Podcasts about center left

We're off next week. No livestream on Sunday. George Harris made us an “eff that chicken” jingle. Donald might be withdrawing Todd Blanche from the AG nomination. Don't let the Republicans memory-hole Donald's deadly negligence on COVID. RFK Jr has a cooking show now. Good news…from the Fox News poll! Anti-trans rally in Seattle deemed a “flop”. GDP is sluggish. Alex Jones is calling for Donald to be impeached. Elon wants to continue allowing his AI to sexualize children. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Brother Dynamite, Keturah Allgood, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsors and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob and bollandbranch.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The great Cliff Schecter returns to the podcast today. We've been friends and collaborators for more than 20 years, and he was very briefly my Tuesday co-host on the podcast. Today we talked about laughing at the dictator, the latest on the confirmation hearings for Todd Blanche, the Democratic intramural shovel fighting, the hilariously wrong notion of shutting down all prisons, and so much more. Support Cliff's work at blueamp.co. And don't forget to support this podcast at patreon.com/bobcescashow. Music by Treetop Flyers. Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob and bollandbranch.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Good news about Donald's mail-in voting executive order. Good news from the Texas Senate race. But how is Paxton doing as well as he is given everything? MAGA isn't about policy or issues, it's about pissing off the other side. South Carolina will be the first Democratic primary state in 2028. Another photo of Mitch McConnell emerged. Beshear's strongly worded letter. Donald vs The Truth: Smithsonian Edition. The Fauci Diaries. Donald keeps saying prices are coming down. They're not. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by I Hate You Just Kidding, Feed Your Wolves, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsors and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob and bollandbranch.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Donald vs Pinky Herman vs Words. Donald doesn't know how elections work, apparently. Good news about the generic midterm ballot. Good news about Donald's approval polling. Some Republicans think Kamala Harris would've been better on energy prices. Chris Van Halen is forcing a war powers resolution in the Senate after it passes in the House. Good day and welcome back to Donald Trump's energy crisis. Elon Musk stops by to talk about his regrets. Jim Jordan's criminal referral of Jack Smith is bullshit. Wall Street is backing away from the Troth Senchul insider trading deal. Judge questions Pete Hegseth's gender affirming care. The cost of elder care is reaching crisis status. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Michael McDermott, Marina Rocks, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsors and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob and bollandbranch.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The New Yorker staff writer David D. Kirkpatrick joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss the Biden Administration's failure to restrain Israel during its military campaign in Gaza. They talk about what Kirkpatrick has learned from former senior members of Biden's national-security team—some of whom spoke on the record about key decisions during the conflict for the first time—and how previously undisclosed documents and revelations point to the Administration's failure to rein in the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and to reduce Palestinian civilian casualties. They also explore why the former officials are now speaking candidly about their missteps, and whether the Administration's approach to Israel helped shape the conditions that led to the current war with Iran. This week's reading: “How Biden Enabled Israel's Aggression Toward Gaza—and Iran,” by David D. Kirkpatrick “María Corina Machado's Opposition in Exile,” by Stephania Taladrid “Donald Trump's Election-Fraud Bait and Switch,” by Ruth Marcus “Can Andy Burnham's Manchesterism Save the U.K.'s Center Left?,” by John Cassidy “Donald Trump's Ad-Lib Strategy on Iran,” by Robin Wright  The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine's writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This was one of those talks where I had a series of questions prepared, but we started talking and took off down a rabbit hole about what we do and why we do it. This is one of my favorite conversations with Driftglass. By the way, make sure to support his podcast, The Professional Left Podcast, with the great Blue Gal – everywhere you listen to podcasts and at patreon.com/proleftpod. And don't forget to support this podcast at patreon.com/bobcescashow. Music by Brief Nudity.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apologies for the delay in posting. Xfinity internet suffered an outage. Trump always makes things worse for Trump – Reflecting Pool Edition. Andrew and Tristan Tate arrested on rape and child pornography charges in the UK. The linkage between the Tates and the Trumps. Troth Senchul is now an insider trading platform. Donald's ridiculous solution to the Canadian wildfires. Betting on the fires on the prediction markets. Elon's election fraud in Wisconsin. Donald made the poop lettuce outbreak worse, because of course he did. We might have a source for the poop lettuce. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Brief Nudity, Resolution Alley, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsors and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob and bollandbranch.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Republicans are apparently “scared shitless” over Butt Baby's address tonight. We have voter fraud in Georgia! Pete Hegseth announces gender affirming care for cis people. The variety of side effects from unregulated TRT. The White House teleprompter guy is a scapegoat for Donald's insider trading scheme. When will the strategic petroleum reserve be fully depleated? Good news about Costa Rica, wildlife crossings, plastics as fuel, and Tomi Lahren. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Razorhouse, Burning Limos, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsors and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob and bollandbranch.