Mitt Romney Audio

California is the country’s most populous state. We find out why the Golden State is facing a budget crunch, what voters think of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the reaction to the State Supreme Court’s recent decision on gay marriage, and what is being done about the drought there. Dan Walters , political columnist at the Sacramento Bee , explains what will be the major issues on the minds of California voters in November. He has been reporting on California politics for more than 30 years. States of the Union fact of the week: California is the most populous state of the United States. It’s also the 2nd most populous state in the Americas. São Paolo State, Brazil is the largest.

Find out how the Beehive State became a reliably Republican state in national elections, why the state is grappling with a spike in its HIV infection rate, and the role of the Mormon church in Utah’s politics. Paul Rolly is a political columnist for the Salt Lake Tribune . States of the Union fact of the week: Utah is also one of only two states in the United States to outlaw all forms of gambling; the other is Hawaii.

Only Barack Obama gets to decide who fills out his Presidential ticket -- but that won't stop the rest of us from chiming in. Would Hillary Clinton take the job, and is that the best route to party unity? If Bill Richardson helps Obama with Latino voters, could they build a winning coalition without working-class whites? Call us with your opinion and comment below!

Politico.com's Ben Smith discusses some of the latest news from the campaign trail.

West Virginia will hold its Democratic primary on May 13. Find out how things have changed in the Mountain State since our December States of the Union segment on West Virginia. Scott Finn is a reporter for West Virginia Public Broadcasting .

Nebraska is a major agricultural state; we find out how rising food prices and rising fuel prices are affecting voters in the Cornhusker State. Nebraska is holding its Republican primary on May 13 and we look at the race for the state’s open Senate seat. Mike Tobias is reporter and Senior Producer at NET Television News & Public Affairs , Nebraska’s public television network. States of the Union fact of the week: Kool-Aid was invented in Nebraska, and Arbor Day was started in Nebraska.

WNYC's Brian Lehrer and Andrea Bernstein talk about politics over lunch. This week: the problem with the popular vote; McCain's conundrums; and the mystery that is Indiana.

Terry Madonna , director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College, offers analysis on the nth Clinton/Obama debate last night. Then, Jared Bernstein , senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute and the author of Crunch: Why Do I Feel So Squeezed? (And Other Unsolved Economic Mysteries) (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2008) compares the candidates' tax policy proposals.

WNYC's Brian Lehrer and Andrea Bernstein talk about politics over lunch. This week: Brian's not bitter about new media; The Boss picks a candidate; culture wars return; and talking about race in Pennsylvania.

States of the Union focuses on Wyoming. Wyoming is the most sparsely populated state in the country, but it ranks highest in mining employment. The state produces coal, natural gas, uranium, and coalbed methane and we look at how the state’s mining industry shapes the energy debate. Leonard finds out some of the other issues that matter to voters in the Cowboy State from Bob Beck , News Director of Wyoming Public Radio.