Digging through your opponent's trash? Combing Facebook for controversial posts? Going to the police station to ask for arrest records? Opposition research has been the topic of several explosive news cycles lately. Salacious accusations seem to be the new normal in politics. But if you are a down-ballot candidate running for small town city council, opposition research may seem unneccessary. But while research does not always entail explosive dossiers of scandalous information, it certainly can have a dramatic impact on any political election.

This week on the Election University Podcast, our hosts Jason Bennett and Reiny Cohen dive into the peculiar world of opposition research. Our guest this week is Jake Wagman, Principal at Shield Political Research in South Bend, Indiana. With extensive experience in investigative journalism and political research, Jake is an expert on the various uses, methodologies, and logic behind opposition research. Jake shares some industry tips and tricks on how get the juicy details about your opposition, hire staff to protect your campaign, and even investigate your own public history.

You can learn more about Jake Wagman and his work at Shield Political Research on his website here. You can also send him an email directly at jake@shieldresearch.com.

Okay listeners, we want to hear from you! Does the thought of opposition research give you the heebie jeebies? Or are you ready to get down and dirty to hold your opposition accountable? Are you panicked about what public information may be out there about you? Tell us your thoughts! Send your thoughts and suggestions to podcast@ElectionU.com or leave a note in the comment section below.

You can listen to the show right here on the EU website or by subscribing in iTunes, Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Spotify, Stitcher, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio, and more! If you do subscribe, please leave us a rating and review. We love the feedback and we read every one! If you'd like to hear a particular topic on our podcast, please email podcast@electionu.com. As always, thanks for listening!