Charlie Hurt: Politically Unstable

If you are using the Republican presidential primary debates as a way to determine who you will support in 2024, you might just find yourself voting for Donald Trump. Tune in as Cheryl Chumley, Washington Times online opinion editor and host of the Bold and Blunt podcast, and Kelly Sadler, Washington Times commentary editor and host of the Politically Unstable podcast discuss the winners and loser from the second debate.

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy sat down with The Washington Times to discuss his faith, family, and motivation to run for president. Listen now to the latest episode of the Politically Unstable podcast.

In July, nearly 200,000 illegal immigrants were apprehended trying to cross the border -- a 325% increase from the average number of July apprehensions during the Trump administration. Ten of those apprehended were on the terror watch list. Enough fentanyl was seized to kill every single American Tune in as former acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf answers: What is going on at the southern border?

Kellyanne Conway: "I. . . survived many people trying to take me down and push me out, and I won't forget that."   Former Trump senior counselor Kellyanne Conway sat down with Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt and Washington Times Commentary Editor Kelly Sadler in a fiery interview to discuss her new book, Here's the Deal, her time in the White House, and critiques of Trump's 2020 campaign team.    "If Washington is a town where people have mastered the art of backstabbing, Kellyanne Conway is not a backstabber," said Charlie during the interview. "You see her coming and you better be prepared for it." The gloves are off in this latest episode of the Politically Unstable podcast. Listen now.

"You can't compare it to Watergate because it would be a disservice to all of the people involved in Watergate, this is so much worse." Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt gives his take on the explosive allegations in the Durham probe. Charlie tells Andy Parks about how, after ignoring the story that broke Saturday, a few left-tilting news sites bestirred themselves late Monday with articles focused on rebutting or downplaying the report. And then, say what you want about Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, but one thing is for sure. The “political bad girl” has not gone all Washington on her constituents back home in Georgia. Charlie shares details on his recent sit-down with Marjorie Taylor Greene and the reaction to her arrival in Washington.

"It is always wonderful to have new allies fighting to save our country. It is also delightful when hopeless nerds entertain us with their pretzel logic and fancy words." Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks with a look back at how the loudest voices in political conversation are the most out of touch with regular voters. Self-awareness is generally not the strong suit of the intellectual, literary rowboat cruise ship set in New York City.

Look! Over there! War in Ukraine! Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks and says President Biden is a desperate, dangerous weapon-wielding idiot who suffers from the profound delusion that he is some kind of expert on the world stage and knows what he is doing. Charlie says only in Washington could a fool with Biden's record of failure, dishonesty and disaster keep getting promoted until reaching the highest office in the land. We saw what a disaster Biden was at ending the war in Afghanistan. Who on earth would trust him to start a new one?

It is only right and fitting that we give a little shoutout to President Biden this Christmas as we close out the first year of his historically disastrous presidency. So says Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt. Charlie tells Andy Parks he's not sure whether Biden is aware of how disastrous it is. At least you can't say Biden hasn't unified America. Despite his very best efforts to divide us, everyone this year is uniting around this simple Yule Tide refrain. Let's go, Brandon!

Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt tells Andy Parks that in Chicago, the dead vote. In Connecticut, they get elected to the United States Senate. In his latest column, 'Corpse of ‘Da Nang Dick' Blumenthal makes peace with Commies,' Charlie says Sen. Richard Blumenthal looks like an unwrapped mummy. And, he was cavorting earlier this month with his state's branch of the communist party, a group called the Connecticut People's World Committee. And people wonder why former President Donald Trump got elected and will again if he decides to run in 2024.

"It makes you want to tear your ears off." Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt takes a look at the politicians who thronged the Capitol Rotunda and the National Cathedral to remember the life of Dole — at least to remember the life of Dole as it related to them. Charlie tells Andy Parks: "These people might be monstrous failures in everything they do, but at least they are consistent." All this self-celebration was particularly off-key considering the man these people were supposed to be remembering.

It has been 50 years of scalding debate since the High Court seized control of abortion away from voters and elected legislatures. Never in that half-century has Roe v. Wade been so threatened as it is right now. Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks with his take on the latest abortion case before the United States Supreme Court. Charlie says the only question, at this point, is how much one of those justices will allow the political storms outside the Court's chamber to affect his decision.