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I've been a bona fide Sarah Burris fanboy since the days when we both wrote for Salon.com, and my only regret is not having her on sooner than today. She's an amazing journalist and I think after today you'll be a fan too, if you're not already. We talked about Todd Blanche's confirmation hearings, we talked about Mitch McConnell, we talked about Reflecting Pool, and so much more. Follow her on Bluesky and Instagram. Make sure to support this podcast at patreon.com/bobcescashow. Music by MilkMaiden. Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob and bollandbranch.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lindsey Graham's death and legacy. Kash Patel's bizarre reaction. The new photo and statement issued by Mitch McConnell raises more questions than it answers. MAGA doesn't think the pic is real. Good news about anti-cancer drugs, Talarico's fundraising, E Jean Carroll's lawsuit against Donald, Gov. Pritzker's defense of trans people, Judge Kathleen Williams sanctions DOJ lawyers. The latest ICE shooting and whether these acts of violence have been normalized. Donald's plan for the Strait of Hormuz. The latest on the Reflecting Pool. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by The StaRiders, Badfish, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsors and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob and bollandbranch.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What's the deal with Qatar Force One? Graham Platner is out. How soon before he's a Fox News contributor complaining about the Democratic Party? Donald's war against the Islamic Republican of Japan. Endless war is back on the table. "They're liars. They're cuckoo." The most under-reported story of the week: Donald sent Iranian asylum seekers back Iran for some reason. Status of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. NO! Donald hasn't ended 8 wars. Freedom Fuel?? Donald demands a do-over on birthright citizenship. David Hearn, the ex-Olympian charged with vandalism, pleads not guilty. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by MilkMaiden, Michael McDermott, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsors and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob and bollandbranch.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of my favorite bloggers of all time returns to the show today. You might know him as The Rude Pundit, or his real name Lee Papa. You can follow his work at rudepundit.blogspot.com and especially at patreon.com/rudepundit. Today we talked about Donald's disaster in Turkey, our best way out of this mess, the Graham Platner debacle, what's up with Mitch McConnell, and more. Make sure to support this podcast at patreon.com/bobcescashow. Music by MilkMaiden. Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob and bollandbranch.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Graham Platner debacle. What's next? Bernie's reaction. Cenk's reaction. Fetterman's reaction. Good news about clean energy in Pakistan, bad news for anti-woke MAGA in Florida, Kelsey Pfendler's world record row from California to Hawaii, Donald's Freedom250, and more. Is Mitch McConnell dead or alive? The conspiracy to delay public knowledge of his condition. Which Democrat should run for Senate in Kentucky? Donald tried to rig the World Cup, then said the quiet part out loud. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Japan Van Damme, Karma and the Killjoys, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Good news from California, good news from the Fourth Circuit, and good news from the epic fail of the Great American State Fair. Bob's annual plea to ban fireworks. Donald's immense and unprecedented corruption. The story behind World Liberty Financial and its links to Binance. Democratic investigation shows Christian nationalist corruption with Donald's Freedom 250 events. The new jobs report sucks. Natalie Harp is a psychotic fangirl. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by The Grawks, Josh Joplin Group, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In case you're just joining us, we do this every three weeks on the Wednesday show. Drfitglass is the co-host of the Professional Left Podcast at proleftpod.com and everywhere you get your podcasts. Today we talked about the Democratic Party shovel-fight, we talked about the recent Supreme Court decisions, we talked about the politics of expanding the Court, and so much more! You can support Driftglass's work at patreon.com/proleftpod, and make sure to support this podcast at patreon.com/bobcescashow. Music by Michael McDermott. Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New Butt Baby jingle from George Harris! Good news about water access, mRNA cancer cures, EV sales, and lower court ruling against Donald Trump. The Supreme Court rules against Donald Trump on the E. Jean Carroll case, birthright citizenship, and mail-in ballots. The Supreme Court also rules in favor of MAGA Republicans on campaign finance, the imperial presidency, and trans athletes. The harsh and inexplicable realities of the West Virginia v BPJ decision and how it amplifies discrimination and sexual assaults. Inflation continues to rise. A Reflecting Pool update. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Michael McDermott, Badfish, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matthew Yglesias, Claire Ainsley, and Yascha Mounk debate whether progressives have abandoned the working-class voters they once claimed to represent. Will you be in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday July 15? I will be interviewing Francis Fukuyama about how liberalism should respond to the postliberal threat. Find out more and get your free ticket here! —Yascha In this week's episode of The Good Fight Club, Matthew Yglesias, Claire Ainsley, and Yascha Mounk examine why center-left parties are losing ground across democracies, whether structural forces or strategic failures are to blame, and what lessons from Canada, Australia, and the UK might offer a path forward for the left. Matthew Yglesias is the founder and author of Slow Boring, a Substack newsletter focused on policy and politics. He is the author of One Billion Americans: The Case for Thinking Bigger and a longtime commentator on economics, housing, and Democratic Party strategy. Claire Ainsley is Director of the Project on Center-Left Renewal at the Progressive Policy Institute. A British political strategist and policy expert, she previously served as Executive Director of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and as a senior adviser in the Labour government of Keir Starmer.  