August 22 - More than a years worth Democratic convention protest preparation, which included lawsuits challenging limitations on free speech is about to come to an end. Saturday the events officially begin as activist organizers will hold trainings and know your rights forums. Larry Hales is an organizer for Recreate 68 and FIST previews the week ahead. Hales begins by discussion limitations the city placed on protesters.

August 21 - With less than two weeks until the Republican National Convention, activists are preparing their last minute mobilizations. Election Unspun Producer Karen Miller spoke with Meredith Abby from the Coalition to March on the RNC and Stop the War. Abby says they are hoping for 50,000 protesters.

August 20 - With much of the focus on conventions that begin next week, some are looking beyond. Get out the vote efforts are underway, and voter turn out is a main strategy of Barack Obama's path to victory. Unassociated with a candidate, groups are also working to increase voter involvement. One campaign is called Get out HER vote. Kathy Spillar, Executive Editor, Ms Magazine joins us to talk about it.

August 19 - Republican John McCain spoke to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Conference Monday. As a war veteran, McCain uses his experience to enhance his foreign policy credentials while attempting to paint opponent Barack Obama as an inexperienced novice. But not everyone is impressed with McCain's standing on veterans issues as Senator. One of those is Carol Hrdlicka. Her husband was shot down in Vietnam May 18 1965. He was captured in Laos and has never been returned. Hrdlicka has lobbied on behalf of veterans and prisoners of war since his disappearance.

August 18 - Saturday night, John McCain and Barack Obama appeared on the same stage for the first time of this campaign at the Saddleback Church in Orange County, California. The mega-church hosts an annual civil forum, and this year, the forum was on the presidency.

August 15 - Each week, KPFK News Director Patrick Burke brings together an unusual panel of guests to talk about election issues. He invites a Republican and a Democratic strategist or official in studio with an organizer from outside the two mainstream parties. This week, Patrick spoke with Independent Vice Presidential Candidate Matt Gonzalez and Democratic strategist Bill Carrick by phone. Republican Jewish Coalition representative Larry Greenfield was in the studio.

August 14 - Presidential candidates strategize their campaigning not to win a majority of votes, but to win a majority of electoral votes. Each state allocates a certain number of electoral votes and the candidates try to find the best way to reach the magic number - 270. The Green Party has filed a lawsuit challenging the winner take all system. The suit says it discounts the vote of those who didn't vote in the majority.

August 13 - The Democratic Party has finalized its platform. They held 1600 town hall meetings around the country in an attempt to include the public in the process. Joining us talk about the platform is Michael Yaki is National Platform Director for the Obama Campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

August 12 - Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan is now officially on the November ballot. The mother of an Iraq war veteran killed in 2005 gathered enough signatures to run as an independent for Nancy Pelosi's congressional seat. But the grassroots campaign is struggling for the support of many of Sheehans own fans, who think she's veered too far off her anti-war focus, and that there are far worse members of congress that need to be removed from office than Speaker of the house Pelosi. From San Francisco, Andrew Stelzer reports.

August 11 - If supporters of increased offshore oil drilling seem to be everywhere these days, it's no accident. Industry-funded pro-drilling groups are holding rallies. Oil and gas companies have stepped up donations to Republican John McCain's Presidential campaign and public polls on offshore drilling are often misinterpreted. Judith Siers-Poisson and Diane Farsetta of PR Watch.org report.

August 8 - Issues that pertain to the legislative and executive surround the presidential campaigns. But many point to the judiciary to determine their vote, especially the Supreme Court. It is possible that the next President could appoint two Supreme Court Justices in his first term, to replace two liberal justices, Ruth Bader Ginsberg and John Paul Stevens.

August 7 - Voter advocacy groups are increasing their watch over state election officials. Reports of voter registration purging have already surfaced in Kansas, Michigan and Mississippi. Edward Hailles Jr. Senior Attorney with the Advancement Project is watching the states closely for voter purging, which tends to impact African Americans and Latinos more often. Hailes first speaks about what voter purging is.

August 6 - A federal judge will soon decide whether the locations and restrictions of demonstration zones are unconstitutional during the Democratic National Convention. Twelve advocacy groups sued the City of Denver and Secret Service after a federal lawsuit forced them to reveal restrictions that keep protesters out of sight and sound of the convention.

August 5 - Speaking in Michigan, home to the US carbon based car industry, Obama said new energy policy must depend on domestic resources. His plan: a combination of renewable, coal, oil and nuclear, costing 150 billion dollars in ten years.

August 4 - Yes the political conventions are a series of speeches and party building leading up to the coronation of each party's presidential nominee. But a lot more goes on outside of the broadcast coverage at the conventions – a whole lot of partying. Picture extravagant parties with fountains of free flowing cocktails and an infinite amount of food. Parties held by lobbyists and special interest groups.