Podcast appearances and mentions of amy acton

A GOP congressman's baby has a broken collarbone. Trump's Acting Attorney General just erased his tax bill. And there's a war Trump can't admit he's lost. In this episode: A Republican congressman's ex-wife accuses him of drug abuse and breaking their baby's collarbone — the House Ethics Committee is now investigating his drug abuse Trump's handpicked Attorney General settles Trump's own tax lawsuit against the government he runs The Iran war update nobody in the administration wants to say out loud Trump scolds oil companies for not thanking him while blaming them for high gas prices A second House Republican gets hit with rare ethics censure recommendation Ohio's Senate and Governor races, and why the GOP nominee got booed off the stage A full tour of the Senate races that will decide who controls Washington in 90 days Why Democrats suppressed their own internal autopsy report after 2024 Key figures covered: Max Miller, Bernie Moreno, Jeanine Pirro, Todd Blanche, Vivek Ramaswamy, Amy Acton, Sherrod Brown, Chuck Edwards, Susan Collins, Donald Trump Recorded LIVE Tuesday, August 4, 2026 at 6:05 PM Eastern Time. Subscribe for more coverage of the stories the other side hopes you don't see.

Tonight on The Last Word: A Todd Blanche order keeps Donald Trump's audit immunity deal intact. Also, Trump repeats his vandalism claim despite the Justice Department's conclusion about the Reflecting Pool. Plus, the Pentagon is reportedly seeking “creative” tips on the Iran war strategy. And a recent poll finds voters prefer Democrats over Republicans on the economy. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, John Kirby, and Dr. Amy Acton join Lawrence O'Donnell. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bill previews four of the most competitive Senate races shaping midterm control, noting Democrats must hold their 47 seats and flip four GOP seats to retake the Senate. In Michigan, reporter Rick Pluta, Senior Capitol Correspondent for the Michigan Public Radio Network, describes a vicious, expensive Democratic primary between Rep. Haley Stevens and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, with party unity concerns and GOP nominee Mike Rogers looming. In Ohio, Andrew Tobias, Political Reporter at Signal Ohio, says both sides are treating Sherrod Brown vs. appointed Sen. John Husted as a tipping-point Senate race, while the governor's contest pits Dr. Amy Acton against Vivek Ramaswamy amid heavy spending, plus a House scandal involving Rep. Max Miller. In Texas, Maria Recio of the Austin American Statesman, explains Ken Paxton's divisive nomination and polls showing Democrat James Talarico competitive, alongside new congressional maps. In Maine, Alex Seitz-Wald, Deputy Editor of The Midcoast Villager, details Troy Jackson's challenge to Sen. Susan Collins, contrasting local vs. national issues and tight polling.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It looks like federal officials are moving one step closer to deporting Haitians in central Ohio who no longer have temporary protected status.Action from ICE officials over the weekend contrasts with comments Gov. Mike DeWine made just days ago.Democratic governor candidate Amy Acton put out her first TV ad, months and many ads after her Republican challenger Vivek Ramaswamy.Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno doesn't want voters to forget the COVID years, using a profanity-laced cross-examination of Dr. Anthony Fauci.A longshot effort by a Democratic representative could let 16 and 17 year-old Ohioans vote.We're talking about all of these topics on this week's Reporter Roundtable.Guests:Jo Ingles, senior reporter, Ohio Public Radio Statehouse News BureauJeremy Pelzer, chief political reporter, Cleveland.com

Ohio's 7th Congressional District was rated Solid Republican. It is not anymore. This week the Purple Political Breakdown Ohio Edition covers the race almost nobody outside Ohio was watching, and the reasons it moved. Congressman Max Miller is facing domestic abuse allegations from his former wife, Emily Moreno, who is the daughter of Republican Senator Bernie Moreno. Miller denies the allegations and has filed a defamation suit. No charges were filed in the police matter that made the records public. Those are allegations, they are not findings, and this episode labels them that way while covering the documented court record and the measurable political effect on a district Donald Trump carried by eleven points. Also in this episode: Ohio counties sold record amounts of residents delinquent property tax debt to investors who can collect at up to eighteen percent interest, and a bipartisan bill to stop it. The two billion dollars in state and local sales tax exemptions that went to data center operators in a single year, and why Ohio lawmakers walked away from the vote to change it. Where Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy actually stand on data centers and property taxes. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur voting yes on HR 2616 and the backlash from her own base. Temporary protected status ending for Haitians and what it means for the Clark County workforce. And the two Ohio Supreme Court seats on your November ballot that will get almost no advertising and will outlast the next governor. Segments include Statehouse Watch, District Watch on Ohio 9, County of the Week on Clark County, the deep dive on Ohio 7, and Research on a Dime on the Ohio Supreme Court. CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold open 04:08 Show intro and the editorial standard for this episode 07:10 Episode rundown 09:30 ALIVE Podcast Network 10:52 Amy Acton campaign ad breakdown 13:56 Vivek Ramaswamy booed at YAL convention 15:59 Statehouse Watch: Ohio counties selling property tax debt 20:37 Statehouse Watch: the data center tax break Ohio would not touch 30:05 Statehouse Watch: temporary protected status ends for Haitians 33:19 Ohio House target seats update 35:47 District Watch: Ohio 9, Marcy Kaptur vs Derek Merrin 44:32 County of the Week: Clark County 45:59 Ohio 7: the clip, and Senator Bernie Moreno silence 49:06 Ohio 7: the documented record on Max Miller 50:56 Ohio 7: Miller vs Brian Poindexter and why the rating moved 53:46 Research on a Dime: two Ohio Supreme Court seats 56:41 Close Editorial note: allegations are labeled as allegations throughout. Documented court filings, roll call votes, certified results, and agency figures are labeled as such and sourced. Host commentary and personal opinion are stated as opinion. Keywords: Ohio 7th Congressional District 2026, Max Miller, Brian Poindexter, Emily Moreno, Bernie Moreno, Ohio Supreme Court 2026, Jennifer Brunner, Colleen O'Donnell, Dan Hawkins, Marilyn Zayas, Marcy Kaptur, Derek Merrin, Ohio 9th Congressional District, Amy Acton, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ohio governor race 2026, Ohio property tax, tax lien sales, Ohio data centers, Clark County, Springfield Ohio, Haitian TPS, Ohio midterms, Ohio voter guide. PODCAST NETWORK ALIVE Podcast Network. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMS HeadOn - A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/ Living Room Conversations - Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. 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East Cleveland officials are refusing to disclose how many police officers the city employs after denying social media claims that the department has only four active patrol officers and a single detective. Ideastream Public Media reports outside estimates put the department at about six active-duty patrol officers, while the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Office is providing supplemental patrols at the mayor's request. The staffing questions come as the city continues to recover from officer indictments and financial turmoil. With Temporary Protected Status for Haitians now expired, thousands of Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio face uncertainty as legal challenges continue over whether they can remain and work in the U.S. Gov. Mike DeWine said Wednesday he has not been informed of any plans for Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Ohio. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton is calling for a conditional moratorium on new data centers unless developers meet requirements including using union labor, meeting environmental standards and covering their own utility costs. Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy supports expanding data centers while emphasizing self-supplied energy. The issue is likely to remain a focus of the governor's race as Ohio weighs the economic benefits of data centers against concerns about energy demand and local impacts. County fairs in Summit and Cuyahoga counties are increasing security this year following the 2025 shooting of a 17-year-old in the Summit County Fair parking lot. Officials say the changes include more law enforcement officers, enhanced screening, visible and plainclothes patrols, and closer coordination among local and state agencies. We will discuss these stories and more news of the week on the “Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable.” Guests: - Matthew Richmond, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media - Michelle Jarboe, Reporter, News 5 Cleveland, WEWS - Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