"Don't mention the war!" Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt tells Andy Parks, as history teaches with wrath, politeness is often a luxury of the powerful. It was revealed that the World Health Organization skipped the letter “Xi” in the Greek alphabet so they could name the newest variant of the China Virus “Omicron” instead and spare Chinese President Xi Jinping the embarrassment of having one of his variants named after him.

The eternal question of our time: Is the media evil or stupid? Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt sits down with Andy Parks to ask (and answer) the big questions after the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict. Is it possible they are both? Charlie says he was trying to get to a one-or-the-other answer but it wasn't happening. "Go back and look at the definition of vigilantism." Charlie explains that defending yourself is not vigilantism. Yet, still today, the media persists in telling the same lies over and over and over again.

Oh, to live in this age of conspiracies. Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt tells Andy Parks, "it's always the hypocrisy that gets you." Charlie says President Biden wants to be European so badly, he feels the need to lecture the E.U. about methane gas. When... reportedly... he let rip an enormous cloud of personal methane. The White House apparently has no comment on this. Also this week, the good news is voters in Virginia this week fired the first shot in the war to end the carnival of absurdity that has infected our politics over the past few years. Charlie explains how this election was a win, not just for Republicans, but for all parents.

"Even as he delivers the most unusual lecture ever delivered by a president on the functionality of drawbridges, Biden is unable to offload container ships hauling desperately needed food and goods for the American people." Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks for this week's episode of "Politically Unstable with more on why Biden can't seem to offload the container ships hanging around off the U.S. coast. The problem, said the president of the most powerful nation in the history of mankind, is that when the drawbridge goes up, trains and cars have to stop. Because they cannot go over the drawbridge if it is open. So now we know.

No, GOP swampers, Donald Trump is not going away. Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks with more on Trump's rally in Iowa and his place within the party. "I wish he would spend more time on the issues... but he is a dog with a bone. He won't let the election stuff go. It's the perfect thing for him, it's like catnip." As Charlie points out, it creates ripples among the media and in Washington, but it very much advances his credibility with voters.

"Watching Biden speak on television, Americans could watch the stock market tank in the corner of the screen with every sentence." Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks to dig into his latest column, "Media road whores are Biden band's only fans left." Charlie says when Democrats aren't blaming Republicans for refusing to co-sign another credit card application, they are attacking their own for holding similar reservations. "The hysteria and forceful sense of entitlement is downright dangerous." Charlie calls them common street criminals. Only dumber.

President Donald J. Trump has not been out of office one year, and already there is so much Americans miss about him. Top of the list, apparently, are the Mean Tweets. Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt tells Andy Parks, that explains the spontaneous eruption of vitriolic epithets percolating all around the country. "Luckily for Mr. Biden, he is senile." Plus, did President Biden go before the United Nations this week to lecture the world about “dignity?”

"You know it's gotta be bad when even Chuck Todd grasps something." Does Joe Biden have a credibility problem? Charlie Hurt says Chuck Todd is the expert on credibility problems. Charlie tells Andy Parks that all that corruption is coming home to roost. All the lies and coverups are becoming uncontainable. The True Joe Biden is emerging. If you live by the press, you die by the press.

"The ceremony heaved hot air from professional politicians who have made livings out of speechifying, including a former governor, a former president and the sitting vice president of the United States." Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt sits down with Andy Parks to take a look at how the 20th anniversary of 9/11 was remembered by our politicians. "These people have spent years pulling every lever they can find to divide people by categories we couldn't even imagine." Charlie says it's beyond gender and race. Now it's vaccinated vs. not vaccinated, masked vs. unmasked. They have run out of ways to divide us so they invented new ones. As they say in Biden's political world, “bad optics.”

Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt tells Andy Parks, nothing reveals people's true selves like death. Democrats argue that life begins when it's convenient for them. At some point, a life becomes a life. And Texas was very science-oriented in finding a place to define that moment. Charlie says it's a debate our society needs to have. They have found the right to abortion in an optical illusion of the constitution, Charlie says. And "My Body, My Rights" seemed to be important to Democrats until it came to the COVID-19 vaccinations.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, never was that more true than last week. Is President Biden in way over his head? Is that possible after 50 years of public life? Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt tells Andy Parks, rarely has one image more perfectly captured the moment — and totality — of a man's presidency. "Befuddled by time, disoriented by a riot of terrible decisions, and confused by the demand for answers, President Joe Biden stood in the East Room of the White House, clutched his binder to his chest, and folded before the American people. Almost weeping, he pressed his face into his hands and closed his eyes." 

"Republican politicians in Washington have not learned a damned thing from the Trump presidency." Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks with more on how sometimes to have to blame Republicans for failures. Is this the party of the weak and spineless? American foreign policy is supposed to be carrying out American interests. The Trump Doctrine did that. Only in Washington is that a controversial statement, but it is. What happened to America First? This is how we wind up with the disaster in Afghanistan. And it's how we end up with the disaster at the border.

"In defense of Joe Biden, he is two scoops short of an ice cream cone." Charlie Hurt and Andy Parks are back! After a brief hiatus, Charlie and Andy get together to take a look at the current situation in Afghanistan and how President Biden has managed it. Charlie says what you are seeing in Afghanistan today is the sum total of Joe Biden's lifetime expertise — the summation of his very best, most carefully studied efforts. It is the capstone of his entire 50-year career in Washington. Are Republicans making a huge mistake right now by giving Biden a pass on 20 years of dishonesty and lack of vision?

Are they lying? Are they joking? Or have they completely lost their mind? Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks with more on what he calls a "major psychotic break" by a top Biden administration official. “Republicans are very good at staying on talking points of who says ‘defund the police,'” top Biden aide Cedric Richmond claimed. “But the truth is, they defunded the police.” Charlie says this is literally the tactic of terrorists hellbent on destroying the lives of civilized people. And their hideous plans are working.

Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt checks in with Andy Parks with his reaction to the presidential summit in Geneva between Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Biden is going into a meeting with Vladimir Putin after his party spent 5 years using, weaponizing, our intelligence apparatus to persecute their political enemies. That happens in a place like Russia." Charlie says you don't have to be a killer to outwit this guy. Also, Charlie gets into his most recent column and says "blundering Biden and the Old Gang are back together" at the G7 gathering.

In an era of fake political scandals, real scandals hide. Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks with more on how in the winter of 2019-20, Democrats in Congress ground the federal government to a halt so they could devote all their efforts to their crazed pursuit of the Great Orange Whale. Why is it that all the press has, even today, is Donald Trump? They don't know what to do without this guy. They are desperate to keep him in the headlines, if for no other reason than to keep the disastrous Biden policies out of them. Also, maybe Bill Clinton was right about President Obama? Charlie explains.

"Life really is a beach. And sometimes you have one as vice president, too!" Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks with a look at Vice President Kamala's Harris' tone-deaf Memorial Day message to Americans. Charlie says, in this era of celebrity politicians, our Vice President is nothing more than a celebrity. "At least with Trump, we all knew where he stood on the issues. Where does she stand on the issues? No one seems to know." Plus, the magical COVID-19 serum will set us free.

"Finally, a true armed insurrection inside the U.S. Capitol." Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks to explain what is happening inside the halls of Congress after someone penned a letter on official U.S. Capitol Police letterhead demanding that elected members of Congress vote for a partisan “investigation” into the January 6 riot. "Perhaps the most terrifying part of this whole armed insurrection is the faceless nature of it. Armed insurgents are being protected by CNN and maybe even Mr. Raskin himself."

Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks to explain how the Biden administration's disregard for moral hazard is everywhere. One of the simplest policies we have is that you don't negotiate with terrorists, but that's not what happened with the Colonial Pipeline hack. "The is an issue for all Americans," Charlie explains. Plus, the "Squad" seems to be taking on the Biden administration over Israel. Some are suddenly surprised about how members of the party view Hamas. As Charlie writes, "If Barack Obama gave us Trump’s first term, Joe Biden is well on track to give us Trump’s second term."