Note: This episode was recorded on June 3, 2026. If you have not yet signed up for our podcast, please do so now by following ⁠this link on your phone⁠. Email: leonora.barclay@persuasion.community Podcast production by Mickey Freeland and Leonora Barclay. Connect with us! ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠Apple⁠ X: ⁠@Yascha_Mounk⁠ & ⁠@JoinPersuasion⁠ YouTube: ⁠Yascha Mounk⁠, ⁠Persuasion⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠Persuasion Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bob participates in Star Trek panels. Good news about renewable energy, wildlife conservation, NASA, election integrity, and impeachment polling. Today's Supreme Court decisions. Open borders and anti-immigrant rage. Donald was badly short-circuiting last night at the MAGA-centric Freedom250 rally. Donald will speak at Mt. Rushmore. Was Donald treated with an experimental obesity drug? The Iran war will turn out to be a huge windfall for Iran. CBS News finds no sign of gashes or slits in Reflecting Pool. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Powder Pink and Sweet, Seth Adam, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chuck Todd opens with a programming note—the ToddCast moves to a Monday/Thursday schedule for July and August—before digging into the fallout from Zohran Mamdani-endorsed candidates sweeping New York's primaries. Chuck unpacks who powered the wins (younger, white progressives), argues that Mamdani's affordability focus rather than his endorsements was the real galvanizing force, and examines how Israel has become a litmus test on a left that, like MAGA, increasingly has little patience for the pluralism Chuck calls the heart of the American experiment—warning that when every issue becomes a litmus test, disagreement turns into something punishable. He weighs whether this is a singular New York moment or a broader realignment in which two uncompromising factions come to dominate both parties, with Abdul El-Sayed's Michigan Senate bid shaping up as the next big test. From there, Chuck turns to Trump blowing a chance to show voters he cares about affordability by refusing to sign a housing bill that already has veto-proof majorities—and how the president keeps making it nearly impossible for the GOP to govern heading into a brutal midterm stretch he's brought on himself. Finally, an alarming look at Pete Hegseth's overt politicization of the military: the firing of respected leaders like Chris Donahue, purges that appear to target officers for their race, gender, what they know, or their willingness to push back on illegal orders, the removal of the JAGs and the Pentagon press corps, and why Chuck argues that whoever Hegseth wants out may be exactly who the country needs leading it next. Then, Matt Bennett — co-founder and executive vice president of the center-left think tank Third Way — joins the Chuck Toddcast to offer a pragmatist's anxious assessment of what the Mamdani-led DSA surge in New York actually means for the future of the Democratic Party. Bennett's central worry is whether the New York primaries represent a genuine "Tea Party moment" for the left — which he frankly admits would be scary for Democrats — though he takes some comfort in the fact that the three districts Mamdani candidates won are extraordinarily deep blue, and argues the national Democratic electorate simply isn't as extreme as the Republican base, making the party much harder to hijack than the GOP was. Bennett draws a crucial distinction in how these races were actually won: Mamdani himself won on affordability, but many of his endorsees won on Israel, where anti-Israel sentiment has become the number-one voting issue for New York progressives. He's careful but direct on the antisemitism question — not all of the far-left are antisemites, he says, but they are increasingly making common cause with them, pointing to the antisemitic abuse Dan Goldman faced during his campaign — and argues that while antisemitism won't ultimately eat the Democratic Party, it absolutely needs to be contained. Bennett is sharply critical of the self-inflicted wounds of progressive governance (decriminalizing shoplifting was a disaster, he says), and argues the broader problem is that left-coded "performative nonsense" fundamentally changed how voters see the party — that the country rejected both Biden's progressive overreach and the left's woke cultural politics, and that Biden's real mistake was bragging he was the most progressive president since FDR. The conversation broadens into a rich strategic discussion about 2028 and the soul of the party. Bennett argues that parties are ultimately defined by their nominee, so Democrats will be fine if they simply get that choice right, and frames the Michigan Senate primary — where he's skeptical Abdul El-Sayed can beat Mike Rogers — as a fascinating case study in the tension between charisma and electability. He makes the case that charisma genuinely matters (Mamdani and El-Sayed have it), that "boring doesn't work" in modern politics, and that the biggest open question for 2028 is whether a center-left candidate can successfully run as a genuine change agent — because the status quo is extremely broken, and no one can win by running to preserve it. Bennett offers some encouraging signs for his wing of the party: Iowa is drifting back toward Democrats, James Talarico is a genuinely strong candidate in Texas, and candidate quality still matters enormously. He and Chuck dig into why Palestine became the defining progressive cause rather than the plight of the Uighurs, how social media and the collapse of civics education have sealed people into ideological bubbles, and why the word "socialism" means Norway to some voters and Cuba to others. Bennett argues that Netanyahu has personally turned off a generation of young Americans to Israel — and that if Israelis remove him, it could serve as a genuine relief valve for Democrats — and closes with a series of pointed predictions: Schumer should make clear soon that he won't run for leader again, Warren and Murphy are too far-left-coded to unify the party, both wings could actually rally around Brian Schatz as leader, and the Mamdani story, for all the panic it's generated, is ultimately a minor earthquake rather than a major fracture. Finally, he answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. 