Have you ever voted for a candidate simply because you recognize their name? Or because they seem kind? You’re not alone. We can often make emotional and frankly irrational choices when it comes to politics.

Historian and journalist Rick Shenkman talks about his book “Political Animals: How Our Stone-Age Brain Gets in the Way of Smart Politics.”

Shenkman argues that our emotions, biases and impulses can greatly influence us at the ballot box.

Shenkman is an Emmy award-winning journalist who has written numerous books about politics and presidential history. He is also the editor and founder of George Washington University’s History News Network, a website featuring historians’ perspectives on current events.