"A smarter heir to the Cheney throne would steer clear of talking about THE BIG LIE." Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks with the latest from the GOP House leadership debate. The growing pains of a political party are fun to watch, according to Charlie, and this isn't really about Donald Trump, it's about the issues. Trump can be a threat to Republicans like Liz Cheney because people admire his ability to stand up to these people with common sense. This is about bringing some of that common sense to the Republican party.

Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks with his reaction to President Biden's address to Congress last week. "Serious suggestion: Every single Republican lawmaker in that chamber Wednesday night who had already been vaccinated and wore a mask for the television cameras should resign in disgrace." Charlie calls the unnecessary mask-wearing a bipartisan effort to discredit vaccines. "Every last one of them is part of the government-hysteria complex that is destroying our country today."

Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks to explain why he thinks if President Biden's family loves him, "they really should gently steer him off the public stage into a well-deserved retirement." Charlie points to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez finding herself pleased with how progressive Biden's moves have been so far. Immigration, racism, defunding police, climate change and more. "The only plank from the wacko left-wing nutjob platform Mr. Biden has not yet fully embraced is packing the Supreme Court. But just give him time on that one."

Have Americans stopped being concerned about the federal deficit? As Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt reports, President Biden’s spending spree costs two Iraq Wars in three months. Along with Andy Parks, Charlie digs into the lasting effects of blowing through trillions of dollars. “Spending your money we have no hope of repaying — and sticking it to our children — is a bipartisan affair around here for people like Mr. Biden.” And the good news is it is all bipartisan! Because, if there is one thing both parties in Washington always agree on it’s spending other people’s money they have no hope of ever paying off.

Jim Crow is back? “The lies are on so many levels here, it’s kind of hard to even fathom how dishonest it all is.” Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks on Politically Unstable with a look at what really happened with the Georgia election law. Not only is the criticism racist itself, but as Charlie reports, there is another problem with this whole story about this Georgia law banning water at the polls. It is a total and complete lie.

“Welcome to the White Privilege Presidency.” Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks with more on his latest column, “Roberta Jacobson: Mangling Spanglish on the Southwest border.” Charlie says that Biden is “living proof that no matter how dumb you are or how wrong you have always been or how many things you have screwed up, if you are just White enough and willing to wait around long enough accomplishing nothing, the kingship will eventually be yours.”

In just the first few months of Joe Biden’s presidency, he has nearly managed to double the number of migrants thronging our borders. And there is no indication that the increases will slow any time soon. Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks to look at how and why Biden changed all of the policies that were working at the border and created an entirely unnecessary problem. And… can anyone just tell us who the hell is running our federal government right now?

“People voted for him not because he was nice but because he was right on the issues.” Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks to explain why Trump is still standing, and how he emerged at CPAC very much intact and as powerful as ever inside the Republican Party. The future going forward is about election integrity, and that matters because of the other big issues like China, trade, wars and illegal immigration. These are issues that all voters care about, and it’s why Trump’s voice is so important right now. Charlie says Trump proved this week he aims to get back into the fight and swing away, dangerous as ever.

“We’re still winning. Trump won again.” Impeachment 2.0 backfired, not once but twice. Charlie Hurt and Andy Parks break down what happened last week in the Senate and where everyone goes from here. Charlie maintains that the most nonessential outfit in the United States is the US Senate. The fact that they could stop everything to deal with this nonsense just explains everything. Andy asks, what is Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell thinking at this point? Charlie says that McConnell is the one who has more power than any other Republican to realize that embracing the Trump agenda is the way out of the wilderness. 

“Part of what is so appealing about Marjorie Taylor Greene is that her flaws are so ridiculously obvious.” Charlie Hurt and Andy Parks dig into the appeal of the new Congresswoman from Georgia. Charlie says she’s just another innocent victim in the whole damned racket. Andy sees a big future for her within the party. Greene called out the press, she called out every issue in which the government is failing the American people. Charlie reminds us that we are in the midst of a revolution and things are going to change dramatically in the next several years.

“Washington will never be the same.” Charlie Hurt and Andy Parks dig into what they see as the future for former President Donald Trump. It is true he has been denied a second term. For now. But Charlie maintains they also stole his first term from him. “Democrats have a seething contempt for even their own voters, but especially those who would vote for Donald Trump.” In a town where everybody gets a honeymoon, Trump wasn’t allowed to work one single day without the constant onslaught of distraction. And as Charlie says, Trump leaves town unbowed and unbroken. He blew out of town much the same way he blew in… His way.

Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks on this Inauguration Day to talk about the mandate of President Joe Biden and what Charlie calls “the dumbest administration on earth.” Charlie says the only real mandate is to be nice. Nicer than President Trump. “He’s not a historical figure, he’s just been around for five decades.” And, a look at the level of hate against Trump and his supporters, and how they may be denied an opportunity to vote for him ever again.

Washington Times Opinion Editor Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks to explain why he says Shakespeare would have been in love with Donald Trump. But first, what does Charlie expect in Biden's first 100 days? Is impeachment the top priority? "It's going to be a very, very long two years and it's going to get uglier than we've ever seen." Charlie says not only did Trump not get a honeymoon phase, he didn't even get a first term.

Charlie Hurt and Andy Parks take a look at the results from Georgia. Charlie says Republicans need to do a lot of soul searching to figure out what the problem is here and where they are today. Is Donald Trump really to blame for problems in the party that go back 30 years? Will Republicans be able to learn the lessons? Andy asks, where to we go from here?

Continuing to give Christmas thanks, Charlie Hurt joins Andy Parks with a look at the upcoming Georgia election and the importance of voting despite concerns of shenanigans. Andy wonders whether voters will trust that their vote is actually counted. "Whatever happens going forward, the worst thing that can happen is if people walk away... It is our duty to remember everything that President Trump fought for and accomplished, and to turn now to protect those accomplishments."

"So, this is what Death Panels look like." Charlie Hurt and Andy Parks get into who, of all people, is at the front of the line for the new coronavirus vaccine... Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Charlie says, "for these people, everything is about politics all of the time." He says not a single member of congress should be able to get the vaccine until every other American has had that opportunity. "The life of a Washington bureaucrat!"

"There is a reason that Democrats made all of these changes in this election." Charlie Hurt and Andy Parks talk about the odds of a window of opportunity for President Trump to prevail in the 2020 election. As Charlie says, it appears that the states have spoken and Joe Biden will be our next president. But the political options are still open to examine issues like censorship, journalistic integrity, massive mail-in ballot issues and the need to fight for what's right.

"Understandably, Trump supporters are profoundly frustrated today." Charlie Hurt and Andy Parks on how Georgia, once a reliable vote for common sense and freedom, has now become the No Man’s Land between two trenches locked in vicious battle for the future of the Republic. Charlie says these are hard times, without a doubt, and the problem is that people in the country are surrendering to outside forces. Can Republicans prevail in Georgia?

Charlie Hurt and Andy Parks ask, can you imagine the reaction if Trump had been attacked by a dog? "Somebody get that man a walker! With fresh tennis balls!" And we take a look at some of the "unprecedented" and "historic" picks to join the Biden administration, including former Secretary of State John Kerry as the climate czar. "At least we can all agree on one thing, Charlie says. "The guy is an unrivaled expert on hot air. And he made a lot of money — the old fashioned way. He married rich and got into politics."

"Anything is possible." Charlie Hurt and Andy Parks get together to examine the details of claims made by Sidney Powell on the 2020 election. Charlie says a reasonable person might evaluate all these various improbabilities and conclude that somebody is lying. Maybe Kraken is just a myth. But this is our new world — the world of politics — in the age of Trump. Charlie says he's willing to believe anything now. Also, would a Biden presidency be the third term of Barack Obama?

"It must really be hard to live today in a nation of 73 million Nazis." Charlie Hurt and Andy Parks dig into Christiane Amanpour comparing the Trump presidency to Hitler’s rise to power. And then, we get Charlie's take on the state of the presidential race, the examples of voter irregularities, and where does the Trump campaign go from here? "The fact that we are having the argument is incredibly positive. It's a debate we should have been having for a very long time."