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'Playing Politics' podcast: Smith appointment, Jones victory rock politics

The ascension of senators in Minnesota and Alabama will have immediate impact in Washington. Hear the "Playing Politics" analysis from WCCO Radio's Chad Hartman and the Star Tribune Editorial Board's John Rash and D.J. Tice.

December 13, 2017 at 8:10PM
Confetti falls as Democrat Doug Jones and his wife Louise wave to supporters Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, in Birmingham, Ala. In a stunning victory aided by scandal, Democrat Doug Jones won Alabama's special Senate election on Tuesday, beating back history, an embattled Republican opponent and President Donald Trump, who urgently endorsed GOP rebel Roy Moore despite a litany of sexual misconduct allegations. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Confetti falls as Democrat Doug Jones and his wife Louise wave to supporters Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, in Birmingham, Ala. In a stunning victory aided by scandal, Democrat Doug Jones won Alabama's special Senate election on Tuesday, beating back history, an embattled Republican opponent and President Donald Trump, who urgently endorsed GOP rebel Roy Moore despite a litany of sexual misconduct allegations. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) (Dave Denney — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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The Johnson family in their living room in Kenyon, Minn., on Dec. 10. While Talia, 14, and her mom Meredith unpacked Meredith’s Snow Baby collection, Ellie, 9, steadied herself on her father Ben’s head while she searched for an chocolate ornament to eat from the family Christmas tree. On the right is Frederick, 12.