Jack Windsor from the Ohio Press Network talks on Anthony Fauci, Dr Amy Acton's trouble and more. Adam Finigan breaks down the Covid Hoax. Willie opens up the phone lines to ask YOU...what do you like about WLW...what do you hate? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear — the popular two-term Democrat in a deep-red state and a name increasingly floated for 2028 — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation that opens with Kentucky's famous Fancy Farm Picnic and the increasingly countercultural idea that political disagreement shouldn't make people enemies. Beshear turns pointed on Mitch McConnell, who he says has been absent for six weeks without speaking to him, arguing that McConnell has a fundamental duty to level with the people of Kentucky about his condition.. Beshear notes the governor has no authority to declare a vacancy, calls on John Thune to help put the concerns to rest, and observes pointedly that if the situation were reversed, McConnell would be ruthlessly tactical about it — and that the right should arguably be angrier, since it's one fewer vote for the GOP agenda. Beshear reflects at length and with real emotion on the COVID years, which he calls the war of our time with a higher casualty rate than most Americans appreciate, credits Kentucky's expanded Medicaid with keeping the state from running out of hospital beds, and warning that Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" will close 35 hospitals in Kentucky alone. He's sharply critical of Rand Paul for dragging Fauci into character-assassination hearings while staying conspicuously silent on McConnell, and reminds listeners it was Trump who ordered governors to shut down the economy, not Fauci. The conversation turns to Beshear's political philosophy and the road ahead for Democrats. He rejects the "moderate" label in favor of "pragmatic," arguing that the constant battle to label everyone misses how much more complicated reality actually is. Beshear makes the case that Democrats don't win by becoming a Democratic version of McConnell or Trump, that the party needs to be the party of making the economy work again, and that it should champion structural reforms like campaign finance amendments, outlawing gerrymandering, and directly electing the president. He's visibly frustrated with Democrats who blame other Democrats when Republicans are the ones doing the damage — there's no time for "woulda-couldas," he argues, when Trump and the GOP are inflicting this much harm. As a leader in the Democratic Governors Association, Beshear lays out where he sees real opportunity: big resources heading into Georgia, the critical importance of Katie Hobbs winning in Arizona to ensure a fair 2028 election, and the DGA's willingness to spend anywhere it can win. He addresses the data center backlash as fundamentally rooted in anxiety about AI and big tech's failure to talk to the communities it moves into, and stays characteristically coy about his own 2028 ambitions. Play ball and swing for the fences on FanDuel, an official partner of the MLB at https://FANDUEL.COM. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck /*Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Governor Andy Beshear joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15 Kentucky’s Fancy Farm Picnic & its role in politics 02:30 Picnic brings politicians from both sides of the aisle together 03:00 Having different political beliefs shouldn’t make you an “enemy” 03:30 Not attending the picnic to attend his son's final travel baseball game 05:15 Haven’t spoken to Mitch McConnell, he’s been absent six week 05:45 McConnell has a duty to level with the people of Kentucky 06:30 The governor doesn’t have authority to declare a vacancy 07:00 John Thune should help put the concerns to rest 08:45 The harm is that the senator refuses to level with his constituents 09:15 If situation was reversed, McConnell would be ruthlessly tactical 09:45 There’s one less vote for GOP agenda, the right should be more mad 10:45 Social media helps create a misinformation vacuum about McConnell 12:15 Democrats don’t win by being a Democratic version of McConnell or Trump 13:00 If he had to miss a week as governor, he’d feel obligated to inform the public 13:45 Lack of video of McConnell makes the public think he can’t do it 14:30 McConnell tried to beat him three straight times and failed 15:00 McConnell may end up tarnishing his legacy due to unexplained absence 15:45 Rand Paul dragged Fauci into a hearing, but mum on McConnell 16:30 Fauci hearings are just an exercise in character assassination 17:45 This feels like a personal vendetta from Paul against Fauci 18:30 Mike Pence set up a competent experienced team during COVID 19:00 Trump ordered the governors to shut down the economy, not Fauci 19:30 Vaccine was the fastest remedy created in human history 21:15 Made pandemic decisions based on what would save the most lives 21:45 Remember the death toll in Kentucky vividly 22:45 COVID was ultimate test of the parable of the good samaritan 23:30 COVID was the war of our time, with an even higher casualty rate 24:00 Teachers & educators needed to be in the first batch of vaccinations 25:30 Kentucky didn’t run out of hospital beds due to expanded Medicaid 26:00 Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill will close 35 hospitals in Kentucky 27:00 Doesn’t consider himself a “moderate”, but instead he’s “pragmatic” 27:45 Can be both pro-business and pro-worker 28:15 There’s a battle to label everyone, but reality is more complicated 28:45 How big should the Democratic tent be? 29:45 There’s space to do things that both sides agree on 30:15 Why are Democratic activists so mad at the establishment? 31:00 Democrats need to be the party of making the economy work again 31:30 Need amendments for campaign finance & outlawing gerrymandering 32:15 The president should be directly elected 32:45 Dems blame others Dems when Republicans are doing something wrong 33:30 Can’t do “woulda couldas” when Trump & GOP are doing so much damage 35:00 What’s the pitch in Wisconsin gubernatorial if both candidates are outsiders? 35:45 Joe Biden won on the idea of him being the most electable 36:15 Trump’s policies are hitting everyday Americans harder 37:00 Governor’s association plan to put big resources into Georgia 37:30 Believe that Democrats will flip the governor’s mansion in GA 38:00 Katie Hobbs has to win to ensure a fair election in Arizona in ‘28 40:15 Trump inspired Canadian boycotts that have hit the economy hard 41:30 Winner of the Wisconsin primary will come out stronger 42:00 Jocelyn Benson is a great candidate for Michigan 42:45 Amy Acton can win regardless of the senate race 43:15 Correlation between governor and senate races 46:00 Can Dems pull off gubernatorial upsets in Texas or Florida? 46:30 DGA will spend resources wherever they can win 47:45 Focused on winning gubernatorial races, then will ponder run in ‘28 48:30 Important to declare presidential candidacy early? 49:15 Dems primary calendar will produce candidate that can win everywhere 50:15 Do you consider Kentucky a southern state? 51:00 Could Israel splinter the party and make elections unwinnable? 51:45 Will Doug Jones get DGA help? 53:15 Data center backlash comes from concern about AI 54:00 Big tech isn’t talking to the communities where they put data centers 54:30 Tech should be paying for their electricity & fair share of taxes 57:00 We need rational leaders, don’t know where AI/tech is going 58:15 Any effort to get an NBA franchise in Kentucky? 1:00:00 Favorite NBA teamSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd argues Republicans and the White House are frantically trying to manufacture headlines about the past precisely because the actual news of the present is terrible for the GOP, and because the very issues that got Trump elected are the ones he's now ignoring. Democrats are winning heading into the midterms, TChuck says; the only real question is by how much, which is exactly why Republicans are so desperate to feed their base culture-war red meat as a distraction. But the story Chuck argues is being dangerously underplayed is the Iran war, which is no longer a regional conflict at all: close to thirty countries have been directly involved, multiple nations have been hit, and the Iran and Ukraine wars have effectively merged through shared supply chains — Russia has launched thousands of Iranian-made drones at Ukraine, improved and manufactured them, and is now shipping them back to Iran, while Ukrainian air defense teams have been redeployed to the Middle East and the American stockpile of interceptor missiles has been so massively depleted that commanders are rationing them. He calls the war the dumbest mistake a president has made in decades, while rising oil prices help both Iran and Russia.. It's not World War III, he cautions, but it's genuinely hard to see how it ends, and Congress should be singularly focused on it and simply isn't. He then pivots to what he calls a politics of AI that hasn't been invented yet, where the public is way ahead of the politicians: 72% of Americans have used AI in the past three months and like it, but the vast majority don't trust big tech or the AI companies, and the fierce backlash against data centers is really the manifestation of a deeper anger ever since tech companies stopped trying to improve lives and started maximizing engagement. The public isn't rejecting AI, he argues, it's rejecting the technologists, and Trump has planted himself firmly on the side of the tech companies over the public. He closes by lamenting that political energy is being spent on Fauci rather than pandemic preparedness — before quick hits on Todd Achilles getting a one-on-one race in Idaho, Seth Bodnar leading in Montana if the Democrat can be coaxed into dropping out, and the question hanging over Michigan: if Abdul El-Sayed loses, will it have been because of Mamdani's Israel speech? Then, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear — the popular two-term Democrat in a deep-red state and a name increasingly floated for 2028 — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a wide-ranging conversation that opens with Kentucky's famous Fancy Farm Picnic and the increasingly countercultural idea that political disagreement shouldn't make people enemies. Beshear turns pointed on Mitch McConnell, who he says has been absent for six weeks without speaking to him, arguing that McConnell has a fundamental duty to level with the people of Kentucky about his condition.. Beshear notes the governor has no authority to declare a vacancy, calls on John Thune to help put the concerns to rest, and observes pointedly that if the situation were reversed, McConnell would be ruthlessly tactical about it — and that the right should arguably be angrier, since it's one fewer vote for the GOP agenda. Beshear reflects at length and with real emotion on the COVID years, which he calls the war of our time with a higher casualty rate than most Americans appreciate, credits Kentucky's expanded Medicaid with keeping the state from running out of hospital beds, and warning that Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" will close 35 hospitals in Kentucky alone. He's sharply critical of Rand Paul for dragging Fauci into character-assassination hearings while staying conspicuously silent on McConnell, and reminds listeners it was Trump who ordered governors to shut down the economy, not Fauci. The conversation turns to Beshear's political philosophy and the road ahead for Democrats. He rejects the "moderate" label in favor of "pragmatic," arguing that the constant battle to label everyone misses how much more complicated reality actually is. Beshear makes the case that Democrats don't win by becoming a Democratic version of McConnell or Trump, that the party needs to be the party of making the economy work again, and that it should champion structural reforms like campaign finance amendments, outlawing gerrymandering, and directly electing the president. He's visibly frustrated with Democrats who blame other Democrats when Republicans are the ones doing the damage — there's no time for "woulda-couldas," he argues, when Trump and the GOP are inflicting this much harm. As a leader in the Democratic Governors Association, Beshear lays out where he sees real opportunity: big resources heading into Georgia, the critical importance of Katie Hobbs winning in Arizona to ensure a fair 2028 election, and the DGA's willingness to spend anywhere it can win. He addresses the data center backlash as fundamentally rooted in anxiety about AI and big tech's failure to talk to the communities it moves into, and stays characteristically coy about his own 2028 ambitions. Finally, Chuck presents his ToddCast Top 5 Independents/Independent minded leaders who could reshape the U.S. Senate and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Play ball and swing for the fences on FanDuel, an official partner of the MLB at https://FANDUEL.COM. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck /*Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 02:45 Republicans & WH are trying to manufacture the headlines 03:15 Attacking Fauci, going after Smithsonian, relitigating 2020 election 04:00 These stories are about yesterday, modern headlines are bad for GOP 04:30 The issues that got Trump elected are the issues he’s ignoring 05:30 Dems are winning heading into midterms, question is by how much 07:00 Republicans are desperate to distract their base 07:45 They believe the culture war red meat will turn out their base 08:45 The Iran war is being underplayed 09:45 There have been close to thirty countries directly involved in the war 10:45 Multiple countries have been hit directly during the war 11:30 This is not a regional war 12:00 Multiple countries have been directly involved in kinetic action 13:30 Multiple countries also involved in, or hosted peace talks 15:00 The Ukraine & Iran wars have merged through supply chains 15:45 Nervous that this conflict could go global 16:15 Russia has launched thousands of Iranian made drones at Ukraine 16:45 Russia improved & manufactured drones, now shipping them back to Iran 17:30 Ukraine air defence teams have been sent to the middle east 18:45 American stockpile of air defense missiles has been massively depleted 19:30 Military commanders are having to ration interceptor missiles 20:00 This war was the dumbest mistake a president has made in decades 21:15 Both conflicts are eating from the same plate 21:45 War caused a rise in oil prices, which helped both Iran and Russia 22:15 Beijing hasn’t been a bystander in these conflicts 23:15 Decapitation strikes have been proven not to work 24:00 Everyone is learning the same lessons, including America’s adversaries 24:45 This is not World War 3, but it’s hard to see how this war ends 25:45 Congress should be singularly focused on this war, and it isn’t 27:00 This started as an Iran/Israel dispute, now the world has been dragged in 28:15 The politics of AI hasn’t been invented yet, public is ahead of politicians 29:15 72% of Americans have used AI in the past three months & like using it 29:45 Vast majority of Americans don’t trust big tech or the AI companies 31:00 There’s a disconnect on AI between politicians the American public 31:45 Backlash against data centers is the manifestation of anger at big tech 32:45 Politicians want to manage backlash, not understand what’s behind it 35:00 Seeing political banners against data centers flying over Pensacola beach 37:15 The politicians are trying to play catch up on the politics of AI 37:45 Americans didn’t always distrust big tech 38:45 Tech companies stopped trying to improve lives, now maximize engagement 40:15 Americans feel we’re being optimized, not served by big tech 41:15 Protecting kids from tech is now an issue with massive bipartisan support 42:45 The public isn’t rejecting AI, they’re rejecting the technologists 44:30 Trump sides with the tech companies over the public 45:45 Politicians are captured by, or afraid of big tech cash in politics 48:00 Frustrating that political energy is spent on Fauci, not pandemic preparedness 48:30 Fauci became a vessel for every frustration about COVID 49:00 Fauci had one job, tell the public what the medical risks were 50:30 We had 2,000 Americans dying a day 51:30 We have to remember the conditions under which decisions were made 52:00 Rand Paul released thousands of pages of Fauci’s pandemic era journals 52:30 Pleading the 5th makes people look guiltier than they are 53:15 We learned Fauci loves media attention, but so does Rand Paul 54:15 Relitigating the origins of Covid doesn’t help prepare for the next pandemic 55:15 Rand Paul is undermining his own credibility by attacking Fauci 55:45 Todd Achilles will get a 1 on 1 race in Idaho 56:30 Seth Bodnar leading in Montana in 1 on 1, but Dem resisting dropping out 57:45 If El-Sayed loses in Michigan… was it because of Mamdani’s Israel speech? 1:04:15 Governor Andy Beshear joins the Chuck ToddCast 1:05:30 Kentucky’s Fancy Farm Picnic & its role in politics 1:06:45 Picnic brings politicians from both sides of the aisle together 1:07:15 Having different political beliefs shouldn’t make you an “enemy” 1:07:45 Not attending the picnic to attend his son's final travel baseball game 1:09:30 Haven’t spoken to Mitch McConnell, he’s been absent six week 1:10:00 McConnell has a duty to level with the people of Kentucky 1:10:45 The governor doesn’t have authority to declare a vacancy 1:11:15 John Thune should help put the concerns to rest 1:13:00 The harm is that the senator refuses to level with his constituents 1:13:30 If situation was reversed, McConnell would be ruthlessly tactical 1:14:00 There’s one less vote for GOP agenda, the right should be more mad 1:15:00 Social media helps create a misinformation vacuum about McConnell 1:16:30 Democrats don’t win by being a Democratic version of McConnell or Trump 1:17:15 If he had to miss a week as governor, he’d feel obligated to inform the public 1:18:00 Lack of video of McConnell makes the public think he can’t do it 1:18:45 McConnell tried to beat him three straight times and failed 1:19:15 McConnell may end up tarnishing his legacy due to unexplained absence 1:20:00 Rand Paul dragged Fauci into a hearing, but mum on McConnell 1:20:45 Fauci hearings are just an exercise in character assassination 1:22:00 This feels like a personal vendetta from Paul against Fauci 1:22:45 Mike Pence set up a competent experienced team during COVID 1:23:15 Trump ordered the governors to shut down the economy, not Fauci 1:23:45 Vaccine was the fastest remedy created in human history 1:25:30 Made pandemic decisions based on what would save the most lives 1:26:00 Remember the death toll in Kentucky vividly 1:27:00 COVID was ultimate test of the parable of the good samaritan 1:27:45 COVID was the war of our time, with an even higher casualty rate 1:28:15 Teachers & educators needed to be in the first batch of vaccinations 1:29:45 Kentucky didn’t run out of hospital beds due to expanded Medicaid 1:30:15 Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill will close 35 hospitals in Kentucky 1:31:15 Doesn’t consider himself a “moderate”, but instead he’s “pragmatic” 1:32:00 Can be both pro-business and pro-worker 1:32:30 There’s a battle to label everyone, but reality is more complicated 1:33:00 How big should the Democratic tent be? 1:34:00 There’s space to do things that both sides agree on 1:34:30 Why are Democratic activists so mad at the establishment? 1:35:15 Democrats need to be the party of making the economy work again 1:35:45 Need amendments for campaign finance & outlawing gerrymandering 1:36:30 The president should be directly elected 1:37:00 Dems blame others Dems when Republicans are doing something wrong 1:37:45 Can’t do “woulda couldas” when Trump & GOP are doing so much damage 1:39:15 What’s the pitch in Wisconsin gubernatorial if both candidates are outsiders? 1:40:00 Joe Biden won on the idea of him being the most electable 1:40:30 Trump’s policies are hitting everyday Americans harder 1:41:15 Governor’s association plan to put big resources into Georgia 1:41:45 Believe that Democrats will flip the governor’s mansion in GA 1:42:15 Katie Hobbs has to win to ensure a fair election in Arizona in ‘28 1:44:30 Trump inspired Canadian boycotts that have hit the economy hard 1:45:45 Winner of the Wisconsin primary will come out stronger 1:46:15 Jocelyn Benson is a great candidate for Michigan 1:47:00 Amy Acton can win regardless of the senate race 1:47:30 Correlation between governor and senate races 1:50:15 Can Dems pull off gubernatorial upsets in Texas or Florida? 1:50:45 DGA will spend resources wherever they can win 1:52:00 Focused on winning gubernatorial races, then will ponder run in ‘28 1:52:45 Important to declare presidential candidacy early? 1:53:30 Dems primary calendar will produce candidate that can win everywhere 1:54:30 Do you consider Kentucky a southern state? 1:55:15 Could Israel splinter the party and make elections unwinnable? 1:56:00 Will Doug Jones get DGA help? 1:57:30 Data center backlash comes from concern about AI 1:58:15 Big tech isn’t talking to the communities where they put data centers 1:58:45 Tech should be paying for their electricity & fair share of taxes 2:01:15 We need rational leaders, don’t know where AI/tech is going 2:02:30 Any effort to get an NBA franchise in Kentucky? 2:04:15 Favorite NBA team 2:05:45 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Andy Beshear 2:07:00 ToddCast Top 5 Independents who could shape the senate 2:07:30 #5 Todd Achilles 2:10:00 #4 Dan Osborne 2:12:15 #3 Seth Bodnar 2:13:30 #2 Lisa Murkowski 2:14:30 #1 John Fetterman 2:17:15 Ask Chuck 2:18:15 Correction for answer on the last pod 2:20:30 Why haven’t we heard much about the people who tried to kill Trump? 2:27:45 Can Trump take the Qatari jet that’s had taxpayer $ spent on it? 2:31:00 What motivates those closest to Trump? Do they believe what they’re saying? 2:34:30 Can you explain the history of the term “lobbyist”? 2:39:45 Thoughts on the funding model of the BBC?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

*Main audio file was corrupted, so some soundbites may be absent*Sleazy, Mr. PBS, and Robzilla are back with another jam-packed episode full of hot takes, movie talk, and everything in between!The guys kick things off with a listener-requested discussion on one of Ohio's biggest political stories, breaking down the Ohio Governor's race between Vivek Ramaswamy and Amy Acton and sharing their thoughts on what could be one of the state's most talked-about elections.Next, the crew pays tribute during an In Memoriam segment, remembering several influential names lost in mid-July 2026, including legendary actor Sam Neill, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors and The Blob director Chuck Russell, Godzilla x Kong actress Kaylee Hottle, L7 bassist Jennifer Finch, and MTV's iconic 120 Minutes host Dave Kendall.As always, the fun continues with fan-favorite segments, including Zilla's Tubi Pick of the Week and Watchu Watchin, where the gang shares what they've been watching lately and offers plenty of recommendations along the way.To close out the show, Sleazy gives his spoiler-free review of Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated and already controversial new epic, The Odyssey. Is it another Nolan masterpiece or one of his most divisive films yet?Grab a drink, kick back, and join the conversation on another episode of The Sleazy Podcast!

