With all eyes trained on the historic Presidential race and the Democrats gain in Congress, it was easy to miss the profound victories on the state level too. Progressives took control of new legislative chambers in two of the largest states in the country, New York and Ohio, and all chambers in Wisconsin. And the result of elections over the last few cycles means that Democrats are now in control of sixty chambers (give or take one or two as final results come in), with seventeen so-called "trifecta" states in which they control both chambers and the Governor's office.

To give us a sense of the significance of this changing electoral landscape, we welcome Nathan Newman, Policy Director of the Progressive States Network, who sees a far more unified approach to politics this electoral year. He says only the punditocracy likes a split in Washington, because it gives them power -- the people want to see one party have a go at fixing things, and if it doesn't work, we know who to blame. The people don't like gridlock.

For the first time since 1935 - with the exception of a brief moment in 1964 - New York Dems hit the trifecta too. New York State Senator Jeff Klein, representing the Bronx, says this is the moment to take special interest out of government; Assembly Member Hakeem Jeffries, representing Central Brooklyn, thinks folks were really ready for the progressive wave to move across the country, and makes the pitch for a truly progressive tax structure.

Wisconsin State Senator Jon Erpenbach joins us on healthcare, Arizona State Representative Krysten Sinema on immigration reform - Arizona sees upclose and first hand the consequences of a failed immigration policy. Montana House Representative Dave McAlpin thinks the news is not all purple - he sees a strong clear blue.