Christie Pivots

The Christie Tracker | Mar 4, 2015

In basketball, the pivot is an essential move that can allow a player with the ball to trick a defender and score points.

In politics, pivoting on an issue can score points - but it also carries the risk of being labeled a flip-flop.

Funding for family planning clinics. Common Core. Opposition of Obamacare. Dedication to New Jersey. Issues that all saw the governor laying down some serious pivots this past week.

The Christie Tracker Podcast takes a close look, starting with his new explanation for vetoing funding for Planned Parenthood. Previously? He blamed a tight budget. Now? He says it’s because he’s a 'pro-life' candidate.

We’ll also dig in to the settlement with ExxonMobil over contaminated wetlands. The state was asking for $9 billion in damages. The New York Times reports the Christie administration settled for a mere $250 million. Would that be worth a decade-long legal battle?

Host David Furst is joined by New Jersey Public Radio's Matt Katz, Tom Moran, editorial page editor for The Star-Ledger, and Matt Rooney who runs the conservative blog, Save Jersey.

Also: Check out the WNYC Data News App: The Christie Tracker.

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