Ohio's race for governor is bringing competing visions for property tax relief into focus. Democratic candidate Dr. Amy Acton is proposing targeted relief for homeowners, including expanding the homestead exemption and creating an income-based property tax cap. Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has called for dramatically reducing property taxes and has previously supported eliminating them altogether. The Ohio EPA has abandoned a proposed statewide permit that would have allowed data centers to discharge wastewater under a single set of rules. Instead, the agency will require each facility to obtain an individual permit with a project-specific environmental review. The decision came after the agency received thousands of public comments raising concerns about potential impacts on Ohio waterways. An investigation published this week by Mother Jones details allegations against U.S. Rep. Max Miller involving claims of domestic violence, drug use and threats. Miller, who is campaigning for reelection, has denied wrongdoing and challenged many of the allegations in court, while some related investigations remain ongoing. Akron's Northside Marketplace will permanently close July 31 after its owners said mounting debt and financial challenges made the business unsustainable. The closure leaves more than 100 vendors searching for new locations. One vendor is encouraging others to sell their products at a similar store, The Mercantile Akron, which is expected to open soon downtown. Wednesday marked the 230th anniversary of Cleveland's founding on July 22, 1796. Events across the city are celebrating Cleveland's history, neighborhoods and cultural legacy. We will discuss these stories and more news of the week on the "Sound of Ideas Reporters Roundtable." Guests:- Anna Huntsman, Reporter, Ideastream Public Media- Andrew Meyer, Deputy Editor of News, Ideastream Public Media- Karen Kasler, Bureau Chief, Ideastream Statehouse News Bureau

We discuss the latest in the race between Vivek Ramaswamy and Amy Acton, who are running to replace Gov. Mike DeWine.

Neera Tanden — president and CEO of the Center for American Progress and a longtime Democratic policy hand — joins the Chuck Toddcast for an unusually candid reckoning with where the party went wrong and what it actually needs to do next. Tanden doesn't soften the verdict: Democrats' one job in 2024 was to keep Trump out of office, and they failed, in part because the establishment let the Biden campaign go on far too long and has consequently lost credibility it hasn't earned back. She argues that in an era where every election is close, Democrats shouldn't be satisfied chasing narrow wins — the actual goal should be a decisive Electoral College victory built around a genuine 60% coalition, especially now that even longtime Trump supporters are starting to break away. Tanden is refreshingly specific on policy: she defends incrementalism as the proven Democratic playbook (the ACA and Biden's Medicare drug price negotiations both succeeded that way, while Medicare for All keeps stalling because people are fundamentally change-averse), argues entrenched Washington interests can block even a clear majority's will, and wants Democrats to build their economic message explicitly around working-class anxieties.They discuss the sharp moral case for the estate tax while cautioning that a wealth tax is nearly impossible to administer fairly year to year and would almost certainly be struck down by this Supreme Court. The conversation turns to the internal Democratic civil war and the road to 2026 and beyond. Tanden argues there's no rise of the DSA without Trump's return, frames the Michigan Senate primary as the real petri-dish test for the left, and is blunt that Democrats in swing states need to remember they're in swing states. She calls for a real, honest autopsy of 2024, and lays out her vision for a Democratic trifecta in 2027: pass bills that directly address the cost of living, investigate the administration's corruption and recognize that Trump's entire contract with his base rests on the promise that he can never lose. Play ball and swing for the fences on FanDuel, an official partner of the MLB at https://FANDUEL.COM. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck /*Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Neera Tanden joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 Developing ideas for the country’s biggest problems 02:30 Democrats have real anger with the Trump administration 03:30 Democrats job was to keep Trump out of office & they failed 05:00 Pelosi thought Biden would lose and chose to act, but too late 06:00 The establishment allowed the Biden campaign to go on too long 06:30 The establishment has less credibility than in the past 07:15 Longtime Trump supporters are starting to break away from him 08:30 Every election is close, never enough for repudiation 09:15 Goal should be a large scale electoral college victory 11:00 The opportunity to build a 60% coalition 13:00 The problems America faces seem to big for incrementalism 15:45 The success of the ACA came via incrementalism 16:30 Medicare drug price negotiation was a huge win for Biden 17:30 Problem with Medicare-for-all is people are changing averse 18:30 Entrenched interests in Washington can stop a majority 21:30 Dems should organize messaging to include more working class people 22:00 Why do we have a trillionaire when people are struggling with basics? 22:45 Working class people are more sensitive to crime issues 24:00 People are worried about the wealthy having too much power 25:30 Inheritance tax would help prevent oligarchy 27:00 People are pessimistic their kids won’t do better than them 27:30 It feels like the social contract has been eroded in America 29:00 If you believe in merit, you should believe in the estate tax 30:00 A wealth tax is hard to evaluate year to year 30:45 Supreme Court unlikely to find wealth tax constitutional 31:45 State wealth taxes are not a good idea 33:30 Democracy is undermined when there’s an economic nobility 35:00 Attitudes toward inequality were different in the 90s, every group doing better 37:15 There’s no rise of the DSA without the return of Trump 38:00 Michigan primary will be the petri dish test for the left 39:45 Democrats in swing states need to remember they’re swing states 40:30 Liberals in Texas thought Talarico was more electable 42:30 Progressives winning in blue cities isn’t that big of an issue 43:15 DSA needs to be cognizant that they would struggle in swing states 45:00 Democratic leadership has stayed the same 46:15 Democrats needs to do a real autopsy on 24 47:00 Harris being on the ticket saved the Democrats 4 senate seats 49:00 If Dems win both chambers, how should they spend 2027? 49:45 Dems should pass bills that address the cost of living 50:15 The administration’s corruption needs to be investigated 51:30 SCOTUS basically gave Trump a pass for illegality, Dems can’t do much 52:45 Republicans are starting to break, but they tolerate the intolerable 55:15 Trump’s contract with his base is that he can’t lose 56:30 Which under the radar senate race do you find most fascinating? 57:45 Amy Acton in Ohio will be the canary in the coalmineSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With almost 100 days until the midterms, Chuck Todd delivers a data-driven check-in on a midterm race that's barely moved in months — except in one crucial direction: Trump's approval went permanently underwater on Liberation Day and has been steadily eroding ever since. He walks through the map in granular detail: Democrats are heavy favorites for the House, likely picking up 15-20 seats even after redistricting wars ultimately cut in Republicans' favor. On the Senate side, Democrats have had the better year, with the map expanding to make Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska genuinely gettable in a wave election, and forcing the GOP to spend big just to hold Texas. He notes presidential approval and even more so approval within a president's own party serving as the two biggest predictors of midterm outcomes. He warns that if the war further tanks the global economy, ordinary Americans will feel it directly, making Trump's own behavior the single biggest wildcard of the entire cycle. He then pivots to the newly passed Protect College Sports Act, walking through why nearly every stakeholder except the SEC and Big Ten support it, why it functions like a de facto collective bargaining agreement without an actual union. He closes with a trio of sharp items: the year's measles outbreak has already surpassed all of 2025's cases combined, with Chuck arguing nobody bears more responsibility for undermining the vaccine than RFK Jr.; Zohran Mamdani calling Netanyahu a war criminal while conceding he has no authority to arrest him, a comment that risks complicating the affordability-focused, "get shit done" movement Mamdani has actually been building; and a notable Oregon lawsuit challenging closed primaries on First Amendment grounds, arguing that voting shouldn't require joining a private club and that independents shouldn't be locked out of the process. Then, Neera Tanden — president and CEO of the Center for American Progress and a longtime Democratic policy hand — joins the Chuck Toddcast for an unusually candid reckoning with where the party went wrong and what it actually needs to do next. Tanden doesn't soften the verdict: Democrats' one job in 2024 was to keep Trump out of office, and they failed, in part because the establishment let the Biden campaign go on far too long and has consequently lost credibility it hasn't earned back. She argues that in an era where every election is close, Democrats shouldn't be satisfied chasing narrow wins — the actual goal should be a decisive Electoral College victory built around a genuine 60% coalition, especially now that even longtime Trump supporters are starting to break away. Tanden is refreshingly specific on policy: she defends incrementalism as the proven Democratic playbook, argues entrenched Washington interests can block even a clear majority's will, and wants Democrats to build their economic message explicitly around working-class anxieties.They discuss the sharp moral case for the estate tax while cautioning that a wealth tax is nearly impossible to administer fairly year to year and would almost certainly be struck down by this Supreme Court. The conversation turns to the internal Democratic civil war and the road to 2026 and beyond. Tanden argues there's no rise of the DSA without Trump's return, frames the Michigan Senate primary as the real petri-dish test for the left, and is blunt that Democrats in swing states need to remember they're in swing states. She calls for a real, honest autopsy of 2024, and lays out her vision for a Democratic trifecta in 2027: pass bills that directly address the cost of living, investigate the administration's corruption and recognize that Trump's entire contract with his base rests on the promise that he can never lose. Finally, he presents his ToddCast Top 5 list of governor’s seats most likely to flip in the midterms, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Play ball and swing for the fences on FanDuel, an official partner of the MLB at https://FANDUEL.COM. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck /*Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 06:00 Almost 100 days until the midterm elections 06:30 Not much movement in the midterms in the past few months 07:15 Trump’s approval went underwater permanently on Liberation Day 08:30 Trump’s approval has slowly eroded since that day 09:45 Trump keeps announcing new tariffs & tax increases on Americans 10:45 Democrats are heavy favorites to win the House 11:45 Redistricting wars eventually ended up helping Republicans 12:30 Realistically Dems pick up 15-20 seats 14:15 On the senate side, Dems have bad the better year, expanded map 14:45 GOP has gone from clear favorites to small favorites for senate 16:30 Trump has made things much easier for Dems to win the senate 17:00 ICE killing in Maine turned the page on the Platner debacle 18:00 In multiple states, Dems are in better shape now than six weeks ago 18:30 Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska are gettable for Dems in a wave year 19:30 Republicans will have to spend big to defend Texas 21:15 Average gain for out party in a midterm is 4 seats 21:45 Could Fetterman and Murkowski end up switching caucuses? 22:30 Knocking off incumbents is harder than winning an open seat 24:00 GOP feels like the rise of DSA gave them something to run against 26:15 Republicans feel they have to make the Democrat unacceptable 27:30 A few Republicans will survive because of their opponent 29:15 The base is still with the GOP, women & independents are not 30:15 Persuadable voters don’t like election denialism & the Iran war 31:00 Biggest predictor of a midterm election is presidential job approval 32:45 Another big predictor is approval within a president’s own party 34:00 Clinton & Bush were able to have historic overperformance 35:30 Obama had a mixed bag between 2010 and 2014 36:15 Trump is under 80% approval amongst Republicans 37:00 Republicans still have a fairly high floor despite Trump’s troubles 37:45 The Iran war has the potential to crater Trump’s approval 38:45 Dems now have a better chance to win both chambers 39:15 Trump’s behavior is a massive wildcard for the midterms 40:45 If the war tanks the global economy, Americans will feel it 42:30 Congress set to pass bill to put regulations on college sports 43:15 Almost every interested party is in favor except SEC & Big Ten 44:00 What the Protect College Sports Act does 46:00 The bill locks in a revenue share & shuts down booster collectives 46:30 The bill would require a pay cut for the biggest schools 47:15 The bill looks a lot like a collective bargaining agreement 48:15 No industry has cap on pay without a labor union… except this 49:00 The courts are likely to strike this down 50:30 This legislation is begging for legal challenges 51:30 In any other industry this would be a “company union” which was outlawed 53:00 They could fix transfer portal & eligibility and punt on the compensation 53:30 College athletes are now professionals & should be treated like it 54:30 This bill fixes nothing and just tries to jam the players 55:30 The SEC is throwing a temper tantrum over this bill 57:00 College football’s superpower is its geography, it lives everywhere 58:00 Revenue sharing is why the NFL is such a juggernaut 59:00 We’ve had more measles cases this year than all of 2025 59:30 RFK Jr. bears responsibility for this outbreak 1:00:00 Nobody has undermined the measles vaccine more than RFK 1:00:45 These outbreaks will eventually extract a political price 1:01:30 Don’t be shocked when RFK faces civil litigation 1:02:00 Mamdani gives a speech calling Netanyahu a war criminal 1:02:30 Mamdani concluded he didn’t have authority to arrest Bibi 1:03:00 Mamdani ran on affordability, not Israel & foreign policy 1:03:30 Mamdani wants to create a movement, not just govern NYC 1:04:15 Mamdani’s project a real “get shit done” competence so far 1:05:15 Is Mamdani teeing up an eventual senate run? 1:06:00 Mamdani may have made his political project just a bit harder 1:07:00 Lawsuit in Oregon is challenging closed primaries 1:07:30 Participation in elections shouldn’t require joining a club 1:08:00 1st amendment protects you from having to associate 1:08:30 Independents shouldn’t be locked out of primaries 01:14:00 Neera Tanden joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:15:00 Developing ideas for the country’s biggest problems 01:16:30 Democrats have real anger with the Trump administration 01:17:30 Democrats job was to keep Trump out of office & they failed 01:19:00 Pelosi thought Biden would lose and chose to act, but too late 01:20:00 The establishment allowed the Biden campaign to go on too long 01:20:30 The establishment has less credibility than in the past 01:21:15 Longtime Trump supporters are starting to break away from him 01:22:30 Every election is close, never enough for repudiation 01:23:15 Goal should be a large scale electoral college victory 01:25:00 The opportunity to build a 60% coalition 01:27:00 The problems America faces seem to big for incrementalism 01:29:45 The success of the ACA came via incrementalism 01:30:30 Medicare drug price negotiation was a huge win for Biden 01:31:30 Problem with Medicare-for-all is people are changing averse 01:32:30 Entrenched interests in Washington can stop a majority 01:35:30 Dems should organize messaging to include more working class people 01:36:00 Why do we have a trillionaire when people are struggling with basics? 01:36:45 Working class people are more sensitive to crime issues 01:38:00 People are worried about the wealthy having too much power 01:39:30 Inheritance tax would help prevent oligarchy 01:41:00 People are pessimistic their kids won’t do better than them 01:41:30 It feels like the social contract has been eroded in America 01:43:00 If you believe in merit, you should believe in the estate tax 01:44:00 A wealth tax is hard to evaluate year to year 01:44:45 Supreme Court unlikely to find wealth tax constitutional 01:45:45 State wealth taxes are not a good idea 01:47:30 Democracy is undermined when there’s an economic nobility 01:49:00 Attitudes toward inequality were different in the 90s, every group doing better 01:51:15 There’s no rise of the DSA without the return of Trump 01:52:00 Michigan primary will be the petri dish test for the left 01:53:45 Democrats in swing states need to remember they’re swing states 01:54:30 Liberals in Texas thought Talarico was more electable 01:56:30 Progressives winning in blue cities isn’t that big of an issue 01:57:15 DSA needs to be cognizant that they would struggle in swing states 01:59:00 Democratic leadership has stayed the same 02:00:15 Democrats needs to do a real autopsy on 24 02:01:00 Harris being on the ticket saved the Democrats 4 senate seats 02:03:00 If Dems win both chambers, how should they spend 2027? 02:03:45 Dems should pass bills that address the cost of living 02:04:15 The administration’s corruption needs to be investigated 02:05:30 SCOTUS basically gave Trump a pass for illegality, Dems can’t do much 02:06:45 Republicans are starting to break, but they tolerate the intolerable 02:09:15 Trump’s contract with his base is that he can’t lose 02:10:30 Which under the radar senate race do you find most fascinating? 02:11:45 Amy Acton in Ohio will be the canary in the coalmine 02:13:30 ToddCast Top 5 Governor’s seats most likely to change parties 02:14:00 #5 Oregon 02:15:00 #4 Ohio 02:16:15 #3 Wisconsin 02:18:15 #2 Kansas 02:19:00 #1 Iowa 02:20:00 Ask Chuck 02:20:15 Love for Chuck’s creaky chair 02:21:30 What is your favorite political term that nobody knows its origin? 02:23:30 How was JFK’s appointment of his brother viewed at the time? 02:26:00 Dems chances of winning statewide in Iowa, Ohio and Florida? 02:27:15 Could Talarico generate any coattail effect for Dems in Texas?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ohio just landed at number one on CNBC's 2026 list of the best states for business, the first time it has ever finished first. In this Ohio Edition of the Purple Political Breakdown, Radell Lewis follows the money and the power lines behind that ranking, and breaks down who is actually on your 2026 ballot in Ohio's 11th and 12th Congressional Districts. We get into Elon Musk's five million dollar check to V PAC: Victors, Not Victims, the super PAC backing Vivek Ramaswamy, and the billionaire donors behind its nearly forty two million dollar haul (Jeff Yass, Ratmir Timashev, Bill Ackman, and Ross Stevens). Plus Ramaswamy's twenty five million dollar loan to his own campaign, the Secretary of State flag on more than five hundred thousand dollars in unitemized spending, Amy Acton's small-dollar contrast, and Sherrod Brown breaking with the building trades to hit Jon Husted over data centers in the Senate race. Statehouse Watch covers the three hundred fourteen million dollars Ohio has made leasing public land to fracking, the new college syllabus rules under Senate Bill 1, the Medicaid anti-fraud law Senate Bill 315, and the Rooster case, where blogger D.J. Byrnes faces an October jury trial over an image texted to State Senator Jerry Cirino. County of the Week is Allen County and Lima, where Google's five hundred million dollar data center has neighbors up in arms. District Watch, so you know who you are voting for: Ohio 11 (Cleveland): incumbent Democrat Shontel Brown versus Republican Mike Kirchner, with independent Cortney Peterson also on the ballot. Ohio 12 (central and eastern Ohio): incumbent Republican Troy Balderson versus Democrat Jerrad Christian, a 2024 rematch. Plus the latest AARP poll showing tight Governor and Senate races, and Ohio's nation-leading drop in Affordable Care Act enrollment after enhanced subsidies expired. Political solutions without political bias, building a better Ohio on the way to a better America. PODCAST NETWORK ALIVE Podcast Network. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMS HeadOn - A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/ Living Room Conversations - Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTS Us United - A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly '30 For US' conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences. Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATION OtherWeb - An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content. Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACY Equal Vote Coalition & STAR Voting - Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/star Future is Now Coalition (FiNC) - A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse. Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT Independent Center - Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ r/PolicySolutions - A subreddit where people can post and discuss political solutions. Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/policysolutions/ GET DAILY NEWS Text 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code 'purple' to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now) Check Out the Unfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/ Check Out the CIVICS App to Know More About Your Politicians: https://www.civicpolitics.com Subscribe to the Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/purplepoliticalbreakdown/p/welcome-to-the-purple-political-breakdown?r=3z2cmw&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true ALL LINKS https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdown The Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: 'Political solutions without political bias.' Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics - where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

