Rep. Brian Cole (R-Manchester) is a tireless advocate for expanding nuclear power in New Hampshire, and he's made energy policy the central plank of his campaign for U.S. Congress. In this edition of the NHJournal podcast, he talks about the realistic timeline for bringing new nuclear technology on line. He also talks about the U.S. war on Iran and Trump's impact on the November elections.

Also, instead of the weekly serving of "Rank Punditry" on NH politics, it's "Pundit-Palooza!" We asked a half dozen politically-active people to give their quick takes on how 2026 is shaping up:

• U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa)
• Republican strategist Mike Dennehy
• NH Home Builders' CEO Matt Mayberry
• NHFRW President Christine Peters
• Former GOP U.S. Senate candidate Vikram Mansharamani
• GOP media professional Chuck McGee

PS-- The episode kicks off with a cameo appearance from former Executive Councilor Andru Volinksy.

Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.

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Republican NH01 primary candidate Hollie Noveletsky calls it a 'slap in the face' to Granite Staters and the country when Rep. Chris Pappas refused to stand and support the statement that the first duty of government is to protect American citizens over illegal aliens.

Noveletsky also doubled down on her support for tariff and trade policy that she says protects American workers, and she argues that manufacturing can't come back to New England as long as blue-state energy policies keep electricity costs high.

Plus: Comms expert Scott Spradling and former GOP Speaker of the House Bill O'Brien join the "Rank Punditry" panel to talk about the impact of the ICE facility's demise on Democratic hopes to defeat Gov. Kelly Ayotte, and why the NH DOJ's legal challenge to the Claremont school funding decisions is actually the biggest news in New Hampshire.

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Christian Urrutia, one of the Democrats running in the NH01 primary, joins NHJournal Managing Editor Michael Graham to talk about his race, the issues that motivate him, and why Stefany Shaheen's candidacy doesn't "meet the moment."

Then, NH political veterans Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos (aka "The Notorious APX") and Patrick Hynes talk about the latest round of rumors that Cinde Warmington really is getting into the governor's race this time. Plus: Is NH getting redder or bluer?

Sponsored by Stackpole Books' "Witness to War: The Story of the Civil War Told By Those Who Lived It."

He may not have President Donald Trump's endorsement, but Republican Scott Brown isn't bailing on his hopes to be the next U.S. Senator. That starts with winning the primary over Trump's pick, Republican John E. Sununu.

In this wide-ranging interview, Brown talks about how he views the endorsement, the current state of the race, and why he believes the grassroots will be with him in September, not Sununu.

Also on the podcast: Rank punditry, provided by Drew Cline of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, and Periklis Karoutas of Legislative Solutions.

Hosted by NHJournal's Managing Editor Michael Graham.

Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.

Scott Maltzie may be an accidental chairman of the New Hampshire Republican Party, but he’s got a message for friends and foes alike:

He’s not going anywhere.

On the NHJournal podcast, he tells Managing Editor Michael Graham he wants to build "the best damn party in the country," and he lays out his vision for how to do it. Maltzie also discusses his (ahem) unorthodox path to the chairman's job and his plans for the future.

Also on the pod: Veteran strategists Michael Dennehy and Matthew Bartlett on the current state of New Hampshire politics, and why the race for NH governor may already be over.

Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.

U.S. Attorney for New Hampshire Erin Creegan calls the Granite State the “tip of the spear” when it comes to new tactics in election fraud and campaign-related crimes.

Creegan made her remarks during an exclusive New Hampshire Journal podcast interview with managing editor Michael Graham. The wide-ranging conversation covered issues ranging from the decline in fentanyl deaths to fraud investigations stretching from Minnesota to Maine.

Also on the podcast: The Boston Globe's James Pindell and veteran GOP strategist Jim Merrill on the current state of the two political parties, and what 2028 might look like for the New Hampshire FITN primary.

Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.

A year after taking office, Gov. Kelly Ayotte tells NHJournal, “I love the job." And she's ready to defend her record -- assuming the Democrats can find a viable opponent to run against her.

In a wide-ranging conversation, the first-term Republican says she's happy with the results from the budget she and the GOP passed and has no regrets. She reiterated her anti-tax-hike stance -- including the so-called "Paint Tax" passed by the legislature.

She touted New Hampshire's outlier stance in New England, defended the state's efforts to push back on restrictive local zoning rules and even offered some advice for Gov. Tim Walz in politically-war-torn Minnesota.

Plus -- Greg Moore with Americans for Prosperity and UNH political science professor Dante Scala join NHJournal's Michael Graham to discuss the state of New Hampshire's races for governor, Congress and the U.S. Senate

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Former U.S. Senator Scott Brown knows that the Republican establishment -- including the NRSC -- is backing his opponent, former U.S. Senator John E. Sununu, in the 2026 GOP Senate primary -- but he says he doesn't care. He's ready for that fight and he believes he'll win the grassroots of the New Hampshire Republican Party.

Brown, a military veteran who spent decades in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, also has some thoughts about Rep. Maggie Goodlander's controversial video that appears to be urging members of the military to ignore orders from the Commander In Chief.

Plus, host Michael Graham concludes the podcast with the question: Are NH Democrats being dumb on purpose? And perhaps more important: If the economy doesn't change, will it matter?

Sponsored by Perfect Smiles of Nashua.