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! From the opening whistle to the final kick. Bet on a match and get bonus bets for every goal scored at Fanduel.com Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 00:15 Programming Note: July & August the ToddCast will be on M/TH only 03:30 Fallout from Mamdani endorsed candidates sweeping NYC primaries 04:30 Younger, white progressives powered Mamdani’s candidates 05:00 Mamdani was smart about where he spent his political capital 06:15 Unlikely there’s a wider swath of voters open to socialism 08:30 Mamdani’s affordability focus was galvanizing, not his endorsees 09:15 Israel has become a litmus test for some on the left 09:45 MAGA, and increasingly the progressive left don’t appreciate pluralism 10:15 Pluralism IS the American experiment 11:00 When every issue is a litmus test, disagreement becomes punishable 14:00 Many Jewish Americans felt very unsettled by the results 16:00 Is this New York’s moment, or a broader ideological realignment? 17:30 Two factions not interested in compromise could dominate both parties 19:00 Both parties used to move to the center to win elections, less so lately 19:45 The DSA could create discomfort with centrist voters like MAGA does 21:30 The next test will be with the candidacy of Abdul El-Sayed in MI 23:45 Mamdani is an incredibly smart and calculating leader of DSA movement 26:15 Despite better organization, DSA has less chance of taking over the party 29:00 It’s still early, but it feels like the left is on the march 29:30 Trump meets with senate GOP after refusing to sign housing bill 30:30 Trump blew a chance to show voters he cares about affordability 31:00 Trump turned meeting into an airing of grievances 31:45 The bill has veto proof majorities even if Trump doesn’t sign it 33:00 Trump is hurting the Republicans politically ahead of the midterms 33:45 Trump makes it almost impossible for the GOP to govern 34:45 It’s going to be a miserable 2 years for Trump, has only himself to blame 36:00 Pete Hegseth is overtly trying to politicize the military 36:30 Military leadership wants to stay out of the political fray 37:30 One of these generals they force out could become next POTUS 39:00 Chris Donahue is quintessential military leader, fired by Hegseth 40:00 Donahue was viewed as a future chairman of the joint chiefs 41:15 Confirming Hegseth is biggest black eye on the record of Tom Thillis 42:00 All military leaders make personnel changes, this is different 42:30 Hegseth is removing leaders simply for being black or women 44:00 Hegseth is firing people for what they know or what they’ve seen 45:00 He also fires officers for when they push back on illegal orders 45:45 Hegseth removed the JAGS to avoid “legal roadblocks” 47:45 Hegseth is trying to force his religious beliefs on the entire military 49:15 We’ve never had a comparable purge in our military 50:45 The Pentagon removed to the press corp to avoid difficult questions 51:30 This should be extraordinarily alarming to Americans 52:15 Whoever Pete Hegseth wants out… should be our next set of leaders 53:00 We can’t risk the military being turned into a political force 53:45 Damage at DOJ and Pentagon will be hard to repair 01:00:30 Matt Bennett (The Third Way) joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:01:30 Third Way believes themselves to be center-left pragmatists 01:02:45 If NY primaries are a “Tea Party moment” for left, that’s scary for Dems 01:04:00 3 districts Mamdani candidates won are very deep blue 01:04:30 Worried about MI senate primary if Abdul El-Sayed wins 01:06:15 The far left could become a disruptive force inside the Dem party 01:08:30 Mamdani won on affordability, his endorsees won on Israel 01:10:00 Not all far-left are antisemites, but they’re making common cause with them 01:10:30 Dan Goldman faced antisemetic abuse during the campaign 01:11:45 Antisemitism won’t eat the Dem party, but needs to be contained 01:14:15 Progressive politicians decriminalizing shoplifting was a disaster 01:16:15 The national Dem electorate not as extreme as the GOP’s 01:18:00 It will be harder to hijack the Democratic electorate 01:20:00 Democrats suffered from a lack of charismatic leaders in the 80s 01:21:15 Parties are defined by their nominee, Dems will be fine if they get it right 01:22:00 Anti-Israel has become the #1 voting issue for New York progressives 01:23:15 Why has Palestine become the cause and not the Uighurs? 01:27:15 Social media and a lack of civics education has put people in bubbles 01:28:00 You have to be able to talk to people you disagree with 01:29:30 Socialism means Norway to some people and Cuba to others 01:32:30 Biden’s mistake was bragging he was most progressive president since FDR 01:33:15 The country rejected Biden’s progressive change & left’s “woke” culture 01:35:30 The left coded performative nonsense changed the view of the party 01:36:45 Al Gore lost as a VP to a popular president, Harris had impossible task 01:40:00 Could the Democratic base reject someone center-left in 2028? 01:41:15 The Michigan primary is a fascinating case study in Dem politics 01:42:30 Being charismatic like Mamdani or El-Sayed matters in politics 01:43:00 Democratic candidates have to get through the wall in South Carolina 01:44:45 Big question for 2028… can a center-left candidate run as a change agent? 01:47:00 Bibi Netanyahu has turned off a generation of Americans to Israel 01:49:15 If Israelis get rid of Netanyahu, that could be a relief valve for Dems 01:49:45 What can the establishment learn from the DSA? 01:50:15 The status quo is extremely broken, can’t run on preserving it 01:51:15 Iowa is coming back to the Democratic party 01:52:15 Candidate quality matter and Talarico is a good candidate 01:53:30 Boring doesn’t work in modern politics 01:56:00 What does success look like for the center left in the 2026 midterms? 01:56:45 Skeptical that El-Sayed can beat Mike Rogers in Michigan 01:57:45 Schumer should make clear he won’t run in 2028 and announce it soon 01:58:30 Warren and Murphy are too far left and far left coded 01:59:00 Both wings of the party can agree on Brian Schatz as leader 01:59:30 Mamdani story is a minor earthquake not a major fracture 02:00:15 Chuck’s thoughts on the interview with Matt Bennett 02:03:15 Ask Chuck 02:03:30 How much have outlets like Fox News shaped the outlooks of boomers? 02:11:15 Is there a future where large PAC spending burns out due to voter backlash? 02:16:15 Could you talk about Keir Starmer and labours struggles.. Lessons for Dems? 02:23:30 What would you consider the Top 5 presidential actions that worked? 02:29:15 What characteristics define a “Trumpy” voter? 02:32:00 Can the establishment mend fences with the progressives? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matt Bennett — co-founder and executive vice president of the center-left think tank Third Way — joins the Chuck Toddcast to offer a pragmatist's anxious assessment of what the Mamdani-led DSA surge in New York actually means for the future of the Democratic Party. Bennett's central worry is whether the New York primaries represent a genuine "Tea Party moment" for the left — which he frankly admits would be scary for Democrats — though he takes some comfort in the fact that the three districts Mamdani candidates won are extraordinarily deep blue, and argues the national Democratic electorate simply isn't as extreme as the Republican base, making the party much harder to hijack than the GOP was. Bennett draws a crucial distinction in how these races were actually won: Mamdani himself won on affordability, but many of his endorsees won on Israel, where anti-Israel sentiment has become the number-one voting issue for New York progressives. He's careful but direct on the antisemitism question — not all of the far-left are antisemites, he says, but they are increasingly making common cause with them, pointing to the antisemitic abuse Dan Goldman faced during his campaign — and argues that while antisemitism won't ultimately eat the Democratic Party, it absolutely needs to be contained. Bennett is sharply critical of the self-inflicted wounds of progressive governance (decriminalizing shoplifting was a disaster, he says), and argues the broader problem is that left-coded "performative nonsense" fundamentally changed how voters see the party — that the country rejected both Biden's progressive overreach and the left's woke cultural politics, and that Biden's real mistake was bragging he was the most progressive president since FDR. The conversation broadens into a rich strategic discussion about 2028 and the soul of the party. Bennett argues that parties are ultimately defined by their nominee, so Democrats will be fine if they simply get that choice right, and frames the Michigan Senate primary — where he's skeptical Abdul El-Sayed can beat Mike Rogers — as a fascinating case study in the tension between charisma and electability. He makes the case that charisma genuinely matters (Mamdani and El-Sayed have it), that "boring doesn't work" in modern politics, and that the biggest open question for 2028 is whether a center-left candidate can successfully run as a genuine change agent — because the status quo is extremely broken, and no one can win by running to preserve it. Bennett offers some encouraging signs for his wing of the party: Iowa is drifting back toward Democrats, James Talarico is a genuinely strong candidate in Texas, and candidate quality still matters enormously. He and Chuck dig into why Palestine became the defining progressive cause rather than the plight of the Uighurs, how social media and the collapse of civics education have sealed people into ideological bubbles, and why the word "socialism" means Norway to some voters and Cuba to others. Bennett argues that Netanyahu has personally turned off a generation of young Americans to Israel — and that if Israelis remove him, it could serve as a genuine relief valve for Democrats — and closes with a series of pointed predictions: Schumer should make clear soon that he won't run for leader again, Warren and Murphy are too far-left-coded to unify the party, both wings could actually rally around Brian Schatz as leader, and the Mamdani story, for all the panic it's generated, is ultimately a minor earthquake rather than a major fracture. 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! From the opening whistle to the final kick. Bet on a match and get bonus bets for every goal scored at Fanduel.com Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Matt Bennett (The Third Way) joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:00 Third Way believes themselves to be center-left pragmatists 02:15 If NY primaries are a “Tea Party moment” for left, that’s scary for Dems 03:30 3 districts Mamdani candidates won are very deep blue 04:00 Worried about MI senate primary if Abdul El-Sayed wins 05:45 The far left could become a disruptive force inside the Dem party 08:00 Mamdani won on affordability, his endorsees won on Israel 09:30 Not all far-left are antisemites, but they’re making common cause with them 10:00 Dan Goldman faced antisemetic abuse during the campaign 11:15 Antisemitism won’t eat the Dem party, but needs to be contained 13:45 Progressive politicians decriminalizing shoplifting was a disaster 15:45 The national Dem electorate not as extreme as the GOP’s 17:30 It will be harder to hijack the Democratic electorate 19:30 Democrats suffered from a lack of charismatic leaders in the 80s 20:45 Parties are defined by their nominee, Dems will be fine if they get it right 21:30 Anti-Israel has become the #1 voting issue for New York progressives 22:45 Why has Palestine become the cause and not the Uighurs? 26:45 Social media and a lack of civics education has put people in bubbles 27:30 You have to be able to talk to people you disagree with 29:00 Socialism means Norway to some people and Cuba to others 32:00 Biden’s mistake was bragging he was most progressive president since FDR 32:45 The country rejected Biden’s progressive change & left’s “woke” culture 35:00 The left coded performative nonsense changed the view of the party 36:15 Al Gore lost as a VP to a popular president, Harris had impossible task 39:30 Could the Democratic base reject someone center-left in 2028? 40:45 The Michigan primary is a fascinating case study in Dem politics 42:00 Being charismatic like Mamdani or El-Sayed matters in politics 42:30 Democratic candidates have to get through the wall in South Carolina 44:15 Big question for 2028… can a center-left candidate run as a change agent? 46:30 Bibi Netanyahu has turned off a generation of Americans to Israel 48:45 If Israelis get rid of Netanyahu, that could be a relief valve for Dems 49:15 What can the establishment learn from the DSA? 49:45 The status quo is extremely broken, can’t run on preserving it 50:45 Iowa is coming back to the Democratic party 51:45 Candidate quality matter and Talarico is a good candidate 53:00 Boring doesn’t work in modern politics 55:30 What does success look like for the center left in the 2026 midterms? 56:15 Skeptical that El-Sayed can beat Mike Rogers in Michigan 57:15 Schumer should make clear he won’t run in 2028 and announce it soon 58:00 Warren and Murphy are too far left and far left coded 58:30 Both wings of the party can agree on Brian Schatz as leader 59:00 Mamdani story is a minor earthquake not a major fractureSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every once in a while the Wednesday podcasts lead me in a completely different direction than I had originally planned. It happened again today during my talk with the great Nicole Sandler, a liberal broadcaster who's been in the trenches longer than I have. We ended up in an utterly fascinating talk about AI and how it's infiltrating our first love – broadcast radio. We also talked about Nicole's personal struggle with anxiety after the 2024 election, and so much more. Stick around for this very personal conversation. You can support Nicole's work at nicolesandler.com, and make sure to support this podcast at patreon.com/bobcescashow. Music by Keturah Allgood. Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Good news from federal judges on SNAP, Trump's voter database, Minnesota Democrats, environmental grants, trans soldiers, sickle sell disease, the Kennedy Center tarp and Donald's name, and more! Donald Trump has stumbled face first into the Second Term Curse. And it's amazing. What killed the ducklings in Reflecting Pool? Ballroom is getting taxpayer money without congressional approval. The ongoing disaster of the Iran War. The waiving of sanctions. Donald handed over control of the Strait to Iran. Iran refuses to allow inspectors. Stop blaming Democrats for Republican fascism. The slush fund and the fraud on the court. Investigations into Todd Blanche are underway. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Adrian Champagne, Antiquity, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our new Butt Baby jingles thanks to George Harris and Chris Kolling. Good news from Japan, good news about Donald's slush fund, good news about the midterms, good news about gerrymandering, good news about ocean monitoring, and good news about The Onion. The Iran War MOU is a disaster. America has lost this war. Donald wants Iran to have ballistic missiles. No more sanctions against Iran -- ever. The WIRED story about Peter Thiel's secret society of oligarchs. Donald's lawsuit against Mary Trump. The Reflecting Pool algae bloom set a new record. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Circe Link and Christian Nesmith, Michael McDermott, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In case you missed his brief appearance on Sunday's livestream, Buzz Burbank returns to the Wednesday show today. You might know him from the old Don & Mike radio show, or his podcast Buzz Burbank News and Comment, or from such shows as this one. Today we talked about the Iran situation, Donald's health and his disastrous Reflecting Pool project, plus some TV news, an outstanding new protest song, and so much more. Stick around for this one. Meantime make sure to support this podcast at patreon.com/bobcescashow. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Paul Melancon, Adrian Champagne, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Good news about an AI-generated COVID vaccine, how GLP-1 might prevent breast cancer, deforestation, Democratic preparedness for the midterms, Nancy Mace's revenge, and the National Parks. The new Iran non-deal deal is just a way to get Donald out of the Middle East. The Strait is still closed. Iran can shut down the Strait any time it wants now. The United States lost this war. Reflecting Pool is loaded with algae, and Donald's idiocratic solution for it. His name is officially off the Kennedy Center. Ballroom costs more than the administration will admit. An alleged attack against the UFC fights at the White House was thwarted. There are tapes of the Situation Room meeting about covering up the Epstein Files. Mike Johnson wants to cut Social Security. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Sammi Garett, Luna Blu, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Good news on EV technology, a new treatment for rare blood cancer, a rare species of tadpole, and more! Mamdani and New Yorkers win again. A bombshell revelation about Donald Trump and the Epstein Files. Inflation hit highest level since 2023. Hourly earnings are down. Donald continues to bomb Iran (we missed his fake deal announcement during the show). Greg Bovino is running for president. But he has a meth problem. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Powder Pink and Sweet, Jesse Terry, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of the podcasting things I look forward to the most is getting to hang out with one of my personal heroes – the great Driftglass, one half of the amazing Professional Left Podcast. Proleftpod.com and patreon.com/proleftpod. Required listening for everyone. Today, Drfitglass and I talked about inflation, the Iran War, Graham Platner, Mayor Mamdani, and maybe even a little ballroom in there, too. Stick around for this one. Meantime make sure to support this podcast at patreon.com/bobcescashow. Music by Hunger Anthem. Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Good news about judicial rulings on green energy and federal food assistance, legislative advancements on maternal healthcare and contraception, and good news about Donald's appearance at the Knicks game. Donald napped during the basketball finals. Donald's disastrous Meet The Press appearance. Will Donald become besties with the Ayatollah? And update from Albania on the Ivanka/Jared island purchase. Donald is revealing what he plans to do about the midterms. Mike Johnson says it's all about the vibes? How many times has Donald says a deal is a few days away? Elon Musk and Grok want to expose names of deepfake victims. Ballroom donors are getting huge government contracts. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by the Josh Joplin Group, Albert, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Good news about trans rights, new healthcare labor agreements, and this week's primaries. That thing about Jared, Ivanka and an island in the Adriatic Sea. Another no-bid contract to add more gold to DC. Did Congress just save Donald's ass on the Iran War? Oil industry warns of higher prices soon. The return of the slush fund. And yes, it's unlimited. Something's missing from Donald's recent medical reports. Dr. Oz and the Trump regime don't seem to know how the ACA works. Dr. Oz on Donald's cognitive exams. The latest about Scott Pelley's firing from 60 Minutes. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Astral Summer, Hunger Anthem, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lorissa is an author and historian who recently published a must-read volume about the first woman member of Congress called “Winning the Earthquake”. She also runs a Substack you should be subscribed to: it's called the Female Body Politic, thefemalebodypolitic.substack.com. Nothing is paywalled so it's all FREE. Today we talked about the California primary, Graham Platner and the Maine primary next week, we talked Iran, plus the future of American politics post-Trump, and so much more. Stick around for this one. Meantime make sure to support this podcast at patreon.com/bobcescashow. Music by Logan Piercey. Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Good news about Donald's slush fund, the status of the Kennedy Center, the CFPB, offshore wind energy, gun-safety, an Ebola vaccine, and more. Donald is NOT invincible. The latest from Donald's janky Freedom 250 nonsense. Donald's contractors spilled fuel all over the National Mall. Donald and "the yips." Donald might be trying to throw Netanyahu under a bus. The negotiations have apparently ended because Donald is bored. Did we "leave their military alone"? Support Susie Madrak's GoFundMe. DOJ is walking back the criminal investigation of E. Jean Carroll. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Lucid Soule, Hannah Fairlight, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

DOJ launches criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll. Good news stories on protecting elections, campaign finance, Democratic pushback against Donald, animal protection, and Donald's slush fund. Another fake Iran deal has arrived in time to manipulate the stock market. Iran's response. Inflation hits highest level in three years. Ken Paxton vs James Talarico vs Stephen Miller vs the DNC. The Reflecting Pool contractor is making a big profit on the project. Ebola Update – and it's not good. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by The Grawks, Mia Montenegro, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We were supposed to talk with the amazing Nicole Sandler today but she ran into some tech issues, so we were forced to reschedule. Instead, enjoy this replay of my talk with the bright shining star at the center of our universe: my friend and fake wife Stephanie Miller from the Stephanie Miller Show. Support her work at stephaniemiller.com and patreon.com/stephaniemillershow. This talk was recorded in December shortly after her take-no-prisoners appearance on Sean Hannity's show. Meantime make sure to support this podcast at patreon.com/bobcescashow. Music by Feed Your Wolves. Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Good news on the environment, the public option, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and Citizens United! Donald returns to Walter Reed for yet another non-annual annual physical. Donald's remarks at Arlington were a train wreck. CNN expert questions Donald's constant sleeping in public. Donald's record of doctor visits over the last year. The non-ceasefire continues to be a non-ceasefire. Iran threatens retaliation. The Iran War is a tax on MAGA. Iran knows when the midterms will be held. Newsmax, Tomi Lahren, and Ted Cruz challenge the regime on Iran non-ceasefire. Court of appeals rejects Alabama's racist map. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Seth Adam, Keturah Allgood, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More Good News! Youth-created biodegradable plastic gains recognition. Colorado river otters continue a major comeback. Virginia expands climate and clean-energy commitments. Large-scale democracy funding initiative launched. Voting-rights activism surges across the South. Federal government expands support for fusion-energy development. Farewell to the Late Show. Democrats block ballroom. Leaked memo indicates the government was prepared to challenge Donald's lawsuit. Is Todd Blanche's “blanket pardon” binding? Donald avoids $100M penalty. Allison Gill's letter to Todd Blanche. Russia is backing Cuba. Primary election roundup. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Logan Piercey, Bill Toms and Hard Rain, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Driftglass is one half of the incredible must-listen Professional Left podcast with the equally as brilliant Blue Gal. Patreon.com/proleftpod. Today, we talked about the ongoing Donald Trump heist – unlimited slush fund, his insider trader scheme, his ballroom, and so forth. We also discussed whether now's the right time for Democratic voters to be bashing the Democratic Party, given the current two party system. Meantime make sure to support this podcast at patreon.com/bobcescashow. Music by Bob Malone. Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We kick off a new week with more Good News! College commencement speaker pays off graduates' loans. Clean energy hits a major global milestone. Scientists found a low-cost way to remove microplastics from water. Minnesota expanded free school meals statewide. Colorado launched more wildlife crossings to reduce crashes. Donald's insider trading scheme exposed! Can Donald be prosecuted? The Donald Trump DOJ Slush Fund. The non-settlement settlement. There is no cap on the disbursement of funds. Donald postponed another attack on Iran. The latest on the mosque shooting in San Diego. WTF, Governor Polis? With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Natalie Cortez Band, Powder Pink and Sweet, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trumpflation continues to rise. Highest levels since 2022. Donald in China and his awkward remarks about Chinese-Americans. US intelligence community believes Xi is using the Iran War for leverage over Trump. Xi's warning about Taiwan. Donald attacked another woman journalist. Donald is about to steal a giant pile of your money. Chris Van Halen vs. Kash Patel. The woman who posts Donald's troths. The triumphal arch grift. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Everyday Dolores, The Wildwoods, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cheri is veteran political operative and commentator – you can hear her on such shows as Kimberley Johnson's Start Me Up podcast, and you can listen to her own podcast at patreon.com/PoliticsWithCheriJacobus. Today we talked about the midterms, we talked about ways the Democrats can hold Donald Trump accountable next year, we talked about prospects for 2028, and more. Meantime make sure to support this podcast at patreon.com/bobcescashow. Music by Brad Brooks. Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Trump Babies" and the "under-babied." The new Trump policy on IVF. Make Pregnancy Free. Donald lied about vaccines again. Three hours of Donald's troths. Lindsey Graham isn't happy about the Iran War. The Strait is still blocked. April inflation is way up. 77% blame Donald. The latest Democratic Party plan to sidestep the state Supreme Court. More evidence that Bill Maher is a big sucker. Great generic ballot polling news. With David Ferguson, music by Frosting, Charlie Rubicon, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Barack Obama and Stephen Colbert at the Obama presidential library. Project Freedom didn't even last one Scaramucci. The Washington Post report on destroyed U.S. bases. The Epstein suicide note? Howard Lutnick's Epstein testimony was full of lies. Donald's gross hands look bad. Republicans want to spend $1B on Ballroom. Dismal polling for Ballroom. Kevin Hassett's Let-Them-Eat-Cake moment. Americans are rightfully blaming Donald for high gas prices. With David Ferguson, music by Circe Link and Christian Nesmith, Lynda Kay and Lemmy, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In case you're just joining us, I've known Cliff for 20 years – he was briefly my Tuesday co-host after Buzz retired. He also has his own very popular Substack – blueamp.co, link in the description. Today we talked about the Iran War, we talked about Donald's cognitive decline, we talked about ballroom, and so much more. Again, blueamp.co to support his work. Meantime make sure to support this podcast at patreon.com/bobcescashow. Music by Sam Robbins. Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our new Zazzle store is open for business with "Audit Ballroom," gigantic mugs, and more. The Iran war is now officially illegal. The non-ceasefire ceasefire continues. Iran's nuclear status hasn't changed. Donald's cognitive decline worsens. East Wing debris is poisoning Washington, all because of Ballroom. Mifepristone available by mail -- for now. The video of the WHCD suspect is weird and disturbing. Gerrymander War continues. Good news from the latest ABC-Ipsos Poll. Donald's immigration gold card is a huge fail. With David Ferguson, music by State to State, Davy Dacy, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The racist Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act. Some history about Louisiana and its gerrymander. The SPLC indictment and the white-washing of American racism. We take a minute for some Gen X nostalgia. rump rejected Iran's offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Commanders brief Donald on new military options. Donald's new nickname on Wall Street. The most ridiculous argument against solar power – health concerns? Tucker's attack on Donald escalates. Jon Stewart's classic takedown of Tucker and Crossfire. With David Ferguson, music by The War and Treaty, Richard Turgeon, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's Driftglass Day again on the Wednesday edition of the podcast. You might know Driftglass as 50% of the Professional Left Podcast with his wife and co-host Blue Gal. Proleftpod.com and patreon.com/proleftpod to support their incredible independent journalism. Today we talked about whatever that was at the White House Correspondents Dinner, the lax security, the possibility that it was staged, and as we usually do, we tried to provide some historical context for it all. Stick around for this talk. Meantime make sure to support this podcast at patreon.com/bobcescashow. Music by Bill Toms and Hard Rain.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What the hell happened Saturday night? Never give Donald the benefit of the doubt. Why didn't Donald fire his entire Secret Service detail? Secret Service was warned. Blanche blames the victims for rightfully criticizing Trump. Karoline Leavitt's insane prediction. Stephen Miller hid behind his pregnant wife. They're trying to censor Jimmy Kimmel again. The National Trust for Historic Preservation refused to drop its ballroom lawsuit. Norah O'Donnell rabbit-seasoned Donald. Trump voters regret “horror movie” presidency. The Iran War is a lot worse than is being reported. Gas prices hit highest level since 2022. With David Ferguson, music by The StaRiders, Alexis Wiley and the Wilderness, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Donald ordered the Navy to destroy any vessels laying mines in the Strait. Why wasn't this a policy all along? More reporting on the Pentagon's coverup of Iran War casualties. Elon stops buy to talk about White House firings. RFK Jr's ridiculous testimony before the Senate Health Committee and Finance Committee yesterday. The Gerrymander War Update. Virginia Judge blocks gerrymander – for now. Half of House Oversight Republicans support pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell? The Trumps aren't even hiding the grift any more. More details on the Ballroom construction contracts. Greg Gutfeld stops by. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Astral Summer, Matt Jaffe, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

My friend and former co-host Buzz Burbank returns to the podcast today for his semi-regular visit. In case you're new to the show, I was Buzz's intern back in 1993 at WJFK in Washington, DC. We became close friends for many years before teaming up again starting in 2017 until his retirement from journalism after the 2024 election. Be sure to support his Substack at michaeljelstonbuzz.substack.com/. Speaking of which, make sure to support this podcast at patreon.com/bobcescashow. Music by American Beauties. Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Mad Man Theory can't be successful. Donald is going to fabricate victory even though it won't be a victory. Thousands of US troops will be needed to seize Iran's uranium. Donald is planning to return $20B in Iranian assets. WSJ reports Kash Patel is a drunk. The BBC is covering Donald's alleged insider trading. Donald's presidential library is a gigantic grift. Donald is negotiating another cash grab with the IRS he controls. Tariff refund website launches. With Jody Hamilton, David Ferguson, music by Astral Summer, Powder Pink & Sweet, and more! Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we're talking with the great Jonathan Frakes, Kitty Swink, Armin Shimerman, and Juan Carlos Coto about their work with the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network – also known as PanCAN – and the upcoming Purple Stride fundraising event on April 25. PanCAN.org and PurpleStride.org/teamtrek to sign up and support PanCAN, especially now that the Trump administration has de-funded cancer research. Stick around for this talk, and support their incredibly important work to end pancreatic cancer. Music by Michael McDermott. Brought to you by Russ Rybicki, SharePower Responsible Investing. Support our new sponsor and get free shipping at Quince.com/bob!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.