As Ohio prepares for the upcoming gubernatorial race, Ohio Farm Bureau is committed to helping our members stay informed on candidates and their platforms on Ohio agriculture and rural communities. On this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Dr. Amy Acton to discuss her potential priorities for Ohio, including agriculture, economic development, workforce development and the realities facing farm families. This episode was recorded on 06/26/2026.

Tonight on The Last Word: Donald Trump fails to make a deal to end his war in Iran. Also, FBI Director Kash Patel is under scrutiny for his taxpayer-funded spending. Plus, a new poll shows Democrat Dr. Amy Acton tied with Vivek Ramaswamy in the Ohio governor's race. And gas prices rise after Trump says the Iran ceasefire is “over.”  John Kirby, Ken Dilanian, Dr. Amy Acton, and Rep. Brendan Boyle join Lawrence O'Donnell. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tonight on The Last Word: A federal judge orders the Trump administration to explain the Kennedy Center tarp. Also, the House Oversight Committee subpoenas Jeffrey Epstein associate Leon Black. Plus, Republican support grows for prosecuting women who get abortions. And the Supreme Court allows Trump to end Haitian TPS protections. Rep. Adam Smith, Rep. Joyce Beatty, Rep. James Walkinshaw, Michele Goodwin, and Dr. Amy Acton join Jonathan Capehart. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We look at Ohio politics, a federal religious-liberty commission, and the reaction to recent Democratic Socialist primary wins in New York City.Ohio Republicans repeat false claims about Dr. Amy Acton and COVID-era county fair restrictions, trying to use that issue to help Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign. They don't explain that in 2020 Ramaswamy supported the lock downs and even mandatory vaccinations.Trump administration's Religious Liberty Commission, which we say was built around Christian nationalist complaints rather than broad religious liberty is being sued arguing that the commission violated federal requirements for inclusiveness because it was dominated by evangelical voices. We also discuss concern that its report would push the idea that church-state separation is a problem.Finally, we discuss the New York City primary results and the panic they caused among MAGA figures and some establishment Democrats. We argue that Democratic Socialist wins in a heavily Democratic city are being overstated as a national warning sign. We say the issues driving those campaigns are affordability, housing, health care, and wages, and that voters are responding to candidates who seem more willing to challenge Trump-era politics.Full Show Notes & Links UsedSend us Fan MailSupport the showSubscribe to our free newsletterCheck out our MerchFollow us on BlueskyFind us on Twitter(for now) Find us on InstagramFind us on Counter SocialFind us on Mastadon

Tonight's primary results provide a further peek at what midterms could look like for Democrats. Plus, Ali sits down with award-winning musician @bobbypulido425  to discuss his campaign for Texas's 15th District. Democratic Gubernatorial nominee Dr. Amy Acton, Kabir Khanna, Abby Livingston, Adam Mockler, legendary musician-turned-democratic candidate Bobby Pulido join The 11th Hour with Ali Velshi         To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

-- On the Show: -- Amy Action, former director of the Ohio Department of Health and Democratic nominee for Governor of Ohio, joins us to discuss the campaign -- Donald Trump touts an Iran deal that remains only a negotiation framework and appears weaker than the 2015 nuclear deal -- Donald Trump leans on Narendra Modi while climbing a step, and arrives late to a G7 meeting before declaring himself the boss -- Donald Trump appears unaware during a G7 group photo and incorrectly suggests Qatar shares a land border with Iran -- Donald Trump delivers a series of unusual comments about the supposed Iran agreement, affordability, Egypt, and Barack Obama -- Megyn Kelly presses JD Vance on the Iran conflict, the tentative agreement, and whether congressional approval was required -- Workers pour hydrogen peroxide into the green DC reflecting pool after a costly renovation project reportedly struggles with algae problems -- JD Vance clashes with co-hosts on the View over Jeffrey Epstein, and Donald Trump's public statements about affordability and inflation -- On the Bonus Show: Some Republicans are angry that Trump may end the Iran war, Trump's pick loses in the Georgia gubernatorial primary, a poll shows many don't believe America will last another 250 years, and much more...

Trump won Ohio three times with an 11 point win in 2024 so why is the GOP nominee for Governor Vivek Ramaswamy tied, in the polls, with the Democrat Dr. Amy Acton? The GOP super-majority in the Ohio legislature is worried too so they decided to manipulate their base to get them to the polls in November for Ramaswamy. Although controlling the state since 2011, the Ohio GOP is letting Trump and his goons focus on Medicaid fraud in the state. Meanwhile the Ohio GOP is putting up a constitutional amendment to require photo ID to vote even though that does nothing to secure an election system they tell us is a model for the country, and they also decided to hide a bill that would ban child marriage so as not to trigger their religious extremist friends totally ignoring the whole Trump Epstein files and other sex abuse scandals with the Catholic church and LifeWise Academy.Full Show Notes & Links UsedSend us Fan MailSupport the showSubscribe to our free newsletterCheck out our MerchFollow us on BlueskyFind us on Twitter(for now) Find us on InstagramFind us on Counter SocialFind us on Mastadon

This week on Purple Political Breakdown Ohio Edition, Radell Lewis follows the money and the power across Ohio politics and keeps circling one question: who is Ohio's government actually working for? Radell opens with the biggest and newest story, the FBI search of the Cleveland offices of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, a progressive group that registers voters, and why the timing and the target deserve a hard, skeptical look. He revisits the FirstEnergy corruption scandal as the real, provable Ohio fraud story, then breaks down a busy week at the Statehouse: the two voter ID measures (Senate Joint Resolution 10, the constitutional amendment headed for the November ballot, and House Bill 472, the absentee photo ID copy requirement now sitting on the governor's desk), the data center tax break that lawmakers promised to end and then quietly kept, the Medicaid anti-fraud bill, and the 3.7 billion dollar capital budget. Then it is the races. The Senate fight between Sherrod Brown and Jon Husted, including the dueling Epstein attack ads and what is actually true about the Wexner donations, Husted's vote on Trump's anti-weaponization fund, and the latest polling that pushed Cook Political Report to move the seat to toss-up. The governor's race between Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy, where Radell digs into Ramaswamy's tax plan, the independent cost estimates, and his own financial disclosure. And a full District Watch on Ohio's 4th and 5th, where Radell lays out exactly what Jim Jordan and Bob Latta stand for and what their challengers, Joshua Kolasinski and Brian Shaver, are offering instead. County of the Week is Butler County. Radell shares who he is voting for and why, makes the case for showing up even in deep red districts, and keeps it where he always does: political solutions without political bias, building a better Ohio on the way to a better America. [CANONICAL RESOURCE BLOCK FOLLOWS. Append your standard block verbatim here. The verified tail is below. Please paste your exact top lines, the PODCAST NETWORK line and the HeadOn entry above the headon.ai link, since I do not have those two verbatim.] [PASTE: PODCAST NETWORK line and HeadOn entry here] [Confirm the rest of your standard block matches your last published description: CONVERSATION PLATFORMS, UNITY MOVEMENTS, BALANCED NEWS, VOTING REFORM, POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT including the PPB Substack subscribe link https://open.substack.com/pub/purplepoliticalbreakdown, DAILY NEWS text line, and the all-links Linktree at purplepoliticalbreakdown.com] We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias." Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics, where we find common ground in the middle. Also if you want to be a part of the community and the conversation, make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

