<a target="_blank" title="Henry Olsen" href="https://eppc.org/author/henry_olsen/"> Henry Olsen

Hosted by Steve Hayward

With guest Henry Olsen

I’ve decided that “populism” is when the wrong person or party wins a democratic election. Certainly the way the media and liberal elites have reacted to the Liberal Party’s upset win in Australia bears this out (keep in mind that the Liberal Party in Australia is the conservative party, but what do you expect from a country in the southern hemisphere). The media horror over Australia has been short-lived however, because the populists look set for major gains in the European Parliament elections currently under way. The wipe out of the Brexit-fumbling Tory Party in Britain has at last cost Theresa May her job, and the prospect of Boris Johnson becoming the next prime minister is Freddy Kruger territory for the media, who are also upset that India’s voters decided to return the retrograde pro-American Prime Minister Modi to office by a landslide. What’s a liberal elitist to do?

Well, one thing a liberal elitist ought to do (but probably won’t) is listen in to Henry Olson as he explains what’s going on. No one knows the data better than Henry, and I got him to give us his expectations and predictions for what’s next, including why Jeremy Corbyn will never make it, but why Joe Biden just might. Plus there’s a little baseball and soccer banter at the end, to send us off into our Memorial Day weekend.

Power Line #117

Where Joe Biden Meets Bryce Harper: A Henry Olsen Omnibus

March 29, 2019

4 COMMENTS

Hosted by Steve Hayward

With guest Henry Olsen

Have you had enough of the Mueller Report? Done smoldering over Smollett? Jazzed at opening day for MLB? Then have we got the show for you! This episode features a conversation with Henry Olsen about the lessons of the 2018 midterm, how the Democratic presidential field for 2020 is shaping up (with lots of mockery of course), a genteel argument about Henry’s views about why conservatives should rethink their reflexive support for the electoral college (an admission scandal of a different kind, you might say), and finally a tour of the new season of major league baseball, with Henry’s handicap of the teams that made the best moves. Plus a psychological diagnosis of Clayton Kershaw’s post-season troubles, and whether the Nationals will prosper without Bryce Harper. Something for everyone!

Power Line #95

Henry Olsen’s Midterm Outlook

November 1, 2018

Hosted by Steve Hayward

With guest Henry Olsen

We’re up early with this week’s edition of the Power Line Show, because Steve Hayward (his voice finally back to about 90 percent) cornered Henry Olsen to get Henry’s Jedi-like outlook on the mid-term election next week. Henry’s not ready yet to make many specific calls—his detailed race-by-race forecast will go up at National Review Online this Sunday night or next Monday morning—but right how he thinks it looks good for the GOP in the Senate, close in the House, and bad for governorships. As a special bonus, we end with a few of his sensible thoughts on how to improve major league baseball.

(Bumper music this week: “Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?” [something we ask ourselves just about every time we call Henry Olsen] by the Arctic Monkeys, and “Rosalee” by the Chris Robinson Brotherhood.)

Power Line

The Power Line Show Ep 86: November’s Coming!

September 2, 2018

6 COMMENTS

Hosted by Steve Hayward

With guest Henry Olsen

With two more weeks of primary election results to pick over, Steve Hayward checks in with Henry Olsen to see how things look. Florida increasingly appears to be the most interesting battleground state, with very competitive races for both governor and U.S. Senator. Henry also puts down his political polling data and puts on his Bill James hat to look ahead to the baseball playoff season starting a month from now. Also soccer, but we don’t really care about soccer. It’s a weenie Eurosport.

Power Line #78

Here Comes Da Judge!

July 8, 2018

Hosted by Steve Hayward

With guests Henry Olsen & Lucretia

With the ascent of “democratic socialism” in the Democratic party and a Supreme Court confirmation fight commencing this week, Steve Hayward checks in for the latest on how this may play out in the midterm election with Henry Olsen, and also introduces us to a new special, anonymous (and soon to be regular) mystery guest, “Professor X.” She teaches at a major public university, and argues that we aren’t arguing broadly enough about what is wrong with the Supreme Court these days. (Bonus: we also talk guns and shooting!)

Power Line #75

The IG Report, and the Latest Big Wave Surf Forecast

June 16, 2018

2 COMMENTS

Hosted by John Hinderaker, Steve Hayward

With guest Henry Olsen

Steve Hayward is joined this week by Power Line’s own John Hinderaker and Power Line’s eminence grise behind the curtain, Joe Malchow, to dissect the key takeaways of the Inspector General’s findings about the FBI’s investigation into Hillary Clinton. The second half of this episode features Henry Olsen with his latest “surf report” about where the Democrats’ “blue wave” stands at the moment. Hint: Democrats shouldn’t be waxing up their longboards just yet.

Power Line #68

Helping Henry

May 1, 2018

Hosted by Steve Hayward

With guest Henry Olsen

Who can make the connection between an obscure and bizarre British kids TV show and contemporary U.S. political analysis? The Power Line Show, that’s who! “Henry, were helping Henry and were telling Henry everything we know, Henry, were helping Henry, but we’ve still got a long long way too go!”—is the refrain of “Helping Henry,” but in this episode, Henry Olsen of the Ethics and Public Policy Center helps us keep up to date on the latest tea leaves of the political scene.

Power Line #62

Help Us Obi-Wan Henry—You’re Our Only Hope

March 19, 2018

Hosted by Steve Hayward

With guest Henry Olsen

In our regular bi-weekly checkup with Henry Olsen, the Obi-Wan Kenobi of election analysts, Steve Hayward and Henry cover the fallout from the special election in House district 18 in Pennsylvania, how the tariff issue might play out, what to expect in the aftermath of the recent chaotic Italian election, plus a look ahead to November, including some of the key governor’s races like Bruce Rauner in Illinois. And finally, is there any hope for Republicans in California? To find out, you’ll have to listen to the end.

Power Line #59

Populism Sweeping Europe?

February 28, 2018

Hosted by Steve Hayward

With guest Henry Olsen

Steve Hayward catches up with Henry Olsen in London, ahead of the upcoming general election in Italy where populist parties are expected to do well, and where German politics remain in disarray because of the populist eruption in their last general election. Meanwhile, Brexit continues to be a non-stop agony for British PM Theresa May, while the best performing government in western Europe right now may well be (sit down for this) … France!

Power Line #52

Regarding Henry

January 29, 2018

Hosted by Steve Hayward

With guest Henry Olsen

Steve Hayward sits down with Henry Olsen, author and senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, but also a premier practicioner of “psephology” (try pronouncing that fast three times—or just once!), which we define as reading the entrails of public opinion polls to figure out what the heck is going on. Henry was one of the very few to predict Trump’s 2016 victory in detail. Here we look ahead to the mid-terms, talk about Ronald Reagan, immigration, Star Trek, Star Wars, and the most important subject of all: who will win the Super Bowl and World Series this year.

Ricochet Podcast #363

The Huddled Masses

August 4, 2017

28 COMMENTS

Hosted by James Lileks, Larry Kudlow, Peter Robinson

With guests Henry Olsen & Mickey Kaus

This week, our good pal Larry Kudlow sits in for the making-tv-great-again Rob Long. We’ve also got Henry Olsen, author of The Working Class Republican: Ronald Reagan and the Return of Blue-Collar Conservatism who tell us what why Reagan’s greatest influence may have been Franklin Roosevelt, how The Great Communicator would’ve come down on the health care debate, and supposes who would have won in a Trump-Reagan electoral contest. Later, Mr. Immigration Mickey Kaus stops by to school us on why the Emma Lazarus poem isn’t policy and what the media gets wrong over and over about this contentious issue. We also talk about the good economic news, and the tight ship John Kelly is running at the White House.

Music from this week’s podcast: The Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin

City Journal's 10 Blocks

Reagan and the Blue-Collar Republicans

July 15, 2017

Political Economy with James Pethokoukis #76

Hosted by Brian C. Anderson

With guest Henry Olsen

Henry Olsen joins Brian Anderson to discuss Henry’s new book The Working Class Republican: Ronald Reagan and the Return of Blue-Collar Conservatism.

For nearly 30 years, the Republican Party had defined itself by Ronald Reagan’s legacy: a strong military, free trade, lower taxes, and most important, smaller government. When Donald Trump won the Republican nomination for president in 2016, many observers in the media and professional political circles asked a familiar question: Is the Republican Party still the Party of Reagan?

Blue Collar Conservatives

July 10, 2017

Hosted by James Pethokoukis

With guest Henry Olsen

Republicans invoke Ronald Reagan constantly. They sing his praises every chance they get, and seem to believe there is no public policy problem that a good dose of Reaganism can’t fix. But has the Right got Reagan wrong all this time? In his new book, The Working Class Republican: Ronald Reagan and the Return of Blue-Collar Conservatism, Henry Olsen argues the classic conception of Reagan as an arch-libertarian on economic policy is misguided. Only by understanding the real Reagan can Republicans forge a lasting coalition capable of governing America well into the future.

Henry Olsen is a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, where he studies and provides commentary on American politics. His work focuses on how to address the electoral challenges facing modern American conservatism, while staying true to conservative principles. Before joining the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Mr. Olsen most recently served from 2006 to 2013 as vice president and director of the National Research Initiative at AEI. He previously worked as vice president of programs at the Manhattan Institute and president of the Commonwealth Foundation. His work has been featured in many prominent publications, including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, National Review, and The Weekly Standard.

AEI Banter Podcast

Banter #274: Henry Olsen and Craig Shirley on Ronald Reagan

July 6, 2017

Hosted by Ceci Gallogly, Spencer Moore

With guest Henry Olsen

This week’s episode of Banter featured a double-dose of Ronald Reagan. Henry Olsen, senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, and Craig Shirley, author of four bestselling books on President Reagan, engaged in a conversation on Reagan and his legacy. Both have recently published books on Reagan: Olsen’s The Working Class Republican: Ronald Reagan and the Return of Blue-Collar Conservatism and Shirley’s Reagan Rising: The Decisive Years, 1976-1980, offer different interpretations of President Reagan’s conservatism. They discussed their views at an AEI event which also featured a discussion on the future of the Republican party. The link below will take you to the full event video.

Learn More:

Andrew Klavan Show #325

The Jihadis Next Door

June 6, 2017

Hosted by Andrew Klavan

With guest Henry Olsen

On this D-Day, I stand opposed to the divisive, Nazi-phobic invasion of France that will only drive more Nazis into the arms of Nazi-extremists… Plus, the mighty Henry Olsen discusses Trump and the future of conservatism.

Need to Know #184

Good, Bad, and Ugly: The Trump Transition

November 22, 2016

Hosted by Jay Nordlinger, Mona Charen

With guest Henry Olsen

Henry Olsen of the Ethics and Public Policy Center joins to analyze the election results (Olsen was one of the few to predict the outcome within a point or two) and consider the big takeaways from 2016 about ethnic and working class voters. What matters more: identity or issues?

Jay and Mona then read the tea leaves emerging from Trump tower and Bedminster, NJ and offer some praise, some relief, and some alarm.

Power Line #39

The Shape of the Race, And the Omens of Brexit, with Henry Olsen

July 15, 2016