyzes the Biden campaign's successful fundraising efforts, including a record-breaking event with three presidents, and compares their financial advantage over Donald Trump and the RNC.
New York Times journalist Ested Herndon interviews Robert F.
This episode analyzes the 2013 Republican autopsy report and how its assumptions about demographic destiny shaping politics were only partially correct, with Democrats now facing unexpected challenges.
The Run-Up turns to the question sitting at the center of Trump’s latest return as the Republican nominee.
The Run-Up examines why Joe Biden became the 2024 Democratic nominee despite persistent voter concerns about his age and desire for other options.
The Run-Up examines Super Tuesday, when voters in 15 states and one territory participate in presidential and down-ballot primaries.
The episode starts with a national assumption under pressure.