Chuck Todd opens with Ken Paxton's runoff blowout over John Cornyn — a result that confirms Texas Republicans remain the base of what eventually grew into MAGA nationally, that the insurgent wing of the GOP consistently wins in the state, and that Paxton is somehow simultaneously the least electable nominee Republicans could have picked and still electable enough to make this a real fight. He argues Texas is slowly moving toward swing state status the way Georgia did over the past decade — the ingredients are there for a Democrat to finally break through, the question is whether James Talarico can move his 45% number higher and prove he's the political athlete this moment requires. The downstream consequences for Republicans are brutal: the GOP will have to drop a $500 million anvil on Talarico that can't be deployed in other races, and Democrats' path to a Senate majority just got measurably wider. But the more fascinating story Chuck unpacks is Pope Leo's stunning new document on AI, automated weapons, and concentrated power — a text Chuck argues is essentially an indictment of American military dominance dressed in the language of moral theology. The Pope explicitly compares AI-driven targeting systems to slavery, arguing both reduce human beings to data points and dehumanize their victims, and apologizes for the church's historic slowness on slavery while warning Catholics that they cannot afford the same slowness on artificial intelligence. He declares the centuries-old "just war" framework outdated, argues that no algorithm can ever make war morally acceptable, and pushes back forcefully on the entire concept of nuclear deterrence — drawing a direct line back to Pope Leo XIII's 1891 intervention on industrial capitalism. He argues the document, while never naming the United States, is speaking directly to American politicians: it's framed as a call for a moral framework around AI that can live above the political discourse, an explicit argument that technological capital must be regulated, and a warning that AI is not morally neutral no matter how much Silicon Valley wishes it were. The larger message is unmistakable — the Pope, who Chuck notes is now arguably the most formidable global moral voice that even secular Americans look to for clarity, has just put concentrated technological power on notice in a way no head of state has been willing to. Then, Virginia Kase Solomon — president of Common Cause, one of the country's oldest and most respected pro-democracy organizations — joins the Chuck Toddcast to deliver a clear-eyed assessment of just how broken American self-government has become, and what it might actually take to fix it. Kase Solomon argues that Trump's corruption has gone so far beyond anything in modern history that it makes Watergate look quaint by comparison — she points to Trump stealing roughly $1.8 billion from American taxpayers as a single staggering example — but warns that the most dangerous development isn't the corruption itself, it's that young voters are growing up normalized to it, with no living memory of an administration where this kind of behavior carried consequences. She makes a striking comparison to Hungary, where it took genuinely staggering levels of corruption before Orbán could be toppled, and where the opposition only succeeded once it tied that corruption directly to degrading quality of life for ordinary people — a lesson she says American Democrats badly need to learn. They note that there are real bipartisan calls to address money in politics, that a congressional stock trading ban enjoys overwhelming public support, that Amy Klobuchar's Disclose Act keeps getting reintroduced and ignored, and that forced disclosure of large-dollar donors alone would significantly reduce political giving — but the country is on a runaway train, with big tech money flowing to whoever holds power and Trump openly running the country like a corporation. The conversation broadens into Kase Solomon's structural diagnosis of why American democracy isn't working. She argues that the way the founders designed the country no longer functions in the modern era — but that the founders also gave us the tools to fix what's broken if we choose to use them. Congress is too small to genuinely represent the public, the Senate is horribly malapportioned, the Supreme Court has offered no real solution to the gerrymandering crisis, and we've completely lost the "statesmen" in Congress who once voted their conscience because there's no longer any incentive to compromise or work across the aisle. She is deeply concerned about the regulatory vacuum around AI — deepfakes have terrifying implications for elections and civil litigation is currently the only meaningful path to push back — and she warns that the election of judges has corrupted the rule of law in ways America needs a movement to address. Despite all of this, she is genuinely hopeful: Common Cause is litigating against the corruption, organizing a million conversations between activists and ordinary Americans, and operating from the conviction that the public isn't stupid and still loves this country. Her closing argument is the most American one possible: the United States has always emerged from its darkest periods better than it went in — but only because people refused to accept the broken system as permanent, and that work has to start now. Finally, Chuck reveals his ToddCast Top 5 list of Democrats who could be vaulted into 2028 contender status for the presidency if they perform well in the midterms. He highlights two midwestern gubernatorial candidates, two upstart senate bids and one name that stands above the rest… Jon Ossoff of Georgia. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Predict the action all the way through the finals. Sign up now for your twenty-five dollar bonus on https://fanduel.com/predicts Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:30 Ken Paxton trounces John Cornyn in runoff election 05:00 Texas Republicans are the base for what grew into MAGA nationally 07:15 The insurgent wing of the GOP consistently wins in Texas 09:00 Paxton is the least electable nominee, but he’s still electable 10:30 Is 45% Talarico’s ceiling, or can he move that number higher? 11:30 Texas is slowly moving towards swing state status like Georgia did 13:00 Ingredients are there for a Democrat to finally break through in TX 15:30 Senate Republicans won’t be happy having to serve with Paxton 16:00 Texas is more winnable than other races for GOP, will have to spend in TX 16:30 Republicans will have to spend big to drop the anvil on Talarico 17:30 We’ll find out how talented of a political athlete Talarico is 19:30 This will be the magnet race that national reporters will focus on 21:30 Race will cost the GOP $500m that can’t be deployed elsewhere 23:15 Democrats now have a better chance of winning the senate 24:00 The Pope speaks to more than Catholics, seculars look to him for moral clarity 25:00 The Pope is formidable influencer in America 26:15 The Pope speaks out about AI, concentrated power & the “just war” theory 26:45 He compared automated weapons to slavery 28:00 The Pope spoke out similarly in 1891 during the Industrial Revolution 29:00 The Pope’s document says AI is not morally neutral 30:15 Document argues that technological capital needs to be regulated 30:45 The church has had a “just war” framework for hundreds of years 31:15 Pope Leo says “just war” framework is outdated 32:15 Document argues no algorithm can make war morally acceptable 33:15 Document argues against the concept of nuclear deterrence 33:45 Pope apologizes for church’s role in slavery 34:30 Document says AI systems reduce human beings into targeting data 35:00 Pope argues the dehumanization of AI targeting is similar to slavery 36:00 While not saying it directly, the document is speaking about the United States 37:00 The document is an indictment of American military dominance 38:30 Document does have a carve-out for self defence 40:15 The document was speaking directly to American politicians 41:30 A call for a moral framework for AI can live above the political discourse 42:30 Pope argues church was too slow on slavery, can’t be slow on AI 49:00 Virginia Kase Solomon (Common Cause) joins the Chuck ToddCast 50:30 Common Cause works to hold the government accountable to the people 51:30 Corporate lobbies have disproportionate power compared to people 52:15 Many people threw their hands up after Citizen’s United 53:30 States are working to change campaign finance rules 55:15 States can ban companies in their state from making political donations 57:00 Rules changes but money always seems to find a way around them 59:00 Parties stopped becoming the epicenter of political donations 1:00:30 There are bipartisan calls to do something about money in politics 1:02:00 More GOP support for reform at the state level than national level 1:02:45 We’re on a runaway train for money in politics 1:03:30 Big tech money goes to whoever is in power 1:04:00 The country is being run like a corporation 1:04:45 Jamie Raskin has started an anti-corruption task force 1:05:15 A congressional stock trading ban has massive public support 1:06:15 Trump is obviously corrupt, but people fear him too much to act 1:07:30 Forced disclosure of large dollar donors would reduce donations 1:08:30 Amy Klobuchar has put forward the Disclose Act in almost every congress 1:11:00 The Trump administration’s corruption is beyond egregious 1:11:45 Trump stealing $1.8 billion from taxpayers, makes Watergate look quaint 1:13:15 Young voters have grown up being normalized to this corruption 1:13:45 There will be a backlash to the corruption at some point 1:14:45 America’s long term global standing has been severely damaged 1:15:30 Common Cause is involved in litigation trying to prevent the corruption 1:17:30 Striving to have a million conversations between organizers & normal people 1:18:45 People are struggling and feeling fatigued 1:20:30 It took staggering levels of corruption in Hungary before Orban was toppled 1:21:30 Opposition in Hungary tied corruption to degrading quality of life 1:23:30 A fairness criteria was implemented in the California redistricting 1:24:30 CA and VA put redistricting before the voters, but still a race to the bottom 1:25:00 The Supreme Court hasn’t offered any solution to gerrymandering problem 1:26:00 Congress is too small to effectively represent the public 1:26:45 The senate is horribly malapportioned 1:28:30 The way the founders designed the country doesn’t work anymore 1:29:00 The founders gave us the tools to fix the democracy 1:31:15 There’s no incentive to work in a bipartisan manner or compromise 1:32:45 We’ve lost the “statesmen” in congress who vote their conscience 1:33:30 Politics has become a zero sum game 1:34:45 Politics has always been dirty, but we’ve hit an all-time low 1:36:00 Government seems completely unequipped to regulate AI 1:38:45 Deepfakes impact on elections are very concerning 1:40:00 Civil litigation is the only current path to push back on AI 1:41:30 Status of “sunshine laws” in the country? Could they be rolled back? 1:43:45 Need a movement against the election of the judiciary 1:46:45 The reason for optimism… is that people aren’t stupid and love the country 1:47:30 Our country has always emerged better after dark times 1:49:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Virginia Kase Solomon 1:50:30 ToddCast Top 5 2028 contenders depending on their 2026 performance 1:54:00 #5 Amy Acton 1:56:15 #4 Rob Sand 1:57:45 #3 Graham Platner 2:01:15 #2 James Talarico 2:03:45 #1 Jon Ossoff 2:07:15 Ask Chuck 2:07:30 Why are people rounding up Trump’s 1.776B slush fund to $1.8b? 2:09:30 Supporting candidates you oppose just for judicial confirmations? 2:16:30 New Parallel AI model that prioritizes original writing and journalism? 2:20:15 How are candidates allowed to deploy financial resources during campaigns? 2:24:30 Pattern of Dems fixing the economy and GOP making it worse?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every statewide executive office in Ohio is on the ballot in 2026, and not a single incumbent is defending a seat. Term limits cleared the building all at once. In this solo episode of Purple Political Breakdown Ohio Edition, Radell Lewis walks through the entire Ohio ballot, from the top of the ticket down to the competitive congressional districts, so you know exactly what you are voting on. Governor: Dr. Amy Acton vs. Vivek Ramaswamy. U.S. Senate: Sherrod Brown vs. Jon Husted. Plus Attorney General, Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, two Ohio Supreme Court seats, and the U.S. House districts most likely to decide which party controls the chamber. Then we get into a week of Statehouse news that shows exactly what kind of fight this is going to be. Attorney General Dave Yost's surprise resignation to join the Alliance Defending Freedom, Gov. Mike DeWine's appointment of Andy Wilson as interim attorney general, and the open question of what happens to the FirstEnergy bribery prosecution. The Ohio GOP power struggle, as gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy sets the agenda on a voter ID constitutional amendment and a Medicaid fraud plan while the sitting governor reacts. HB 698, which would tie public college funding to compliance with Senate Bill 1. A federal plan to open thousands of acres of the Wayne National Forest in southeast Ohio to fracking. And Ohio's data center sales tax break ballooning to roughly $1.6 billion, far beyond the state's own forecast, while the savings flow to Amazon, Meta, and Google. County of the Week is Cuyahoga, home to Cleveland and to a property tax foreclosure case now before the Ohio Supreme Court that could matter to homeowners across the state. Awareness is the first step. Look up your district, know your races, and vote. Political solutions without political bias. Standard Resource Links & Recommendations The following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation: PODCAST NETWORK Check Out the Podcast Website: www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.com ALIVE Podcast Network: Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMS HeadOn: A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/ Living Room Conversations: Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTS Us United: A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences. Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATION OtherWeb: An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content. Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACY Equal Vote Coalition & STAR Voting: Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/star Future is Now Coalition (FiNC): A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse. Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT Independent Center: Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ GET DAILY NEWS Text 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now) Check Out the Unfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/ Check Out the CIVICS App to Know More About Your Politicians: https://www.civicpolitics.com SUBSCRIBE ON SUBSTACK Get the Purple Political Breakdown newsletter and episode breakdowns straight to your inbox: https://open.substack.com/pub/purplepoliticalbreakdown/p/welcome-to-the-purple-political-breakdown?r=3z2cmw&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true ALL LINKS https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdown The Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias." Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics, where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be a part of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

The labor movement is done waiting for a seat at the table—workers are fighting for survival at the federal level and running for legislative seats locally. In this episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, we examine the dual realities of modern union power: the defensive structural protections of our public infrastructure and the offensive strategy of electoral politics. Part 1: The Federal Worker Purge & The Privatization Playbook Jacqueline Simon, Policy Director of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), joins the show to deliver a sobering report on the state of the federal workforce. Since January 2025, a sweeping execution of executive orders has fundamentally altered public services. The 300,000 Job Elimination: Why abolishing permanent positions permanently reduces federal capacity and sets agencies up to fail. The National Security Loophole: How a million workers had their collective bargaining rights stripped in what the administration's own paperwork admits was a retaliatory strike against the union. Designed to Fail: The systematic gutting of Social Security field offices, 30,000 lost positions at VA healthcare, and the looming threat of TSA privatization. Part 2: From Endorsements to the Ballot Box Shifting to the offensive, Davida Russell, Secretary-Treasurer of the North Coast Area Labor Federation and Ohio CLUW State President, discusses her historic Democratic primary victory for the Ohio House, capturing nearly 75 percent of the vote. The Pivot to Power: Why working people are tired of empty campaign promises and are increasingly running their own members for office. Unstoppable Women Conference: A preview of the biennial gathering on June 5-6 in Independence, Ohio, featuring panels with Stacey Abrams, Amy Acton, Nina Turner, and trailblazing labor leaders. Real-World Realities: Addressing the financial and emotional exhaustion of the working class and channeling 60-year-high union favorability into direct legislative action. Resources & Links: Learn more about AFGE's legal challenges: afge.org AFL-CIO Website: aflcio.org  Subscribe to the America's Work Force Union Podcast for daily insight into worker power: awf.labortools.com

For the first time in eight years, Ohio will have a new governor. It will be someone from outside government: tech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy, who briefly ran for president, or Amy Acton, who served in government for about a year.

Ohio's 7th Congressional District is back on every Democratic flip list in the country, and on this episode of Purple Political Breakdown Ohio Edition, Radell Lewis sits down with two-time OH-7 Democratic congressional candidate Matt Diemer to break down why. Matt has run this district twice, in 2022 and 2024, and he knows exactly what it takes (and what it costs) to fight for a seat the national party has long written off. We dig into the new Democratic nominee Brian Poindexter, the messy reality of incumbent Max Miller's divorce and the domestic violence allegations now hanging over his reelection, the union method that worked for organized labor before the Democratic Party walked away from it, and why R+11 might really be purple plus eleven in 2026. We also break down the 2026 Ohio primary night that just shocked half the state: Allison Russo's commanding 68-32 win over Bryan Hambley in the Secretary of State Democratic primary, the Attorney General Democratic primary surprise, Vivek Ramaswamy versus Dr. Amy Acton in the governor race, Sherrod Brown's comeback campaign against Jon Husted in a Senate seat now tangled in the FirstEnergy bribery trial fallout, and what Maine's Graham Platner versus Janet Mills standoff tells us about how the national Democratic Party is picking its 2026 candidates. Plus the real conversation: vibes versus policy, why primaries make better candidates and better voters, and what an authentic working-class Ohio Democrat actually sounds like. If you live in OH-7 (Ashland, Medina, Wooster, exurban Cleveland, plus parts of Cuyahoga and Wayne), this is the breakdown of your race. If you don't, it's the case study for every flippable R+10-to-R+15 district in the country. Political solutions without political bias. Follow Matt Diemer: The Angry Democrat newsletter at theangrydem.com and The Angry Ohioan newsletter at theangryohioan.com. Standard Resource Links & Recommendations The following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation: PODCAST NETWORK Check Out the Podcast Website: www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.com ALIVE Podcast Network: Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMS HeadOn: A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/ Living Room Conversations: Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTS Us United: A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences. Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATION OtherWeb: An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content. Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACY Equal Vote Coalition & STAR Voting: Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/star Future is Now Coalition (FiNC): A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse. Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT Independent Center: Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ GET DAILY NEWS Text 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now) Check Out the Unfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/ Check Out the CIVICS App to Know More About Your Politicians: https://www.civicpolitics.com Subscribe to the Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/purplepoliticalbreakdown/p/welcome-to-the-purple-political-breakdown?r=3z2cmw&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true ALL LINKS https://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdown The Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias." Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics, where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

Ohio's primary voters have had their say, and now we move on to November's general election.The governor's race between Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton promises to be historic, expensive....and contentious.We'll have the rundown of statewide and congressional candidates squaring off in the fall. Bottom line: No big surprises.Attorney General Dave Yost calls it quits, setting up the potential for some musical chairs at the statehouse.And voters in Pickerington say no to a levy ask, leaving school leaders to grapple with stark financial realities.We're discussing all of these topics during this week's Reporter Roundtable.Guests:Jessie Balmert, state government and politics reporter, The Columbus DispatchAndrew Tobias, state government and politics reporter, Signal OhioSusan Tebben, reporter, Ohio Capital Journal(photo: Carolyn Kaster and Jay LaPrete / AP)

Ohio's primary voters have had their say, and now we move on to November's general election.The governor's race between Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and Democrat Amy Acton promises to be historic, expensive....and contentious.We'll have the rundown of statewide and congressional candidates squaring off in the fall. Bottom line: No big surprises.Attorney General Dave Yost calls it quits, setting up the potential for some musical chairs at the statehouse.And voters in Pickerington say no to a levy ask, leaving school leaders to grapple with stark financial realities.We're discussing all of these topics during this week's Reporter Roundtable.Guests:Jessie Balmert, state government and politics reporter, The Columbus DispatchAndrew Tobias, state government and politics reporter, Signal OhioSusan Tebben, reporter, Ohio Capital Journal(photo: Carolyn Kaster and Jay LaPrete / AP)

Pete Buttigieg, former secretary of transportation and former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, talks with Jen Psaki about the burden of Donald Trump on Republican candidates, even in red states, and how politicians are recalibrating their approach to voters as Donald Trump loses both relevance and any popularity he once enjoyed. Dr. Amy Acton, Democratic candidate for governor of Ohio, talks with Jen about what she's hearing from voters in her state. Jen Psaki takes a closer look at how Donald Trump's vanity project ballroom, which no one asked for, has ballooned in cost and has now become a taxpayer burden. And Chedrick Greene, Democratic candidate for Michigan State Senate District 35, joins Jen to talk about his approach to campaigning and the stakes of his election. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The landscape for working people in Ohio is shifting fast. In this episode of America's Work Force Union Podcast, we look at the immediate aftermath of the high-stakes Ohio primary elections and dive into the real-world economic pressures facing local job seekers—from the rapid rise of AI to the expansion of gig-style healthcare work. Segment 1: Ohio Primary Day Breakdown with Tim Burga Fresh off an intense election night, Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga delivers a comprehensive, morning-after analysis of the state's primary results. With approximately three-quarters of labor's 160 endorsed candidates and issues winning their races—including a massive primary victory by union ironworker Brian Poindexter in Congressional District 7—organized labor has built a solid foundation for the fall. Burga outlines the historic, high-profile November matchups, including Amy Acton vs. Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor and Sherrod Brown vs. John Husted for U.S. Senate, and explains how labor's boots-on-the-ground network will combat big money and gerrymandered maps. Segment 2: Navigating a Scrambled Job Market with Dave Megenhardt Dave Megenhardt, Executive Director of the United Labor Agency (ULA), joins the show to discuss a massive new survey of 4,000 clients that yielded a staggering 96% approval rating for the agency's services. He pulls back the curtain on how his team builds trust with workers during stressful career transitions and breaks down a local job market that has been "scrambled" by artificial intelligence and an increase in unstable, part-time healthcare roles. Megenhardt also previews a major upcoming logistics shift: the relocation of the Ohio Means Jobs downtown Cleveland office to a new facility in Midtown. Key Takeaways From This Episode: The Trust Factor: How treating job seekers with dignity earned the United Labor Agency a 96% client favorability rating at scale. The Stealth Hiring Slowdown: Why companies are quietly holding back on headcount decisions as they evaluate how AI can reduce labor costs. The "Gigification" of Healthcare: The growing disconnect between open entry-level healthcare jobs and quality, full-time careers with benefits. Labor's Primary Momentum: A data breakdown of the primary election where labor-backed candidates won 75% of their races across Ohio. The Path to November: What Democrats need to flip just five seats to break the Republican legislative supermajority in the Ohio House. Ohio Means Jobs Relocation: Details on the July 1 move of the downtown Cleveland office to 61st and the Opportunity Corridor due to the Innerbelt Rebuild project. About the Guests: Tim Burga is the President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, representing hundreds of thousands of union members and leading the federation's political, legislative, and mobilization ground game. Dave Megenhardt is the Executive Director of the United Labor Agency, leading regional workforce development strategies and connecting job seekers with employers offering "good jobs" across Northeast Ohio. Connect with the Movement: Support workforce development or register for the annual ULA golf outing on June 25: ulagency.org View labor's full list of endorsements and election updates: ohioaflcio.org Subscribe & Review: Never miss an update on the fights that matter to working-class Americans. Hit the Follow button and leave us a review on Podbean!

President Trump writing on Truth Social on Tuesday that great progress has been made toward a complete and final agreement with Iran. He says Project Freedom, the operation ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be paused for a short time to see if that agreement can be finalized and signed. The president adding the decision also follows requests from Pakistan and other countries, and what he described as significant U.S. military success in the region.Results are in for the latest primary elections in Indiana and Ohio for the 2026 midterms. President Trump backed seven GOP challengers to unseat incumbents in Indiana, and all seven defeated the incumbents. In Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy, the former 2024 presidential candidate won the GOP primary for his state, and told voters his vision for Ohio is to return it back to its full potential. He will be facing Democratic nominee, Amy Acton in November. Democrat Sherrod Brown is also trying to make a comeback after losing his seat to Republican Senator Bernie Moreno.A rare and deadly virus outbreak on a cruise ship has left three people dead and four sick. 150 passengers including 17 Americans are on board the ship, which is now waiting off the coast of South Africa. Health officials are saying the cause of the outbreak is a rare strain of hantavirus, which can spread between people. Even so, officials say that human-to-human spread remains extremely rare and requires close contact, saying the outbreak does not pose a wider public health risk.

Chuck Todd opens with the morning-after analysis of Indiana's primary results, which he says show Trump still has plenty of juice with his own party — roughly $13 million was spent to influence about 100,000 voters, and the results have created new urgency for Republican-led states across the South to redistrict before the midterms. He notes that being on the wrong side of Trump remains a career-ending move in the GOP, that Thomas Massie's upcoming primary will be a critical test of Trump's intra-party strength, and that Trump has effectively postponed the perception that he's a lame duck — even as the Iran war continues to crater his standing with the broader public. He flags Ohio as setting up to look like a real swing state in 2026, with Vivek Ramaswamy's polarizing style creating an opening for highly-regarded former Ohio Health Director Amy Acton, and notes that Iowa and Ohio could both move back toward genuine battleground status. He then walks through his fascinating recent participation in a political crisis simulation premised on the idea that January 6th wasn't an anomaly — three teams (Institutionalists, Nationalists, and Capitalists) competed for power, and the entire exercise revolved around who could get the capitalists on their side, since their core interest was simply enrichment and instability. The most revealing detail: in the simulation, Congress barely existed and had no measurable impact on outcomes, which Chuck argues mirrors reality and exposes the deeper problem facing American democracy. His blunt verdict: America doesn't actually have a polarization problem — it has a Congress problem, because weak legislatures inevitably create strong executives, Trump simply filled the vacuum a broken Congress created, and the looming gerrymandering wars (with at least eight states set to redraw their maps before 2028) will make Congress even less functional and more purely partisan than it already is. Finally, Chuck presents his ToddCast Top 5 gubernatorial one-party droughts that are most likely to end in 2026, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Try ShipStation free for 60 days with full access to all features, No credit card needed! Go to https://ShipStation.com and use code TODDCAST for 60 days for free! Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:15 Indiana primaries show that Trump still has juice with his party 02:15 $13 million was spent to influence around 100k voters 04:15 Trump has created new urgency to redistrict in the south 05:30 Being on the wrong side of Trump will end your career in the GOP 06:15 Thomas Massie’s primary will be telling about Trump’s strength 08:15 Trump has postponed the perception that he’s a lame duck in his party 09:15 Iran is not going to get better for Trump, and the polling is brutal 11:30 Indiana showed that Trump hasn’t lost his fastball with the GOP 12:30 Ohio is setting up to look like a swing state in 2026 14:30 Vivek Ramaswamy is polarizing and has said some politically dumb things 16:30 Amy Acton is highly regarded for her leadership during Covid 18:30 It’s possible that Iowa and Ohio move back toward battleground status 19:00 Chuck participated in a political crisis simulation 21:15 Premise of simulation was January 6th wasn’t an anomaly 21:45 Three teams: Institutionalists, Nationalists and Capitalists 23:00 Entire simulation revolved around who could get capitalists on their side 24:30 Capitalists want enrichment & instability 25:15 In the simulation, congress barely existed, had no impact 26:15 Stress tests begin with the assumption congress is ineffective 26:45 Congress is supposed to be the strongest branch, but is now weakest 28:15 America doesn’t have a polarization problem, we have a congress problem 29:30 Weak legislatures create strong executives 30:45 We’ve suffered from a failure of imagination in the Trump era 31:30 Trump filled the vacuum that was created by a broken congress 33:30 The gerrymandering wars will make congress even less functional 34:00 At least 8 states will remap between now and 2028 36:00 Congress will be nothing but partisanship after all the gerrymandering 37:30 Don’t just assume that Democrats will pass a gerrymandering ban 39:00 Democracy feels vulnerable because congress doesn’t work 44:15 ToddCast Top 5 gubernatorial droughts likely to end in 2026 48:15 #5 Texas 51:15 #4 Alabama 54:45 #3 Georgia 57:15 #2 Ohio 1:01:30 #1 Iowa 1:02:15 Ask Chuck 1:02:30 With the national debt 100% of GDP, what are the risks if this continues? 1:11:00 Could a SCOTUS confirmation fight improve GOP chances in midterms? 1:16:15 Can the WHCD assailant plead insanity via Trump Derangement Syndrome? 1:19:45 Impact if Texas moved to closed primaries? 1:22:15 Is there any appetite in congress for uncapping the house?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with the morning-after analysis of Indiana's primary results, which he says show Trump still has plenty of juice with his own party — roughly $13 million was spent to influence about 100,000 voters, and the results have created new urgency for Republican-led states across the South to redistrict before the midterms. He notes that being on the wrong side of Trump remains a career-ending move in the GOP, that Thomas Massie's upcoming primary will be a critical test of Trump's intra-party strength, and that Trump has effectively postponed the perception that he's a lame duck — even as the Iran war continues to crater his standing with the broader public. He flags Ohio as setting up to look like a real swing state in 2026, with Vivek Ramaswamy's polarizing style creating an opening for highly-regarded former Ohio Health Director Amy Acton, and notes that Iowa and Ohio could both move back toward genuine battleground status. Hethen walks through his fascinating recent participation in a political crisis simulation premised on the idea that January 6th wasn't an anomaly — three teams (Institutionalists, Nationalists, and Capitalists) competed for power, and the entire exercise revolved around who could get the capitalists on their side, since their core interest was simply enrichment and instability. The most revealing detail: in the simulation, Congress barely existed and had no measurable impact on outcomes, which Chuck argues mirrors reality and exposes the deeper problem facing American democracy. His blunt verdict: America doesn't actually have a polarization problem — it has a Congress problem, because weak legislatures inevitably create strong executives, Trump simply filled the vacuum a broken Congress created, and the looming gerrymandering wars (with at least eight states set to redraw their maps before 2028) will make Congress even less functional and more purely partisan than it already is. Then, Ashley Trice and Rob Holbert — co-publishers of Lagniappe, the alt-weekly turned investigative newspaper covering Mobile and Alabama's Gulf Coast — join the Chuck Toddcast to share the origin story of how their independent publication has grown into the region's premier investigative voice. They explain how Lagniappe started as a free paper and has now transitioned to a subscription model behind a paywall, why most newspapers won't even print these days unless they're certain it won't cost them money (and the surprising fact that there's a national shortage of available printers), and how the paper has built its reputation by covering everything from Mobile's local government to scandals in the wealthy parts of town and irresistible animal stories — both of which they say reliably grow audience faster than anything else. Trice and Holbert preview the upcoming Tuberville-Jones gubernatorial race, which they expect to be surprisingly close, and offer a withering assessment of outgoing Governor Kay Ivey's "very inactive" tenure. They walk through the political divide in Alabama where coastal Mobile often feels left out of the conversation, the surprising audience appeal of youth and high school sports coverage, and the looming threat of the Nexstar-Tegna merger gutting even more local newsrooms across the country. The conversation broadens into the practical realities of running a sustainable local newsroom in 2026. Trice and Holbert explain that the public has been trained to expect news for free, that reaching younger audiences now requires aggressive use of social media platforms and video content, and that live events have become an increasingly important revenue stream for papers like theirs. Trice and Holbert observe that small businesses are still reaching out about advertising — proof that print journalism continues to have a market — and close with a fascinating observation about how coastal Southern cities like Mobile tend to be less polarized than the rest of the South, with a genuine sense of community that gets lost in the national conversation about red-state politics. Finally, Chuck presents his ToddCast Top 5 gubernatorial one-party droughts that are most likely to end in 2026, and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Try ShipStation free for 60 days with full access to all features, No credit card needed! Go to https://ShipStation.com and use code TODDCAST for 60 days for free! Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:15 Indiana primaries show that Trump still has juice with his party 02:15 $13 million was spent to influence around 100k voters 04:15 Trump has created new urgency to redistrict in the south 05:30 Being on the wrong side of Trump will end your career in the GOP 06:15 Thomas Massie’s primary will be telling about Trump’s strength 08:15 Trump has postponed the perception that he’s a lame duck in his party 09:15 Iran is not going to get better for Trump, and the polling is brutal 11:30 Indiana showed that Trump hasn’t lost his fastball with the GOP 12:30 Ohio is setting up to look like a swing state in 2026 14:30 Vivek Ramaswamy is polarizing and has said some politically dumb things 16:30 Amy Acton is highly regarded for her leadership during Covid 18:30 It’s possible that Iowa and Ohio move back toward battleground status 19:00 Chuck participated in a political crisis simulation 21:15 Premise of simulation was January 6th wasn’t an anomaly 21:45 Three teams: Institutionalists, Nationalists and Capitalists 23:00 Entire simulation revolved around who could get capitalists on their side 24:30 Capitalists want enrichment & instability 25:15 In the simulation, congress barely existed, had no impact 26:15 Stress tests begin with the assumption congress is ineffective 26:45 Congress is supposed to be the strongest branch, but is now weakest 28:15 America doesn’t have a polarization problem, we have a congress problem 29:30 Weak legislatures create strong executives 30:45 We’ve suffered from a failure of imagination in the Trump era 31:30 Trump filled the vacuum that was created by a broken congress 33:30 The gerrymandering wars will make congress even less functional 34:00 At least 8 states will remap between now and 2028 36:00 Congress will be nothing but partisanship after all the gerrymandering 37:30 Don’t just assume that Democrats will pass a gerrymandering ban 39:00 Democracy feels vulnerable because congress doesn’t work 45:00 Ashley Trice & Rob Holbert (Lagniappe) join the Chuck ToddCast 46:30 Origin story of Lagniappe 48:45 The paper started off free, now is a subscription model behind paywall 50:30 Most papers wait to print unless they know it won’t cost them money 52:00 There’s a shortage of printers available for publications 54:15 Striving to be Alabama’s best investigative newspaper 56:15 Governor’s race between Tuberville & Jones will be close 58:00 Kay Ivey has been a very inactive governor 59:30 When did local governments understand you were going to cover them? 1:03:00 There’s a big political divide in Alabama, and Mobile feels left out 1:04:00 Is youth & high school sports an audience builder? 1:05:00 Scandals in the rich part of town & animal stories really grow audience 1:06:00 Nexstar & Tegna merger will gut more local newsrooms 1:07:45 People have been trained that they don’t have to pay for news 1:08:15 Have to use social media platforms & video to reach younger audience 1:10:00 What do you do in the live event space and are those money makers? 1:12:30 It takes more reporters for coverage that creates dedicated subscribers 1:14:30 Airbus & shipbuilding have been big economic growth drivers in Mobile 1:16:00 The “commuter schools” have really grown in recent years in Alabama 1:18:30 Are there formalized local news networks regionally that could help you? 1:20:00 No time to create networks, in a constant state of “news triage” 1:20:30 Small businesses still reach out about advertising 1:22:30 Print journalism still has a market 1:25:00 Coastal southern cities tend to be less polarized 1:25:45 There’s a real sense of community in southern coastal cities 1:27:00 Where can people find your work? 1:28:00 Alternative weekly’s have been able to become local papers of note 1:29:15 ToddCast Top 5 gubernatorial droughts likely to end in 2026 1:33:15 #5 Texas 1:36:15 #4 Alabama 1:39:45 #3 Georgia 1:42:15 #2 Ohio 1:46:30 #1 Iowa 1:47:15 Ask Chuck 1:47:30 With the national debt 100% of GDP, what are the risks if this continues? 1:56:00 Could a SCOTUS confirmation fight improve GOP chances in midterms? 2:01:15 Can the WHCD assailant plead insanity via Trump Derangement Syndrome? 2:04:45 Impact if Texas moved to closed primaries? 2:07:15 Is there any appetite in congress for uncapping the house?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Host Radell Lewis takes you inside the May 5, 2026 Ohio primary election in this bonus episode of Purple Political Breakdown. Recorded in real time on primary day, this walkthrough covers everything from why Election Day should be a federal holiday to a live look at the Ohio sample ballot, the voter lookup process on the Ohio Secretary of State website, and the absentee ballot system most voters never use. Radell breaks down his ballot picks across the biggest 2026 Ohio primary races, including Amy Acton for governor, the Attorney General race between John Kulowicz and Elliot Foran, Annette Blackwell for State Auditor, the Secretary of State Democratic primary featuring Allison Russo and past PPB guest Dr. Bryan Hambley, Sherrod Brown for U.S. Senate, and a fresh on-air research dive into Ohio's 8th Congressional District race between Vanessa Enoch and Madaris Grant, including Enoch's healthcare platform on capping out of pocket costs, Medicare and Medicaid drug price negotiation, and preventative care funding. Along the way, Radell makes the case for expanded voter access: an Election Day federal holiday, all day voting windows, election weekends, paid poll workers, mail-in voting, and online voting infrastructure. He also calls out Secretary of State Frank LaRose, Ohio's gerrymandered 2026 maps, and the SAVE Act's voter ID misdirection. Keywords: Ohio primary election 2026, May 5 Ohio primary, Ohio voter guide, Ohio sample ballot, Election Day federal holiday, voter suppression, Vanessa Enoch, Madaris Grant, Bryan Hambley, Allison Russo, Sherrod Brown, Amy Acton, Frank LaRose, absentee ballot, SAVE Act, Ohio 8th Congressional District, primary ballot walkthrough.Standard Resource Links & RecommendationsThe following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation: PODCAST NETWORKCheck Out the Podcast Website: www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.comALIVE Podcast Network - Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMSHeadOn - A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/Living Room Conversations - Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTSUs United - A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences. Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATIONOtherWeb - An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content. Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACYEqual Vote Coalition & STAR Voting - Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/starFuture is Now Coalition (FiNC) - A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse. Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTIndependent Center - Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ GET DAILY NEWSText 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now)Check Out the Unfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/Check Out the CIVICS App to Know More About Your Politicians: https://www.civicpolitics.com ALL LINKShttps://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdownThe Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias."Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics - where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

Send us Fan MailJack Greiner and Randy Freking welcome David Pepper, a lifelong Cincinnatian and former chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party. The conversation covers David's deep-rooted passion for the Cincinnati Reds, sharing nostalgic memories and discussing favorite players like Eric Davis and Ken Griffey Jr. David also talks about his political journey, his books on gerrymandering, and his candidacy for lieutenant governor alongside Amy Acton. The episode is filled with engaging anecdotes, baseball trivia, and a shared love for Cincinnati sports.Keywords:Cincinnati RedsDavid PepperEric DavisKen Griffey Jr.Ohio Democratic PartyGerrymanderingAmy ActonBaseball nostalgiaCincinnati sportsPolitical journeyChapters:Introduction and Guest Welcome (0:00 - 0:42)Hosts introduce David Pepper and his background.Reds Fandom and Early Memories (0:42 - 2:39)David shares his early experiences as a Reds fan.Favorite Players and Baseball Stories (2:39 - 5:40)Discussion about favorite players like Eric Davis and Ken Griffey Jr.Political Career and Writing (5:40 - 14:18)David talks about his political journey and his books.Running for Lieutenant Governor (14:18 - 17:09)Insights into David's candidacy with Amy Acton.Baseball and Politics (17:09 - 22:32)The intersection of sports fandom and political life.Fun Categories and Personal Stories (22:32 - 42:54)Engaging segments like "Marty McFly" and "Mount Rushmore" of Reds players.Conclusion and Optimism for the Season (42:54 - End)Closing thoughts and excitement for the upcoming baseball season. Jack thanks the listeners

Host Radell Lewis sits down with two Ohio libertarian write-in candidates ahead of the May 5, 2026 primary in a double feature episode of Purple Political Breakdown. First up, Jason Stoops, an auto mechanic from Wilmington running in OH-1, who shares how he was politically retaliated against by his local administration, why he believes cash-pay healthcare beats the insurance bureaucracy, and how the FirstEnergy scandal exposed the rot in Ohio's GOP machine. Then drunk uncle Mike Beloff joins from Galleon to talk about his OH-5 campaign against eighteen-year incumbent Bob Latta, his focus on bail reform and ending the prison industrial pipeline, and why Mike DeWine's reversal of voter-approved cannabis policy proves the duopoly ignores the people. Both candidates dig into the non-aggression principle, gerrymandering, the collapse of civics education in Ohio schools, the Epstein files vote, the Vivek Ramaswamy and Amy Acton governor's race, and what it means to give a middle finger to the political establishment. Whether you're a disenfranchised conservative, a frustrated independent, or just an Ohio voter who wants real accountability, this is a conversation about what the third party option actually looks like in the 2026 midterms. Keywords woven throughout: Ohio midterm elections 2026, libertarian candidates, OH-1, OH-5, Bob Latta, Jason Stoops, Mike Beloff, FirstEnergy corruption, bail reform, non-aggression principle, Mike DeWine cannabis, gerrymandering, Epstein files, single-payer Medicaid, third party candidates, Purple Political Breakdown, Radell Lewis.Standard Resource Links & RecommendationsThe following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation: PODCAST NETWORKCheck Out the Podcast Website: www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.comALIVE Podcast Network - Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMSHeadOn - A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/Living Room Conversations - Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTSUs United - A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences. Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATIONOtherWeb - An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content. Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACYEqual Vote Coalition & STAR Voting - Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/starFuture is Now Coalition (FiNC) - A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse. Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTIndependent Center - Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ GET DAILY NEWSText 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now)Check Out the Unfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/Check Out the CIVICS App to Know More About Your Politicians: https://www.civicpolitics.com ALL LINKShttps://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdownThe Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias."Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics - where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

James and Al discuss the redrawing of Congressional districts in Virginia in the wider context of the gerrymandering battle being waged for the House and share lesser-known issues plaguing our democracy.  Then they are joined by Ohio's gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial candidates, Amy Acton and David Pepper, and they dive into healthcare, corruption, and the need for political change.  They also welcome Tejano star-turned-TX-15 candidate Bobby Pulido to game out how to win in Texas, bring back conservative-minded Latino voters, and craft a strong economic message, capped off with a short musical performance.Email your questions to James and Al at politicswarroom@gmail.com or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you're from! More from James and Al:Get text updates from Politics War Room and Politicon.Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube.James Carville & Al Hunt have launched the Politics War Room SubstackGet updates and some great behind-the-scenes content from the documentary CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID by following James on X @jamescarville and his new TikTok @realjamescarvilleGet More From This Week's Guests: Dr. Amy Acton: Twitter | Acton For Governor | Instagram | FacebookDavid Pepper: Twitter | Acton For Governor | Website | Author Bobby Pulido: Campaign Website | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Please Support Our Sponsors:Miracle Made:Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to TryMiracle.com/warroom and use the code WARROOM to claim your FREE 3-PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF.Boxie:For a limited time, get 30% off your order when you head to Boxiecat.com/WARROOM and use code WARROOMShopify:Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/warroomDeleteMe:Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/warroom and usepromo code WARROOM at checkout.

SEASON 4 EPISODE 80: COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN A-Block (3:00) SPECIAL COMMENT: Nobody is at the wheel of Trump's war in Iran. Is the Strait of Hormuz open or is it closed? Are there peace talks with Iran in Pakistan TOMORROW… or nah? Is Jayvee Vance going? Is Iran going? Has Trump scheduled peace talks where we’re the only ones there? Will it make any difference if we’re the only ones there? Doesn’t “blowing a hole in the engine room” of an Iranian cargo ship yesterday mean we aren’t honoring Trump’s own ceasefire he boasted about? Are we paying 20 billion dollars for the Iranian uranium and hostages? The same uranium and hostages Obama bought for 400 million and Trump called him a traitor? Or is that a no? Don’t ask Trump – he doesn’t know. But that won’t stop him from answering anyway. Yes. Then Nope. Then Yes again. Then: All of the Above. in 48 hours he went from 13 posts congratulating himself on winning, to insisting he would stop being “Mr. Nice Guy” and blow up all of Iran. By the way, eactly when was he “Mr. Nice Guy”? We are LOSING the war in Iran and as of today a total idiot is still president and commander-in-chief. He gets questions about the pointless war he started to divert attention from Epstein and the economy he crashed, so he orders the reporters out of the Oval Office, and sits there with hapless munchkin Little Joe Rogan standing behind him, the shine off his cueball noggin blinding cameras and journalists alike. Trump has set off a chain of events over which he no longer has any control – except to withdraw and flee – and to withdraw and flee is to acknowledge he screwed up. And this man would jump off the roof of the White House before admitting he screwed up. The Trump “Administration” has so UTTERLY jumped the shark, that the truthers are coming out from inside MAGA: Alex Jones now insists Trump has done all this DELIBERATELY, because he has made a “deal with the deep state to throw the election to the Democrats." Marjorie Taylor Greene has joined the Trump Assassination Truthers and Trump himself has floated a kind of conspiracy theory ABOUT himself… he wrote ‘Praise Be To Allah’ on Easter morning to “seem as unstable and insulting as possible.” He wanted to seem as unstable as possible? MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, Trump! You’ve finally done something you promised! B-Block (28:30) THE WORST PERSONS IN THE WORLD: Before the year is out, Major League Baseball will threaten to lock the players out and cancel the season in 2027 because the smaller market teams can't make enough money to compete. One of those teams just sold for $3.1 billion more than it did in 2012. New York's hockey teams support a) Trump putting his name on public buildings or b) legal funds for cops convicted of killing unarmed civilians. Vivek Ramaswamy dismisses his opponent talking about being raped as a child as her "complaining." And Lauren Boebert thinks Congress is too horny and she won't remain, uh, hands off. C-Block (45:00) THINGS I PROMISED NOT TO TELL: Netflix stock took a huge hit, supposedly after the co-founder Reed Hastings announced he was bowing out. But I think it might've been another announcement that did it. They are going into news podcasts with - Brian Williams? The story of how he imploded at NBC, while I was literally an eyewitness to his public self-destruction, and the advice I gave his bosses that could have saved him (and them) if they hadn't ignored it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before Ohio holds its primary, the presumptuous GOP candidate for Governor Vivek Ramaswamy is running a negative ad against the presumptive Democrat candidate Dr. Amy Acton. Ramaswamy's ad attempts to gaslight voters about Acton's role as the Director of the Ohio Department of Health at the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020. The ad falsely claims Acton acted outside her authority to postpone the March 2020 primary election. Ohio Republicans have been wanting voters to forget the truth of their inaction during the pandemic and undermining the state's response for political reasons since 2020.We look at Ohio Representative Josh Williams who is the only black Republican in the Ohio House and he is running for Congress in Ohio's 9th District. He claims DEI and affirmative action keep the Black community stuck in poverty and he vocally supports anti-abortion stances, often echoing sentiments that appeal to a predominantly white anti-abortionist base like repeating the false and harmful narrative of abortion as a form of genocide within the Black community. Williams should be the last person holding negative views about policies and programs that give a hand up out of poverty since he himself needed and used that help when he was bed ridden for six years and had no high school diploma yet is now a lawyer and teaches law at a local college while serving as a state representative.Finally we look at the fight between President Trump and the Pope. It is particularly striking that figures like Trump and JD Vance, especially Vance's recent conversion to Catholicism, feel emboldened to critique religious authorities, including the Pope, on theological grounds that contradict their own political alignments. This speaks to a broader trend of politicization of religion where moral authority is wielded selectively. We see that politicization in every level of government from the local to the federal. It is a trend that needs to be stopped.Full Show Notes & Links UsedSend us Fan MailSupport the showSubscribe to our free newsletterCheck out our MerchFollow us on BlueskyFind us on Twitter(for now) Find us on InstagramFind us on Counter SocialFind us on Mastadon

Host Radell Lewis breaks down Ohio's 2026 State Auditor race between Republican Frank LaRose, Democrat Annette Blackwell, and Libertarian write-in Aidan Jeffery, then runs through a wild week of Ohio political news on Purple Political Breakdown. This episode covers why the Auditor's office matters (hint: it's the only statewide office with the power to catch public officials misusing your tax dollars), how current Auditor Keith Faber's run for Attorney General is part of what reporters are calling a "musical chairs" pattern among term-limited Ohio Republicans, and whether LaRose's Secretary of State record (including the 2023 Issue 1 reversal, a Hatch Act complaint, and 1,200 alleged voter fraud cases referred to the DOJ in late 2025) matches the job description of Ohio's chief accountability officer. On the other side of the aisle, Maple Heights Mayor Annette Blackwell pitches 16 years of accounting experience and a documented fiscal turnaround that won the Auditor's own Clean Audit Award three years running. In the news roundup: Ohio quietly adds "Trump Wildlife Area" as an official name through administrative rule, podcaster Myron Gaines performs a Sieg Heil salute on the steps of Ohio University's Memorial Auditorium in the first real test of Senate Bill 1, Columbus restaurant La Chatelaine cancels a Casey Putsch fundraiser over his comments about Hitler and Nazis, Governor Mike DeWine honors his late father's role liberating Dachau, a 2019 Bexley police report resurfaces on Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, Signal Ohio reporter Jake Zuckerman exposes Ohio nursing homes dumping medically fragile patients at homeless shelters, and a DraftKings-linked super PAC places over $1.1 million in ads backing Ohio Republican legislative primary candidates. Nonpartisan political analysis. Solutions-focused. No corporate spin. Keywords: Ohio auditor 2026, Frank LaRose, Annette Blackwell, Ohio primary May 5 2026, Amy Acton police report, Vivek Ramaswamy, Casey Putsch, Myron Gaines Ohio University, Trump Wildlife Area, DraftKings super PAC Ohio, Ohio nursing homes, Mike DeWine, Ohio 2026 election, Purple Political Breakdown, Radell Lewis.Standard Resource Links & RecommendationsThe following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation: PODCAST NETWORKCheck Out the Podcast Website: www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.comALIVE Podcast Network - Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMSHeadOn - A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/Living Room Conversations - Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTSUs United - A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences. Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATIONOtherWeb - An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content. Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACYEqual Vote Coalition & STAR Voting - Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/starFuture is Now Coalition (FiNC) - A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse. Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTIndependent Center - Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ GET DAILY NEWSText 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now)Check Out the Unfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/ ALL LINKShttps://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdownThe Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias."Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics - where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

Jack Windsor of of The Ohio Press Network talks on the news of Amy Acton plus Ohio threatening to legislate betting markets such as Kalshi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can eight Democrats really unseat Trump-backed Congressman Max Miller in Ohio's 7th Congressional District? On this episode of Purple Political Breakdown, host Radell Lewis dives deep into one of the most crowded and competitive congressional primaries in the 2026 midterms. From former FBI agent Ed FitzGerald's political comeback to union ironworker Brian Poindexter's surge of labor endorsements, Radell breaks down every candidate, follows the money, and gives his honest assessment of who actually has a shot.But that's not all. Vivek Ramaswamy's Ohio governor campaign just took another self-inflicted hit after proposing to close public universities during March Madness. The Cook Political Report downgraded his chances. Meanwhile, Dr. Amy Acton rolled out her affordability agenda on the Democratic side. Radell covers the contrast.Plus: the FirstEnergy bribery trial ended in a mistrial after eight weeks, a retrial is set for September, and former House Speaker Larry Householder's own lawyer is now testifying against him. Ohio's early voting period is open, the May 5 primary is approaching fast, and a push to ban mobile sports betting is gaining traction at the Statehouse.This is Ohio politics at its most chaotic, and Radell is here to make sense of it all.Topics covered: Ohio 7th Congressional District 2026, Max Miller, Ed FitzGerald, Brian Poindexter, Ann Marie Donegan, Laura Rodriguez-Carbone, DCCC target districts, Ohio 2026 midterm elections, Ohio primary May 5, Vivek Ramaswamy governor race, Dr. Amy Acton, FirstEnergy bribery trial mistrial, Larry Householder, Ohio early voting, Ohio redistricting 2026, Ohio sports betting banNew episodes every Saturday at 8 AM EST.Standard Resource Links & RecommendationsThe following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation: PODCAST NETWORKCheck Out the Podcast Website: www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.comALIVE Podcast Network - Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMSHeadOn - A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/Living Room Conversations - Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTSUs United - A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences. Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATIONOtherWeb - An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content. Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACYEqual Vote Coalition & STAR Voting - Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/starFuture is Now Coalition (FiNC) - A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse. Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTIndependent Center - Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ GET DAILY NEWSText 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now) ALL LINKShttps://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdownThe Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias."Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics - where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

Brian is joined by Jack Windsor from the Ohio Press Network about the latest news and issues in Ohio politics. Jack shares his insights on the state's voter ID laws, pointing out a loophole that allows voters to submit absentee ballots without showing a photo ID. He also discusses the upcoming gubernatorial election, where Amy Acton is running against Vivek Ramaswamy. Jack weighs in on the controversy surrounding Acton's hiring of a high-profile law firm to defend against allegations of fake tweets. The conversation also touches on a bizarre bill proposed by a Democrat lawmaker that aims to protect children from indecent performances.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early voting for the May primary and the SAVE Act The Ohio Primary will be decided May 5 when voters choose the party candidates for a number of races including Ohio governor where Vivek Ramaswamy is the leader on the Republican ticket and Amy Acton is running unopposed on the Democratic ticket, while Don Kissick is running on the Libertarian ticket. Other statewide offices as well as federal, statehouse and judicial races are on the ballot. And voters in some areas will also decide school and other issues. The voter registration deadline is Monday, April 6. Early voting, both in-person and by mail, begins on April 7. And now is the time for voters to check on their registration and decide how they plan to vote. Ohio Secretary of State web siteDirectory of Ohio county boards of electionsEarly voting calendar and hours During this primary cycle, there is also talk in Washington of hardening voter registration and voting rules, including adding a proof of citizenship requirement. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or SAVE Act is being discussed in the U.S. Senate. It's already passed the U.S. House. While we don't know if that legislation will pass or if lawmakers will hammer out changes to it, the media coverage may have confused some voters for this primary. On Wednesday's "Sound of Ideas," we will talk about registering and voting in the May primary and how the SAVE Act could impact access to voting if it passed. Guests:- Jen Miller, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Ohio- Aaron Ockerman, Executive Director, Ohio Association of Election Officials

What is going on in Ohio? In this episode of Purple Political Breakdown, host Radell Lewis breaks down the biggest stories coming out of the Ohio Statehouse heading into the 2026 midterm elections. President Trump is calling for an end to no-excuse mail-in voting nationwide, and Ohio officials from both parties are responding. The Ohio House is advancing new abortion restrictions under House Bill 347, testing the limits of the 2023 constitutional amendment that 57 percent of voters approved. Ohio's hemp and THC ban under Senate Bill 56 is now in effect after the referendum effort by Ohioans for Cannabis Choice fell short on signatures. The state is also facing potential SNAP cuts that could triple program costs if Ohio can't lower its federal error rate.Radell also dives deep into the 2026 Ohio Attorney General race, one of the most overlooked but consequential races on the ballot. With Dave Yost term-limited, Republican Keith Faber, Democrat John Kulewicz, and Democrat Elliot Forhan are all competing for the office. Radell explains what the Attorney General actually does, breaks down each candidate's platform, and covers the controversy surrounding Forhan's viral TikTok video and his history of disciplinary action in the Ohio House.Plus, rapid fire updates on the Ohio governor's race between Vivek Ramaswamy and Dr. Amy Acton, the ranked choice voting ban, Ohio's skyrocketing gas bills, the FirstEnergy bribery trial, AEP's push for nuclear power, a rejected $98 million solar farm, the drag show ban, vaccination opt-out legislation, and the property tax abolition movement.Ohio's May 5 primary is approaching fast. Stay informed with nonpartisan analysis that cuts through the noise.Purple Political Breakdown: Political Solutions Without Political Bias.Listen on Spotify: [link]Listen on Apple Podcasts: [link]#Ohio2026 #OhioMidterms #OhioPolitics #MailInVoting #OhioAbortion #HempBan #OhioAttorneyGeneral #KeithFaber #ElliotForhan #JohnKulewicz #SNAP #FoodStamps #Ramaswamy #AmyActon #RankedChoiceVoting #FirstEnergy #OhioStatehouse #PurplePoliticalBreakdown #NonpartisanPodcast #VotingRights #OhioElections #PoliticalPodcast #2026Midterms #OhioNewsStandard Resource Links & RecommendationsThe following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation: PODCAST NETWORKCheck Out the Podcast Website: www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.comALIVE Podcast Network - Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices. Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMSHeadOn - A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features. Link: https://app.headon.ai/Living Room Conversations - Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides. Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTSUs United - A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences. Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATIONOtherWeb - An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content. Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACYEqual Vote Coalition & STAR Voting - Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting. Link: https://www.equal.vote/starFuture is Now Coalition (FiNC) - A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse. Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTIndependent Center - Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement. Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ GET DAILY NEWSText 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now) ALL LINKShttps://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdownThe Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias."Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics - where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on how Donald Trump's terrible performance in office has led to Ohio quickly turning against him and Meiselas speaks with Democratic Governor candidate Dr. Amy Acton and her running mate David Pepper. Visit https://meidasplus.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast⁠ Legal AF: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af⁠ MissTrial: ⁠https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial⁠ The PoliticsGirl Podcast: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast⁠ Cult Conversations: The Influence Continuum with Dr. Steve Hassan: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan⁠ Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen⁠ The Weekend Show: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show⁠ Burn the Boats: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats⁠ Majority 54: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54⁠ Political Beatdown: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown⁠ On Democracy with FP Wellman: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman⁠ Uncovered: ⁠https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tuesday, November 25th, 2025Today, the indictments against Letitia James and Jim Comey have been dismissed after a judge ruled Lindsey Halligan was unlawfully appointed; a Turning Point USA and former Republican State Representative in Arizona has pled guilty to attempted election fraud; corporate media is finally acknowledging that the Republicans have a Nazi problem; multiple judges rebuke the government's methods of defending invasive trans health care subpoenas; DOGE is disbanding 8 months before its charter expires; Twitter's new location transparency feature reveals popular MAGA accounts are actually foreign; Pete Kegseth is threatening to recall Mark Kelly to active duty to court-martial him; multiple Republican House members are thinking about resigning after MTG announced she's stepping down; the former DOJ lawyer that was caught on hidden camera telling his date that Republican names would be redacted from the Epstein files is suing the government for wrongful termination; and Allison and Dana Deliver your Good News.Thank You, OneSkinGet 15% off OneSkin with the code DAILYBEANS at  https://www.oneskin.co/dailybeans #oneskinpodGuest: Adam KlasfeldAll Rise NewsAll Rise News - Bluesky, @klasfeldreports.com - BlueSky, @KlasfeldReports - Twitter, @senecaprojectus - Instagram'One-two punch knockout': Comey and James case dismissal debriefSubscribe to MSW Media's YouTube Channel - YouTubeComey and James indictments DISMISSED | Allison Gill, Adam Klasfeld | The BreakdownStoriesTwitter's new location transparency feature unleashes questions about origins of MAGA accounts | NBC NewsDefense Department says it's opening an investigation into Sen. Mark Kelly | NBC NewsWhat MTG got right - Jake Sherman | Punchbowl NewsExclusive: DOGE 'doesn't exist' with eight months left on its charter | ReutersTurning Point leader, former GOP Rep pleads guilty to attempted election fraud | Arizona MirrorWhy Republicans Are Fighting About the Nazis - The New York TimesMultiple judges call out DOJ's methods of defending its invasive trans care subpoenas - Chris Geidner | Law DorkFormer DOJ official whose remarks about Epstein files were recorded sues over firing | POLITICOGood Trouble1) Bob - “Upset about the Trump appeasement "peace" plan? Use the two links and/or call The White House during office hours.” Appeasement Is Not Peace and Contact Us – The White House or call (202) 456-11112)There are still plenty of ways to phone bank or canvass for Aftyn Behn In the special election for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District.Volunteer Opportunities, Events, and Petitions Near Me · Aftyn for Congress on MobilizeThere is also training for the asynchronous phone bankinghttps://www.mobilize.us/aftynforcongress/event/861382/→AACN Alarmed Over Department of Education's Proposed Limitation of Student Loan Access for Nursing**Red, Wine and Blue has a very active North Carolina Community Trouble Nation→Contacting U.S. Senators Find Your Representative | house.gov**Mutual Aid Relief Fund, Mutual Aid Hub, GiveDirectly.org/snap**Group Directory - The Visibility Brigade: Resistance is Possible**Vote Yes 836 - Oklahoma is gathering signatures**How to Organize a Bearing Witness Standout**Indiana teacher snitch portal - Eyes on Education**Find Your Representative | house.gov, Contacting U.S. SenatorsFrom The Good NewsDr. Amy Acton for GovernorTamy.Abernathy@ed.govTrans Joy Akron (@transjoyakron) - Instagram Our Donation LinksNational Security Counselors - Donate, MSW Media, Blue Wave CA Victory Fund | ActBlue, WhistleblowerAid.org/beansFederal workers - email AG at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen. Find Upcoming Actions 50501 Movement, No Kings.org, Indivisible.orgDr. Allison Gill - Substack, BlueSky , TikTok, IG, TwitterDana Goldberg - The 2025 Out100, BlueSky, Twitter, IG, facebook, danagoldberg.comMore from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | SubstackReminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Our Donation LinksNational Security Counselors - DonateMSW Media, Blue Wave California Victory Fund | ActBlueWhistleblowerAid.org/beansFederal workers - feel free to email AG at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen. Find Upcoming Actions 50501 Movement, No Kings.org, Indivisible.orgDr. Allison Gill - Substack, BlueSky , TikTok, IG, TwitterDana Goldberg - BlueSky, Twitter, IG, facebook, danagoldberg.comCheck out more from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | SubstackShare your Good News or Good TroubleMSW Good News and Good TroubleHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/ Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?The Daily Beans | SupercastThe Daily Beans & Mueller, She Wrote | PatreonThe Daily Beans | Apple Podcasts Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Republicans and Independents in Ohio turning against Trump and MAGA ahead of the critical 2026 governor's race, as Democratic candidate Dr. Amy Acton surges past MAGA candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Meiselas also interviews Dr. Acton about the race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices