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The White House believes it has a deal with GOP senators to advance Todd Blanche's nomination out of the Senate Judiciary Committee after days of frenzied negotiations. Jake breaks down the late-night Cornyn-Blanche weaponization deal. Plus, will Rep. Shri Thanedar (Mich.) become the next House Democrat to lose reelection? Watch this episode on YouTube here! Punchbowl News is on YouTube. Subscribe to our channel today to see all the new ways we're investing in video. Want more in-depth daily coverage from Congress? Subscribe to our free Punchbowl News AM newsletter at punchbowl.news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Todd Blanche appears to be inching closer to confirmation as attorney general after a major concession late last night swayed two lame duck GOP senators ... Devastating wildfires are rapidly spreading in Washington state, scorching neighborhoods and forcing more than 60,000 people to evacuate ... The investigation into the deadly shooting in Idaho reveals two bystanders now being hailed as heroes ... President Trump now says talks with Iran will resume today after he canceled an attack on the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
President Trump's pick to be the nation's top law enforcement officer is now on the fast track to Senate confirmation after Republican holdouts John Cornyn and Thom Tillis said they'll vote to confirm Todd Blanche at tomorrow's committee vote. That ends a two-week standoff between the lame duck senators and the White House over Trump's so-called anti-weaponization fund. Blanche conceded the fight by signing a letter that effectively kills the fund. Blanche also limited the scope of the tax immunity deal Trump reached with the Treasury Department to protect the president and his family over audits from past tax returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jon Herold opens birthday week with Trump's back and forth Truth Social posts on Iran, alternating between canceling a planned strike and blasting Tehran as duplicitous, while poking fun at how many times the administration has claimed victory in the conflict. He digs into a Michigan cyclospora outbreak, weighs in on the ongoing General Flynn controversy over foreign lobbying payments while urging listeners not to get emotionally attached to online drama, and covers Cornyn and Tillis finally backing Todd Blanche's confirmation after the DOJ rescinded its anti weaponization fund. Other stories include a DOJ subpoena targeting a reporter over a leaked Navy SEAL mission, SpaceX's rocky post IPO stock slide, the national debt closing in on 40 trillion, and a look back at author Annie Jacobson's devolution book making mainstream waves. Sponsor reads, meetup details, and a lively chat session round out a busy Monday show.
Donald Trump unleashed an epic tirade at Senator John Cornyn for blocking his IRS lawsuit settlement slush fund, which would let Trump reward allies and grants the Trumps a form of tax immunity. Cornyn is holding up the nomination of Todd Blanche as attorney general until it's killed. Trump gloated that he'd endorsed Cornyn's victorious primary opponent and seethed that the American people want him to have this corrupt fund. In response, another foe, Senator Thom Tillis, landed a hard blow, asserting that Trump's rage over the fund is exactly why it must be killed. Humiliatingly, Tillis treated Trump like a toddler who must be told, “no.” Plus, a defeat would show that Trump's license to corrupt DOJ is not limitless. (Underscoring this humiliation, after we recorded Trump petulantly exploded again, saying he absolutely will have his fund.) We talked to New Republic staff writer Emma Janssen, author of our great new politics newsletter all about Democrats, The TNR Blue Book, which you should subscribe to, folks! We discuss her installment on how Dems are exploiting these splits, the deeper reasons for them, and how they reveal Trump's diminishing power more broadly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Trump's approval with independents just hit 24%. Republicans are going home to their districts and getting an earful about an unauthorized, unconstitutional, and wildly unpopular war with Iran that is now pulling in the Saudis, the Egyptians, and Iranian proxies from Iraq to Yemen. Paul Rieckhoff calls it what it is — a sucking chest wound — and lays out why Senate Republicans are finally breaking, why Lindsey Graham comparing Trump and Netanyahu to Roosevelt and Churchill isn't landing, and why supporting the troops means demanding a coherent plan, not a blank check for one man's war. From there, the episode moves to John Cornyn refusing to be rolled on Trump's weaponization slush fund, Todd Blanche's Epstein problem and his condescending meeting with survivors, and the acting-AG limbo that could stretch into September. And it closes with a tribute to Coach Yeoman Wilder — the New York youth baseball legend who stood up to ICE agents at his practice, protected his players, and reminded a country full of capitulating law firms and universities what actual patriotism looks like. Righteous anger, patriotic hope, and a call to meet the moment. -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Millions of American veterans are being locked out of primary elections in the country they served. See what we're doing to change that. -Visit Kalshi and trade on anything. Use code [INDEPENDENT] to get ten dollars when you trade ten. -Join Noble Mobile today and get a $100 bonus when you use code PAUL and stay a member for 2 months! -Join IVA and help us get independent veterans elected to office. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon Connect: Instagram • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power. -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year. Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media. And now part of the BLEAV network! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Cam Cooksey opens episode 61 sorting out his sound (Jackie was "spreading misinformation," of course) before settling into a warm, upbeat walk through the week's Truth Social posts. His signature optimism carries throughout, with plenty of tangents, chat love, and a would-you-rather game to close things out. The heavier material comes early. Cam shares his long held theory that Operation Warp Speed was a response to a broader 2020 assault on the country, and unpacks Trump's post throwing Fauci to the wolves. From there it's lighter and more celebratory: the ongoing beautification of America and D.C. as Trump's "state" to clean up, the Todd Blanche nomination fight with Cornyn and Tillis, and a look at the Israel, Qatar, and Hamas peace angle via a Naftali Bennett article on October 7th funding. He wraps with Guard Vegas hype, a boomer TV trivia detour, and a hopeful Forrest Frank outro. Keep it flowing.
5pm - Trump says he may pull Todd Blanche's nomination until Cornyn and Tillis leave office // Is Seattle a victim of "lazy criticism"? Seattle Tech Week is going on this week, and this speech caught my eye. This guy claims we've started to internalize the criticism - when in reality we are magic. A venture capitalist’s passionate speech — a rallying cry, really — about Seattle // Seattle lands another $1B startup: Here’s the latest arrival in the industrial AI boom // Space Needle urged to show feature Hollywood films on WA’s biggest IMAX screen // LETTERS
Hawk walks through the post line by line, noting that Trump could have pardoned those defendants during his final two weeks in office in 2021 but did not, and disputing Trump's characterization of the Mar-a-Lago search, which recovered classified documents under a lawful warrant. He argues this is why Cornyn and Thom Tillis want the fund and the related IRS provision killed in writing. The second half turns to the Michigan Senate primary. With Dr. Abdul El-Sayed leading Representative Haley Stevens by double digits days before Tuesday's vote, and a Detroit debate poll putting El-Sayed at 95 percent, Stevens posted a heated late-night message attacking her opponent. Hawk reads it as a candidate coming undone, argues the roughly 50 million dollars in AIPAC-affiliated spending behind her has not moved the race, and questions how that message wins over El-Sayed's voters in a general election. SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH HAWK- Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mdg650hawk - Hawk's Merch Store: https://hawkmerchstore.com - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdg650hawk7thacct - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hawkeyewhackamole - Connect on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mdg650hawk.bsky.social - Connect on Substack: https://mdg650hawk.substack.com - Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawkpodcasts - Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdg650hawk - Connect on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mdg650hawk ALL HAWK PODCASTS INFO- Additional Content Available Here: https://www.hawkpodcasts.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts- Listen to Hawk Podcasts On Your Favorite Platform:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RWeJfyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/422GDuLYouTube: https://youtube.com/@hawkpodcastsiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/47vVBdPPandora: https://bit.ly/48COaTB
Friday, July 31, 2026 Today, Tillis and Cornyn met again with the DOJ to try to hammer out a deal on the Slush Fund and Trump tax immunity; Todd Blanche has handed over several unredacted Epstein documents for review in chambers by Judge Emmet Sullivan; the 7th and 9th Circuit Courts of Appeal have weighed in against Trump's mass deportation policy; Mandela Barnes has dropped out of the Democratic primary election for Wisconsin governor; speaking of Wisconsin, the Minocqua Brewery has been stripped of its alcohol permit after promising free beer when Trump dies; plus Allison and Dana deliver your Good News. Thank You, Upwork Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free. The Trump Epstein Memorial Bookmobile The Daily Beans is proud to partner with Miles Taylor and our friends at DEFIANCE.org For a limited time, members of the Daily Beans community can receive a FREE 3-month full membership to DEFIANCE.org and gain access to one of the fastest-growing pro-democracy movements in America. Join here: https://www.defiance.org/beans Join The Daily Beans and give a gift today to ensure The Trevor Project can continue its crucial work in the face of continued challenges. Donate to The Trevor Project - Daily Beans Podcast Guest: John FugelsangThe John Fugelsan Show Sirius XM Progress 127 Weekdays at 12 AM ET The John Fugelsang Podcast, John Fugelsang|Substack, @johnfugelsang|Bluesky, @JohnFugelsang|TwitterSeparation of Church and Hate by John Fugelsang The Latest Breakdown→ DOJ Must Hand Over Internal Emails About NYT Subpoenas StoriesTwo more federal appeals courts reject ICE mass detention policy | POLITICO Mandela Barnes drops out of the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor | AP News Wisconsin brewery stripped of alcohol permit after promising free beer when Trump dies | The IndependentGood TroubleMid-South Immigration AdvocatesMidtown Bramble & Bloom Check your voter registration and deadlines → Voter Registration Deadlines - Vote.org →Blue Wave California- secure.actblue.com/donate/msw-bwc →Help save Texas from Ken Paxton! →Urge Democrats to Oppose and Stop Trump's Crypto Corruption | Indivisible Guide →Defiance.org/beans →Stand With Minnesota →iceout.org Good News dana-goldbergs-southwest-funnyfest Oct 9 -Email Dana@DanaGoldberg.com for sponsorship informationTickets for Dana Goldberg: Outrageous - Sep 23 - Den Theater - Chicago →Share your Good News & Good Trouble - The Daily Beans →Beans Talk audio -beans-talk.simplecast.com →Email Dana LGBTQ Owned eating establishments in your area - hello@mswmedia.com Subject: “Dana's Project” Subscribe to the MSW YouTube Channel - MSW Media - YouTube Our Donation Links The Trevor Project - trevorproject.org/beans Blue Wave California - https://secure.actblue.com/donate/msw-bwc Donate to Public Citizen - https://citizen.org/beans/ Donate to It Gets Better / The Daily Beans Fundraiser Pathways to Citizenship - https://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation Join Dana and The Daily Beans in support of Human Rights Campaign http://onecau.se/_ekes71National Security Counselors - Donate, ActBlue.com/donate/msw-bwc, WhistleblowerAid.org/beans Dr. Allison Gill - The Breakdown | Allison Gill, Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com - Bluesky, MSW & The Daily Beans Podcast @muellershewrote - Instagram, MSW Media - YouTube →Federal workers - email AG - fedoath@pm.me Dana Goldberg - Dana is on Patreon! At Dana's Dugout, @dgcomedy - Bluesky, @dgcomedy - IG, Dana Goldberg - Facebook, DanaGoldberg.com More from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | Allison Gill Reminder - 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 Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Sarah and JVL have a It's a super-sized, instant classic:The Trump administration is using ChatGPT for everything.Why are Cornyn and Tillis even bothering with their fake protest of Todd Blanche?The Dem Senate map is looking . . . possible?Trump has raised $800 million from “donors” since coming back to office.And JVL finally explains why he's obsessed with 60 Minutes investigative reporter Ross Douthat.Plus: Emo JVL needs your advice in the comments!Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://hims.com/thenextlevel to get a personalized, affordable plan that gets you.Full episodes of the Secret Podcast are available to paid members of the Bulwark through Substack, YouTube or Apple Podcasts. Come ride with us!
Today's Headlines: Iran may have hacked over 30 Minnesota water systems, with the FBI investigating amid existing warnings that Iranian hackers have been specifically targeting water and wastewater infrastructure. Speaking of hacking, Anthropic's AI models hacked into three companies during tests, topping OpenAI's model which only hacked one, which is either a quality gap or a concerning arms race depending on how you look at it. On this administration's shenanigans, Trump is threatening to pull Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination after Cornyn and Tillis refused to vote for him, though his plan appears to be waiting until their terms end and his preferred replacements take their seats — and a new court filing in the Comey case reveals that Trump's Secret Service tracked Comey's cellphone without a warrant in real time, coordinating directly with the DOJ and updating Air Force One, including while Comey stopped to visit his deceased son's grave, with one Secret Service agent noting internally that pinging the phone was "legally a bad idea." On the war beat, Trump announced a deal for Hamas to disarm and Israel to withdraw from Gaza, with neither Hamas nor Israel confirming any of it and no official timeline provided. The US continues heavy strikes on Iran while Saudi Arabia announced 14 countries have agreed to form a Maritime Defense Alliance to protect international shipping. Finally, two new studies confirmed that Europe's catastrophic wildfires were made significantly worse by human-caused climate change, with Spain's fire conditions made 20 times more likely and France's doubled, and scientists noting that no amount of money for fire prevention helps when climate conditions are this extreme — cool, cool. Resources/Articles mentioned: AP News: Cyberattacks on Minnesota water systems investigated as officials warn about Iranian hackers WSJ: Anthropic AI Models Hacked Three Companies During Tests WSJ: Trump Threatens to Pull Blanche Pick in Clash With ‘Wounded Bear' Senators MS Now: Secret Service felt pressure from administration to surveil James Comey, new documents reveal AP News: Trump announces a deal for Hamas to disarm in Gaza, but many hurdles and uncertainty remain CNN: Saudi Arabia says 14 countries backing maritime alliance to protect shipping routes AP News: Human-caused climate change made Spanish, French fires much more likely, scientists calculate Subscribe to the Betches News Room and join the Morning Announcements group chat. Go to: betchesnews.substack.com Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
It's Friday, July 31st, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Syrians in America have to leave the country The expiration of Temporary Protected Status for Syrians in America this week has renewed attention on the fragile security environment facing civilians in Syria, particularly Christians who remain vulnerable 18 months after the fall of Bashar al-Assad's dictatorship in this 87% Muslim country, reports International Christian Concern. Temporary Protected Status is a humanitarian immigration designation that allows nationals of countries experiencing armed conflict to remain and work legally in the United States for a limited period. The designation does not provide a pathway to permanent residency but shields recipients from deportation while conditions in their home country are deemed unsafe for return. In December 2024, rebel forces, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, forced al-Assad from power. Al-Sharaa's group had previously been associated with Muslim jihadist movements, including al-Qaeda. Before the Syrian civil war, Christians represented a significant minority of Syria's population concentrated in Damascus — where the Apostle Paul was converted on the street. While Christians have not experienced the same level of targeted mass violence as other groups, there has been harassment and attacks on Christian communities. President Trump floats temporarily pulling Blache nomination to be AG President Donald Trump said on July 30 that he was willing to temporarily withdraw his nomination of Todd Blanche to be Attorney General until next year, if two Republican senators continued to withhold their support, reports The Epoch Times. Blanche's nomination has been held up in the Senate Judiciary Committee after Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina said they would not back bringing it to the floor for a full vote. Those two votes are necessary for the nomination to advance. Earlier this year, both Cornyn and Tillis lost their bid for re-election after President Trump endorsed their opponents during the primaries. The president now intends to wait them out. In the meantime, Blanche will remain the acting head of the Department of Justice. You can express your objection to the senators for dragging their feet by calling Senator John Cornyn at 202-224-2934 and Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina at 202-224-6342. You can call 24 hours a day/7 days a week and leave a voicemail. Dr. Fauci invoked Fifth Amendment 90 times in GOP-led committee In a hearing of the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on July 29th, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, announced in his opening statement that he would invoke the Fifth Amendment and not answer any questions about his culpability in a cover-up about the source of the COVID-19 virus or what happened subsequently. Listen. FAUCI: “Members of the committee, I served at the NIH for over 54 years, 38 of those as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Over that period, I proved that I believe in and respect the value of legitimate congressional oversight. In fact, I testified before and/or briefed Senate and House committees well over 200 times over those 38 years. During and after the COVID pandemic, I have appeared multiple times for hearings in the Senate and the House, usually under oath, and sat for several days-long, transcribed, sworn interviews answering questions about the very issues that are now the subject of this hearing. “However, given Senator [Rand] Paul's obvious obsession with calling for my prosecution, his repeated slanderous comments about me, and recently his publicly releasing my unredacted personal diary aimed at embarrassing and intimidating me, the only conclusion I can reach is that the sole reason he is calling me before this committee is to get me to say something, anything, that could vindicate his repeated public pledges that I end up, in his words, ‘behind bars'. “Any reasonable person who has followed his unhinged obsession with me would readily come to the same conclusion. Therefore, although it pains me to do so because of the respect I have for the legislative branch of government and my decades-long record of cooperating with Congress, under the advice of my attorneys, I will invoke my right, under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution, to refrain from answering your questions.” Over the course of his time in front of the Senate Committee, Dr. Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment a whopping 111 times, reports Fox News. Dr. Fauci stonewalled Senator Rand Paul numerous times Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly stonewalled Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, the Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The senator started with asking about former President Joe Biden's bizarre “full and unconditional” pardon of Dr. Fauci. PAUL: “As a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, or the White House COVID-19 Response Team, or as Chief Medical Advisor to the President, have you refused this pardon? Or do you have any reason to believe this full and unconditional pardon, this grant of immunity, would somehow require you to plead the Fifth Amendment?” FAUCI: “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer, based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.” PAUL: “Based on the facts presented, I'm going to direct you to answer the questions. The committee has issued a valid subpoena. They have requested your presence here. The questions are very pertinent to your decision making as head of [the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases], as well as a chief advisor to the president, do you still refuse to answer the questions?” FAUCI: “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer, based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.” PAUL: “Were you ever made aware of gain-of-function research on monkeypox being conducted at the National Bio Defense Analysis and Countermeasures Center, and back at Fort Detrick, [the center of the U.S. biological weapons program from 1943 to 1969]?” FAUCI: “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer, based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.” PAUL: “Dr. Fauci, did the CIA ever transfer funds to [the National Institutes of Health] under interagency agreement?” FAUCI: “On the advice of counsel, I respectfully decline to answer, based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.” And Senator Rand Paul took this parting shot. PAUL: “The chairman has denied your assertion of privilege and directed you to answer, but you nonetheless refuse and stand on privilege despite the existence of the pardon. The committee will have to consider after this hearing what appropriate action should be taken against you for the failure to testify after being directed to do so. “It's against the law to obstruct an investigation of Congress. There will be repercussions to your refusal to testify today.” Watchdog group: Medical groups should condemn transgender surgeries on minors The medical watchdog group, Do No Harm, is calling on 10 major medical associations to explicitly condemn transgender genital surgeries on minors, reports The Daily Signal. On July 29th, Do No Harm sent open letters to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Medical Association among others. In the letter, the group wrote, “Do No Harm, and its 54,000 members, are calling on your society to publicly reject genital surgery on minors for the purpose of producing [so-called] ‘gender transitions.' While this process is uncommon, we believe that it should never occur.” In Matthew 19:4, Jesus asked, “Have you not read that [God], who created them from the beginning, made them male and female?” Marijuana should not be reclassified as a less dangerous drug Marijuana could be reclassified as a less dangerous substance under federal law. Kevin Sabet, CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana and the former drug policy advisor for the Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama presidential administrations as well as President Trump's former U.S. Attorney General William Barr, thinks that would be a terrible idea. He said that reclassifying marijuana as a drug with accepted medical use and a lower risk of abuse than drugs subject to greater controls would be reckless. Sabet added, “The evidence presented at the hearing confirmed what decades of data have shown: Raw marijuana has no scientifically established medical value and carries a high risk of abuse. Today's marijuana is more dangerous than ever before. [Reclassifying] marijuana would create the false impression that it is safe, would reduce penalties for peddling the drug illegally and would give those who purvey it legally a huge tax windfall. That would be a disaster.” The Department of Justice held a hearing last month to consider it at President Donald Trump's request. Despite the fact that President Trump is a teetotaler who eschews alcohol and drugs, he told his administration last December to push forward on easing marijuana restrictions, after an aggressive lobbying push by advocates including a cannabis CEO, a Florida sheriff, and a Mar-a-Lago member, the Wall Street Journal previously reported. Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family, previously wrote, “Use of cannabis increases a person's chance of developing a bipolar disorder or schizophrenia by an average of 47%. It's also shown to significantly increase hallucinations and paranoia. “In fact, it's been determined that regular use of medical marijuana leads to a higher chance of heart attack, stroke and coronary artery disease. … If the established goal is to make America healthy and great again, this objective will not be reached by increasing access to poisonous pot.” In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, the Apostle Paul asked, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, Who is in you, Whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies.” Montana listeners like our brevity and updates on the persecuted Here at The Worldview in 5 Minutes, Winston and Heather Royal in Helena, Montana, wrote, “Adam, we appreciate the newscast because it's short, to the point, and from a Christian perspective. We appreciate hearing about our Christian brothers and sisters around the world. And we often listen to it at breakfast time. Thank you for your work!” Texas listener values boldness and truthfulness of The Worldview And Byron Barlowe in Plano, Texas wrote, “Adam, your newscast is something I've evangelized about for four reasons. I find the integration of a Biblical worldview into reporting the news to be effective and refreshing. Brevity matters more than ever. I also relate to the brevity of your newscast since Probe Ministries, a group I write for, produces a 3-minute daily feature. The candor among you and the two other writers of The Worldview is bold, truthful, and necessary. For example, I appreciate your reference to homosexual faux marriage instead of so-called ‘gay marriage.' Spade-calling is truth-telling and, when done in a gracious spirit led by the Spirit of God, can have good effect. You have a golden radio voice that emanates masculinity without undue forcefulness. Both women and men need that in the era of so-called ‘toxic masculinity' and the feminized Church which follows a confused culture. I just like it, too.” Byron, thanks for your encouragement as we use the instruments of our laptops and voice to communicate. 23 Worldview listeners gave $13,150.04 And finally, by Thursday night at 9:00pm Central, 23 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate and invested their treasure to fund the 6-member team behind The Worldview for another year. Our thanks to Jerry in Angie, Louisiana and Thomas in Spartanburg, South Carolina – both of whom gave $25 as well as David in Wilmington, Ohio and Lori in Rockford, Illinois – both of whom gave $50. We appreciate Tony and Jennie in Palmdale, California who gave $80.04, Samuel in Greensboro, North Carolina who gave $90, and Jeanne in Thomasville, North Carolina and Ron in Orange Park, Florida – both of whom gave $100. We're grateful to God for Jody in Westerlo, New York and Kevin and Shelly in Columbus, Nebraska – both of whom gave $200, Glenn and Linda in Palmdale, California who gave $240, Marlowe in Freetown, Prince Edward Isalnd, Canada who gave $250, Kelly in Rio Rancho, New Mexico who pledged $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300, and Vanessa in Templeton, California and Nicki in Carthage, Missouri – both of whom pledged $35/month for 12 months for a gift of $420. We were touched by the generosity of Serge in Simpsonville, South Carolina who gave $500, Charles and Pamela in Sierra Madre, California who gave $500, Sean in Burlington, Wisconsin who gave $500, and Francesca in Rockaway Township, New Jersey who also gave $500. All four of them were matched by our friend in Naples, Florida who gave another $2,000. And we were blown away by Frederick in Gainesville, Florida who pledged $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600, Jeff in Sevierville, Tennessee who gave $1,000, and Steve and Carla in Katy, Texas who gave $5,000. Wow! Those 23 gifts add up to $13,150.04. That's the largest total amount in a single day throughout this July 2026 fundraiser. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) $94,270 (sound effect of people cheering) We need to raise $29,230 by midnight tonight, July 31st! That means in order to hit our final goal of $123,500 by midnight tonight, Friday, July 31st, God needs to prompt folks to give an astounding $29,230 in order for the 6-member Worldview newscast team to be fully funded for another year. So, as I've said over the last several days, if you have been waiting until the last minute, this … is … it! We could really use your help. The finish line is upon us. Perhaps in our national audience, there are three others, just like Steve and Carla in Katy, Texas, who feel led by God to give a one-time gift of $5,000. If that $15,000 comes in, we would need just 15 people to either give a one-time gift of $1,000 or make a monthly pledge of $83.33 for 12 months which adds up to $1,000. If all of that is way out of your budget, just give what you can. $10. $20. $30. Every dollar gets us closer. Now, if you can't give a dime, then pray. Pray that God would stir the hearts of those who can give! Just go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish. And remember this, if you want to continue your monthly pledge to The Worldview that you started prior to July 1, 2026, please let me know so we can count your generous ongoing gift toward our total. This newscast team champions the truth and uses the Bible as our plumbline. We actually cite relevant Bible verses that really come alive as we look at the news of the day. Plus, we report, and we're unique in this, on the persecuted church, the battles for life and a godly perspective on sexuality, often including action steps on how you can make a difference as a believer. Don't forget: The Worldview in 5 Minutes is also commercial free. We have no sponsors. Nor do we have a pay wall. Anyone who wants to access this newscast can get it for free. So, all we have is you! What is God prompting you to do right now? Go to TheWorldview.com and click on Give. Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, July 31st, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.
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This Day in Legal History: America's First PatentOn July 31, 1790, the United States issued its first patent under the newly enacted Patent Act of 1790. The patent was granted to Samuel Hopkins of Vermont for an improved method of producing potash and pearl ash, chemicals widely used in fertilizer, soapmaking, and glass production. President George Washington, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph personally signed the patent—a reminder that, in the nation's earliest years, the federal government itself directly evaluated patent applications.The Patent Act of 1790 was one of Congress's first major efforts to implement the Constitution. Article I, Section 8 authorizes Congress to “promote the progress of science and useful arts” by granting inventors exclusive rights to their discoveries for limited periods. Rather than viewing patents as natural rights, the Framers saw them as legal incentives designed to encourage innovation while ultimately benefiting the public.The original patent system was remarkably small. A board consisting of Jefferson, Randolph, and Secretary of War Henry Knox decided whether an invention was “sufficiently useful and important” to merit protection. As the country industrialized, that system quickly became overwhelmed, leading Congress to create a more formal Patent Office in 1836 with professional examiners and standardized procedures.The first patent issued on this day marked the beginning of what has become one of the world's most influential intellectual property systems. Today, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office grants hundreds of thousands of patents each year, and patent law continues to shape industries ranging from pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to software and artificial intelligence.President Donald Trump is pressing Senate Republicans to confirm acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, whose nomination has stalled because of a dispute over a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. Republican Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis have withheld their support while demanding written assurances that the Justice Department will not establish the program. The fund emerged from a proposed settlement of Trump's $10 billion lawsuit accusing the Internal Revenue Service of improperly handling his tax records. Critics contend that the program could use taxpayer money to compensate Trump supporters who claim they were unfairly targeted by federal authorities, including people investigated or prosecuted in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack. Trump defended the proposal by arguing that victims of government misconduct deserve compensation and maintained that he would not personally benefit from it. Cornyn and Tillis have also objected to a separate provision that could shield Trump and certain associates from future IRS audits. Blanche reportedly met with the senators as the Justice Department attempted to resolve the disagreement. Even without confirmation, Blanche may be able to remain acting attorney general while his nomination is pending, provided that Trump does not formally withdraw it and the Senate does not reject it.Trump defends ‘anti-weaponization' fund as Blanche nomination stalls | ReutersNew York Attorney General Letitia James has sued prediction-market operator Kalshi, alleging that the company is offering illegal gambling without a state license. Kalshi allows customers to trade contracts tied to the outcomes of sporting events, elections, television programs, and other future events. New York argues that these transactions function as wagers because customers risk money on outcomes they cannot control. State officials also object to Kalshi allowing customers between the ages of 18 and 20 to participate, while New York generally requires mobile sports bettors to be at least 21. The lawsuit seeks to stop the allegedly unlawful activity, recover Kalshi's gains, impose civil penalties worth three times those gains, and obtain restitution for customers. James previously brought similar cases against prediction-market platforms operated by Coinbase and Gemini. Kalshi argues that its contracts are federally regulated derivatives under the exclusive authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, rather than gambling products governed by individual states. The CFTC has supported that position and filed an emergency request seeking to prevent New York from enforcing its gambling laws against the company. Courts in several other states have already restricted Kalshi's operations, while a federal judge in New York recently declined to protect the company from state enforcement. The litigation could determine whether prediction markets must comply with state gambling laws, federal commodities regulation, or both.New York Says Kalshi's Prediction Markets Are Illegal GamblingFormer federal health official Anthony Fauci could face a contempt-of-Congress referral after refusing to answer more than 100 questions during a Senate investigation into the government's response to COVID-19. Senator Rand Paul, the Republican chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said the panel would consider referring Fauci for prosecution. Federal law makes it a crime for a person summoned by Congress to deliberately refuse to provide relevant testimony or requested documents. Congress cannot prosecute the offense itself, however, so a committee must approve a referral, followed by the full Senate or House, before the Justice Department decides whether to pursue charges. Reuters reported that a Senate referral would likely require 60 votes, meaning some Democratic support would be necessary. Prosecutors would then need to persuade a grand jury that Fauci intentionally refused to answer questions that fell within the committee's legitimate investigation. Fauci would likely argue that the Fifth Amendment allowed him to remain silent because his testimony could expose him to criminal liability. President Joe Biden previously pardoned Fauci for possible federal offenses committed between 2014 and January 2025, but that pardon does not cover conduct occurring after Biden left office. The pardon creates an unsettled legal issue because courts have not clearly decided whether a witness may invoke the Fifth Amendment regarding conduct already covered by a presidential pardon. Even if Congress approves a referral, the Justice Department and a Washington grand jury would still have separate opportunities to decline the case.Could Fauci face criminal charges for refusing Senate COVID questions? | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe
The Hamas deal: breakthrough or temporary truce? Can Hamas be any more trusted than their benefactor Iran? What’s the real and only path to peace in the Middle East? Cornyn and Tillis try to stop blanche. Trump has a plan. His next move catches Washington and the RINOS off guard. Shock poll: Talarico leads Paxton. What's driving the race? And why are 25% of republicans backing Talarico? Did Mamdani really win his election? Our guest says the numbers tell a different story. And what happens next? With Special Guests Jennifer Kelly, GOP Strategist & Marly Hornik, RealAmerica.vote Support Our Mission: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=ZMGRBFGDJKRS8See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Thursday, July 30, 2026 Today, Senator Cornyn cancelled a meeting with Todd Blanche Wednesday morning because Blanche didn't have the Slush Fund rescission in hand; Dr. Fauci hears Republican conspiracy theories in a hearing on Capitol Hill and refused to answer questions; Senate Republicans confirmed Jay Clayton as the Director of National Intelligence; a judge has ordered the release of a key witness in an ICE shooting; a judge kills a Republican ballot measure that would gut unions declaring it unconstitutional; former DOJ Pardon Attorney Liz Oyer says she's been getting death threats since her testimony about Todd Blanche; Comey files his motion to dismiss for vindictive and selective prosecution in the seashells case; videos show ICE agents using racial slurs to refer to Latinos; plus Allison delivers your Good News. Thank You, MINT MOBILE Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/DAILYBEANS The Trump Epstein Memorial Bookmobile The Daily Beans is proud to partner with Miles Taylor and our friends at DEFIANCE.org For a limited time, members of the Daily Beans community can receive a FREE 3-month full membership to DEFIANCE.org and gain access to one of the fastest-growing pro-democracy movements in America. Join here: https://www.defiance.org/beans Join The Daily Beans and give a gift today to ensure The Trevor Project can continue its crucial work in the face of continued challenges. Donate to The Trevor Project - Daily Beans Podcast The Latest Breakdown→ DOJ Must Hand Over Internal Emails About NYT Subpoenas StoriesComey asks judge to ‘86' seashells case, alleges he was surveilled at Trump's direction | MS NOW Former DOJ lawyer spotlights death threats after Blanche testimony | MS NOW ICE agents used racial slurs to refer to Latinos, videos and texts appear to show | ABC News Judge orders immigration officials to release key witness in Texas ICE shooting | NBC News Judge: GOP ballot measure aimed at teachers union unconstitutionally guts police, fire unions too | AZ MirrorGood Trouble Comment on proposed Medicaid requirements: https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/CMS-2026-2047-0002Medicaid Work Requirements: Learn More and Take Action! - Autistic Self Advocacy Network Check your voter registration and deadlines → Voter Registration Deadlines - Vote.org →Blue Wave California- secure.actblue.com/donate/msw-bwc →Help save Texas from Ken Paxton! →Urge Democrats to Oppose and Stop Trump's Crypto Corruption | Indivisible Guide →Defiance.org/beans →Stand With Minnesota →iceout.org Good News Ohiopride.org dana-goldbergs-southwest-funnyfest Oct 9 -Email Dana@DanaGoldberg.com for sponsorship informationTickets for Dana Goldberg: Outrageous - Sep 23 - Den Theater - Chicago →Share your Good News & Good Trouble - The Daily Beans →Beans Talk audio -beans-talk.simplecast.com →Email Dana LGBTQ Owned eating establishments in your area - hello@mswmedia.com Subject: “Dana's Project” Subscribe to the MSW YouTube Channel - MSW Media - YouTube Our Donation Links The Trevor Project - trevorproject.org/beans Blue Wave California - https://secure.actblue.com/donate/msw-bwc Donate to Public Citizen - https://citizen.org/beans/ Donate to It Gets Better / The Daily Beans Fundraiser Pathways to Citizenship - https://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation Join Dana and The Daily Beans in support of Human Rights Campaign http://onecau.se/_ekes71National Security Counselors - Donate, ActBlue.com/donate/msw-bwc, WhistleblowerAid.org/beans Dr. Allison Gill - The Breakdown | Allison Gill, Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com - Bluesky, MSW & The Daily Beans Podcast @muellershewrote - Instagram, MSW Media - YouTube →Federal workers - email AG - fedoath@pm.me Dana Goldberg - Dana is on Patreon! At Dana's Dugout, @dgcomedy - Bluesky, @dgcomedy - IG, Dana Goldberg - Facebook, DanaGoldberg.com More from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | Allison Gill Reminder - 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 Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Plus: The Trump administration plans to spend big to ramp up Patriot missile production. And a Senate Judiciary committee vote to advance President Trump's nomination of Todd Blanche for attorney general has been called off. Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Nomination of Todd Blanche to be Attorney General is still in limbo after Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), whose vote is needed to report the nomination from committee, says the White House has not agreed to put in writing limits on tax audit immunity the President Donald Trump and his family received from a recent lawsuit settlement. President Trump says he may pull the nomination until after the midterm elections and let Todd Blanche remain Acting Attorney General; Senate Health Committee votes to approve CDC Director nominee Dr. Erica Schwartz and Assistant Health Secretary nominee Sean Kaufman, but not before committee chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) gives a speech about the value of vaccines; Economic growth slowed in the 2nd quarter from 2.1% to 1.5%, and June inflation dipped to 3.7% from 4.1% in May; National Urban League releases its 50th annual State of Black America report; President Trump promotes a program to get more veterans into truck driving positions quicker, as the Administration has been cracking down on CDL's given to illegal immigrants or those with limited English proficiency; Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) introduces a bill to create an Anti-Corruption Bureau to restrain presidents like President Trump whom he calls the "grifter-in-chief"; Senate defeats another Iran War Powers Act resolution introduced by Democrats aimed at requiring the president to withdraw U.S. forces absent Congressional authorization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jon Ossoff's 2020 interview is going viral again. Brian Derrick says Ossoff could win over median voters and that the internet's response right now is bananas, while Glennis Meagher is watching for a different problem entirely.The clip is from a November 2020 Axios on HBO interview and features a rapid round of yes or no questions: Green New Deal, Medicare for All, defunding the police, abolishing ICE, expanding the Supreme Court. Ossoff answered no to a lot of it. Nearly six years later it is circulating as a gotcha, and Brian's read is the opposite: this is how you win Georgia. Georgia is where the median voter lives, and Brian says Jon's clarity matters more than his answers. Glennis takes on the part of this convo few in the mainstream seem to be talking about, which is what happens to a candidate when a video from six years ago resurfaces mid campaign and they lose control of their own virality.This week we also get into the recently announced voting calendar for 2028. The DNC's Rules and Bylaws Committee signed off on the 2028 primary order: South Carolina January 22, Nevada February 1, New Hampshire February 8, New Mexico February 15, Michigan February 22, Virginia February 29, Super Tuesday March 7. Iowa is out. The full DNC votes on it in Austin next month. Brian explains why one national primary day would be a disaster for anyone who is not already rich, why going first is really about proving viability to donors before you spend down to zero, and what putting South Carolina at the front tells you about which voters the party is betting on.Plus what the Senate is actually trying to move in the two weeks before August recess: the NDAA and Trump's $1.5 trillion military ask, Reconciliation 3.0 and the attempt to bolt the SAVE Act onto it, and Jay Clayton's confirmation as Director of National Intelligence, replacing Trump's temporary pick Bill Pulte. Meanwhile John Cornyn and Thom Tillis have Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination stuck in committee until the Justice Department kills off Trump's $1.776 billion anti weaponization slush fund in writing. Brian Poindexter, the union ironworker and Brook Park councilman running in Ohio's 7th, is your Oath Candidate of the Week, and we explain how you can help him flip a seat that got a lot more competitive the day Max Miller's divorce filings went public.Also this week for Clickbait or Double-Click: the New York Times story about Ken Martin, the DNC's finances and a whole lot of phone throwing, the Campus Guardian Angel drones that spray pepper gel now heading into nine schools this fall, and Trump's Correspondents' Dinner bit about Kaitlan Collins that landed about as well as the plane in LOST. Then we send you off with a Good Vibe Goodbye involving Kathy Hochul, your kid's phone, and the end of the algorithmic feed that has been pumping AI slop into their brains.UPDATE: This episode was recorded Wednesday morning, July 29, 2026. Late that night the Senate Judiciary Committee postponed its vote on Todd Blanche, with Cornyn and Tillis still holding out for written assurances from the Justice Department.New episodes drop every Thursday morning! Hit FOLLOW and we'll help you stay informed for the midterms.EPISODE LINKSOath Candidate of the Week: Brian PoindexterSend us a text!Watch us on YoutubeFollow us on Instagram Oh, we're on TikTok tooFollow Brian on IG Follow Glennis on IG
This Day in Legal History: America's First Representative AssemblyOn July 30, 1619, in a wooden church at Jamestown, twenty-two elected representatives took their seats alongside the governor and his council, and the first representative legislative assembly in what would become the United States came to order. This was the Virginia General Assembly—soon known through its elected chamber as the House of Burgesses—and it marks the beginning of self-government by elected representatives in America.The mechanics were modest and the setting brutal: two burgesses were elected from each of the colony's eleven settlements, and they met in sweltering heat so severe that one burgess died during the six-day session. But the principle was revolutionary. Under instructions from the Virginia Company, Governor George Yeardley had called forth a body in which colonists—not just a distant crown or company—would have a hand in making the laws that governed them. It became the oldest continuous law-making body in the New World, and it planted an idea that would grow over the next century and a half into a full-blown theory of government by consent.The significance of July 30, 1619 is that so much of American constitutional order traces back to this cramped, miserable first session. The House of Burgesses trained generations of colonial leaders in the practice of legislative self-government; it was the venue where figures like Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson cut their political teeth; and its example fed directly into the revolutionary conviction that legitimate power flows from the consent of the governed and is exercised through elected representatives. It's a fitting anniversary for a day when one of our stories turns on that very principle—the Senate's constitutional duty to advise and consent on who leads the Justice Department.President Trump and the Justice Department have asked the Supreme Court to throw out the $83 million defamation verdict that writer E. Jean Carroll won against him, arguing that he can't be sued for statements he made while he was president. Some quick context: a Manhattan jury awarded Carroll roughly $83 million in early 2024 over defamatory comments Trump made in 2019 denying her sexual-assault allegation. This is now Trump's second trip to the Supreme Court in the Carroll saga—recall that back in June the justices declined to hear his appeal of a separate $5 million verdict, which we covered here. The new appeal leans heavily on the Court's 2024 presidential-immunity decision, which gave presidents broad immunity for official acts. Trump's lawyers argue that because he made the disputed statements in 2019 while in office, that immunity should shield him, and they accuse the appeals court of “procedural contortions” to avoid the question. The significance is about how far the 2024 immunity ruling stretches. That decision arose in the context of criminal prosecution for official acts; here it's being deployed to wipe out a civil defamation judgment for things a sitting president said to reporters. Whether “official act” immunity reaches a president's public denials about a private, decades-old personal matter is a genuinely consequential question—and the fact that the Justice Department has joined Trump's personal civil appeal is itself a notable signal about how the government is deploying its weight. Trump asks Supreme Court to throw out E. Jean Carroll's $83 million verdict | ReutersWashington Post · CNNTodd Blanche's bid to become attorney general has hit a serious snag: the Senate Judiciary Committee scrapped a planned vote after Republican Senator John Cornyn said he is “not prepared to vote yes.” We've tracked Blanche's nomination through his confirmation hearing, and the math has always been tight—with the recent death of Senator Lindsey Graham, committee Republicans have just one vote to spare, so Cornyn alone could sink it. What's notable is the substance of his objection, because it ties together several threads we've followed all month. Cornyn's concerns center on the administration's roughly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund” and the settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the IRS—the very deal a federal judge voided weeks ago as a collusive arrangement, and which would have handed Trump and his associates protections from tax audits unavailable to ordinary taxpayers. In other words, the sticking point isn't Blanche's résumé; it's the integrity of the tax system and whether the Justice Department has been used to engineer special treatment. The committee said the vote is postponed while it works “to secure sufficient support.” The significance is a real-time illustration of advice and consent functioning as a check—not a rubber stamp. A president's nominee for the nation's top law-enforcement job is stalled because a member of his own party wants answers about a tax settlement that courts have already called unlawful. It's the Senate's constitutional role doing exactly what it's designed to do: forcing accountability before handing over power.Trump's attorney general nominee hits snag as senator withholds support | ReutersNPR · Washington PostAnd finally, a story close to home for anyone in this profession: the debut of the new national bar exam has gone badly wrong. This week marked the first-ever administration of the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination—a major overhaul of how aspiring lawyers are licensed—across ten jurisdictions. And in Washington State, it collapsed. Officials canceled the entire first day of testing after network bandwidth and Wi-Fi problems left hundreds of examinees unable to even access the exam; somewhere between 645 and 700 standard-time test-takers were affected. Missouri saw delayed start times, and a Maryland site had a shorter delay. The National Conference of Bar Examiners, which runs the exam, insists the NextGen platform itself performed as intended and pinned the failures on local network and site infrastructure rather than the software. That's cold comfort to the test-takers. Think about what's actually at stake for them: months of full-time study, bar-prep costs, and in many cases a job offer contingent on passing—all thrown into limbo. Washington is offering a make-up exam on September 1, or the option to transfer to the February 2027 sitting or get a refund, and there are already calls for a class action and even for “diploma privilege”—admitting these graduates without an exam. The significance is both practical and symbolic. Practically, hundreds of careers are on hold through no fault of the examinees. Symbolically, the gateway to the legal profession—the gatekeeping ritual that's supposed to certify competence—failed a basic test of its own on its most important day, and it's going to intensify the already-heated debate over whether the bar exam, in any form, is the right way to license lawyers.Tech problems, cancellation mar new US bar exam for some test-takers | ReutersBloomberg Law · Above the Law This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 Today, Senator Cornyn says he won't vote to advance Todd Blanche's nomination without a written rescission of the Slush Fund and tax immunity; Governor Beshear has written another letter to Mitch McConnell demanding he prove he's fit to serve or resign; the Knight Institute and American Oversight have filed reply briefs with the 11th Circuit in the case of Volume II of Jack Smith's final report; Rep. Max Miller has been credibly accused of assaulting his ex-wife and holding a gun to her head; the Trump administration is trying to get a hold of our personal emergency room medical records while simultaneously ending Medicare drug plan subsidies; new polling shows people don't like Trump's tax bill; Senate Democrats are pressing Todd Blanche on the New York Times subpoenas; newly uncovered grand jury testimony in the Davey Hearn case has led to his legal team demanding the grand jury materials; plus Allison delivers your Good News. 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Donate to The Trevor Project - Daily Beans Podcast The Latest Breakdown→ DOJ Must Hand Over Internal Emails About NYT Subpoenas StoriesTalarico leads Paxton by 5 points in new poll of Texas' U.S. Senate race | Texas Tribune Blanche vote could be postponed, Cornyn says - Live Updates | POLITICO Senate Democrats Press Blanche on Times Subpoenas | NYT Backlash surges over Trump judge's order to hide secret DOJ files | Alternet.org Kentucky governor tells Mitch McConnell: Prove you can serve or ‘resign' | NBC News MAGA Rep. Allegedly Assaulted Wife, Put Gun to Her Head. Republicans Don't Care | Rolling Stone Trump administration demands hospitals share emergency room records | CNN Trump Administration to End Medicare Drug Plan Subsidy | Wall Street Journal Poll: Even Trump voters aren't very impressed by the GOP's tax overhaul | POLITICO Witness in Reflecting Pool case conceded damage before canoeist touched water | NBC News Good TroubleImpeach Vought Good Trouble - Gov. 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At Dana's Dugout, @dgcomedy - Bluesky, @dgcomedy - IG, Dana Goldberg - Facebook, DanaGoldberg.com More from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | Allison Gill Reminder - 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 Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Trump wants $95 billion more for his Iran war while oil giants cash in — and DNI pick Jay Clayton confesses to victimizing Epstein's victims. In this episode: • Hegseth testifies war money runs dry by August 1 — demands $87 to $95 billion more on top of a nearly $1 trillion budget • Hegseth admits $37.7 billion already spent, then warns we're low on ammo on camera • US bombing hits civilian desalination systems — 10,000 Iranians without drinking water • Oil near $90 a barrel, gas near $4 — Chevron, Exxon, ConocoPhillips feast while Hormuz stays shut • Jay Clayton clears committee 9–8 for Director of National Intelligence after he spilled Epstein victims' names, addresses, and photos • Clayton won't say Biden won 2020 — and shrugs at Tulsi helping seize Fulton County ballots • Tillis and Cornyn freeze Todd Blanche's Attorney General path after Epstein survivor meeting left victims more traumatized • Cornyn holds Kari Lake and Mastriano ambassadorships hostage over PEPFAR AIDS funding — Lancet warns 14 million dead if cuts stand, one third children • Ed Martin's pardon office ignores nearly 6,000 pleas for clemency so he can free Trump donors and Clean Air Act polluters • Sunny Hostin's Harvard grad son handcuffed jogging in New Rochelle Key figures covered: Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, Jay Clayton, Todd Blanche, Thom Tillis, Jon Cornyn, Kari Lake, Ed Martin, Kash Patel, Chelsi "Sunny" Hostin Subscribe for live shows Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 6:05 PM Eastern. Recorded live on the David Feldman Show July 21, 2026 #IranWar #EpsteinFiles #ToddBlanche #PeteHegseth #Trump #JayClayton #PEPFAR #WarSupplemental #OilPrices #DavidFeldmanShow
What's REALLY happening to law enforcement in America? In this explosive episode of the National Fraternal Order of Police's Blue View Podcast, FOP National President Patrick Yoes sits down with U.S. Senator John Cornyn for a raw and important conversation about crime, officer safety, anti-police rhetoric, border enforcement, mental health, recruiting challenges, and the future of policing in the United States. Before becoming a U.S. Senator, Cornyn served as: ⚖️ Texas Supreme Court Justice ⚖️ Texas Attorney General ️ Senior Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee In this episode they discuss: The alarming rise in attacks on police officers Why recruitment & retention are collapsing nationwide The “Back the Blue Act” and federal protections for officers Mental health & traumatic brain injury in policing Officer wellness and PTSD Border security and immigration enforcement Why public safety starts with supporting law enforcement The political climate surrounding policing in America This is a conversation every American should hear. Chapters (00:00:00) - John Cornyn with the Fraternal Order of Police(00:02:26) - Legislation on the Carla Walker Act(00:03:54) - House Judiciary Committee on Law Enforcement and Mental Health(00:07:05) - President Trump on Police Wellbeing(00:08:33) - Law Enforcement Mental Wellbeing(00:11:51) - Texas Law Enforcement Recruitment and Retention(00:14:54) - on Law Enforcement Recruitment(00:16:25) - Private Citizens Should Be Disputed in Law Enforcement(00:18:49) - Sen. Grassley on the Safety of Law Enforcement Officers
Two men audition for permanent top level roles in the Trump administration. Could enough wavering Republicans deny the nominations? Plus, the mayor of Philadelphia accuses the Trump administration of trying to erase history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jay Clayton, questioned by Jon Ossoff and then Mark Warner, gets as close as any Trump nominee has to acknowledging 2020, allowing that Biden won the Electoral College and that Congress certified it, while still avoiding the popular vote. Hawk notes the pattern across every nominee for a year and a half. The real news is John Cornyn. Pressed on the roughly $1.8 billion settlement fund, Blanche did not reassure him, and Cornyn told CNN's Manu Raju he is truly undecided, with Thom Tillis wanting the fund fully dead. On an 11-10 Judiciary Committee, one Republican no vote ends it. Hawk also covers the judge who called the underlying case a fraud on the court. SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH HAWK- Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mdg650hawk - Hawk's Merch Store: https://hawkmerchstore.com - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdg650hawk7thacct - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hawkeyewhackamole - Connect on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mdg650hawk.bsky.social - Connect on Substack: https://mdg650hawk.substack.com - Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawkpodcasts - Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdg650hawk - Connect on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mdg650hawk ALL HAWK PODCASTS INFO- Additional Content Available Here: https://www.hawkpodcasts.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts- Listen to Hawk Podcasts On Your Favorite Platform:Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RWeJfyApple Podcasts: https://apple.co/422GDuLYouTube: https://youtube.com/@hawkpodcastsiHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/47vVBdPPandora: https://bit.ly/48COaTB
This Day in Legal History: The White House Tapes RevealedOn July 16, 1973, before the Senate Watergate Committee and a live national television audience, a former White House aide named Alexander Butterfield answered a question that changed American history. Asked whether there was any kind of recording system in the White House, Butterfield confirmed that President Nixon had installed a secret, voice-activated taping system that recorded his conversations and phone calls in the Oval Office and elsewhere. In a single answer, the entire Watergate investigation pivoted.Until that moment, the inquiry into the Watergate break-in and cover-up had largely been a contest of competing testimony—Nixon's word against that of his former counsel John Dean. The existence of the tapes meant there was now an objective record of what the President had actually said and known. Prosecutors and Congress immediately sought them; Nixon refused to hand them over, asserting executive privilege—the claim that a president's confidential communications are shielded from disclosure. That standoff produced one of the most important separation-of-powers decisions in American law.In United States v. Nixon, decided a year later in July 1974, a unanimous Supreme Court rejected the President's claim of absolute privilege. The Court recognized that executive privilege exists and has real constitutional footing, but held that it is not unqualified—that it must yield to the demonstrated, specific need for evidence in a criminal proceeding. No person, the decision made clear, not even the president, is above the ordinary processes of the law. Nixon turned over the tapes, one of which captured him plotting to obstruct the investigation, and he resigned days later. The significance of July 16, 1973 is that a single truthful answer under oath set in motion the enforcement of a foundational principle: that presidential power operates within the law, and that the courts, not the president, decide the limits of privilege.Todd Blanche's bid to become attorney general is hanging in the balance after a tense confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Blanche, who has been acting attorney general since President Trump fired Pam Bondi in April and who previously served as Trump's personal criminal defense lawyer, spent hours fielding pointed questions—including a telling moment when he said he “is” the president's lawyer before catching himself and correcting it to “was.” The awkwardness captures the central concern: whether a former personal attorney to the president can run the Justice Department as a neutral servant of the law rather than of the man who appointed him. Senators pressed him on the now-defunct anti-weaponization fund, the handling of the Epstein files, and Trump's pardons for January 6 defendants. The math is what makes this precarious. The recent death of Senator Lindsey Graham left committee Republicans with just one vote to spare, and Senator John Cornyn—a lame duck—has said he isn't sold, meaning Blanche's advancement may rest largely in Cornyn's hands. The significance is about the independence of federal law enforcement: confirming a president's former defense lawyer as attorney general tests whether the Justice Department's prosecutorial power will be insulated from the president's personal interests, and the narrow margin means a single Republican could decide the outcome.Blanche to face Senate grilling in bid to be Trump's attorney general | ReutersThe Senate has confirmed a second Florida state appeals judge who ruled in President Trump's favor in his defamation suit against the Pulitzer Prize Board, giving him a lifetime seat on the federal bench. The vote was 51-46 along party lines to place Chief Judge Jeffrey Kuntz on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Here's the connection that drew scrutiny. Kuntz sat on the Florida appeals court panel that ruled for Trump on a personal-jurisdiction question, allowing his defamation case against the Pulitzer Board to move forward—and Kuntz wrote that panel ruling. He is now the second judge from that same panel to be nominated by Trump and confirmed to a lifetime federal judgeship. At his hearing, Kuntz defended his decision not to recuse from the Trump matter. The significance is about judicial independence and the appearance of a quid pro quo. There is nothing unusual about elevating state appellate judges to the federal bench, and a favorable ruling doesn't by itself prove anything improper. But when a president rewards judges who ruled for him personally with lifetime appointments, it raises an uncomfortable question about incentives—whether judges hoping for advancement might feel subtle pressure to favor the person doing the appointing—and that perception, critics argue, can corrode public confidence in an impartial judiciary even where each individual ruling was defensible on the merits.2nd Florida judge who ruled for Trump in Pulitzer case confirmed to federal bench | ReutersAnd finally, the Federal Trade Commission and the Ohio State Bar Association have thrown their support behind an Ohio Supreme Court proposal to loosen the American Bar Association's long-standing grip on who gets to become a lawyer. The proposal would let graduates of non-ABA-accredited law schools sit for the Ohio bar exam and would move toward a state-run accreditation process. Here's the structure worth understanding. In most states, you generally can't take the bar exam unless you graduated from a law school the ABA has accredited—which effectively makes the ABA the national gatekeeper of legal education. The FTC's objection is framed in competition terms: it argues the ABA's accreditation standards “go beyond what is reasonably necessary” to ensure lawyers are prepared, and that restricting the supply of lawyers this way may boost incumbent lawyers' pay while raising costs and reducing access for ordinary people who need legal help. Ohio isn't alone—Florida and Texas have already amended their rules so the ABA no longer has the final say, and Tennessee is weighing a similar move. The significance is a real shift in how the profession polices its own entry. Supporters see it as breaking up a monopoly to expand access to legal careers and legal services; critics worry that weakening a uniform national standard could erode the quality and consistency of legal training. Either way, the ABA's decades-long role as the sole gatekeeper is eroding, state by state.State bar, FTC back Ohio proposal to limit ABA role in lawyer admissions | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe
Chuck Todd opens with the news that Trump is planning a primetime address to push election denialism, and uses it as a lens to examine how thoroughly fealty to the 2020 fraud lie has become the price of admission in Trump's Washington. He argues Todd Blanche should have no place in the Department of Justice, that he failed his test under questioning from John Cornyn, and that the weaponization fund could become the red line that finally moves Collins, Tillis, and Cornyn — because an inability to confirm Blanche would be a clear sign of Trump's weakening grip on the GOP. He points to the surreal spectacle of Jay Clayton refusing to answer Jon Ossoff's simple question of who won the 2020 election, looking like a ridiculous sycophant in the process, and to Trump endorsing MyPillow's Mike Lindell — the single biggest election conspiracy theorist in the country, a man who's lost every court case and been forced to pay $5 million over his false claims. He reminds listeners that it was Trump's own appointees who ran election security in 2020, that every major election denier from Giuliani on down has been forced to retract in court, and that Georgia's full hand recount matched the machines exactly — the only real constant in Trumpworld is that any outcome Trump dislikes gets branded fraud. He then turns to the mounting deaths during ICE encounters, arguing the violence isn't an anomaly but an entirely predictable consequence of an agency whose culture has been deliberately reshaped: DHS recruited candidates with violent psychological profiles using white nationalist slogans, imposed quotas that put officers under enormous stress, and pushed them into vehicle stops that former officials admit ICE has no experience conducting. In two fatal shootings the men killed weren't even the targets, witnesses have disputed the DHS account, there's no body cam footage, and Chuck argues DHS has zero credibility, even as Trump clearly wants the theater and the violent confrontations. On Iran, Chuck is blunt that having less leverage than before the war started is simply what losing a war looks like: the administration badly underestimated Iran's willingness to close the Strait of Hormuz, Iran deliberately decentralized its regime to survive decapitation strikes, and after three failed military strategies in five months, Trump has spent the entire war negotiating against himself — meaning the best America can now hope for is a managed stalemate, because Iran can't beat the U.S. military, it just has to wait out an increasingly impatient Trump. He closes on a lighter note with the House passing a bill to make daylight saving time permanent, offering the contrarian reminder that the public always wants permanent DST until they actually get it — kids forced to go to school in pitch darkness, and the simple reality that what's good for you in the evening is bad for someone else in the morning. Finally, Chuck presents his ToddCast Top 5 list of professional athletes best positioned to run for political office and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. From the opening whistle to the final kick. Bet on a match and get bonus bets for every goal scored at 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. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. 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 03:00 Trump planning primetime address to push election denialism 04:15 Todd Blanche should have no place in the Department of Justice 05:00 Blanche failed the test when questioned by John Cornyn 05:30 Weaponization fund could be the red line for Collins, Tillis and Cornyn 07:00 Inability to confirm Blanche would show Trump’s weakening grip on GOP 08:15 John Ossoff asked simple question Jay Clayton wouldn’t answer 09:00 Clayton refused to answer “who won the 2020 election?” 09:30 You must agree with election denialism to work for Trump 10:30 Clayton looked like a ridiculous sycophant 12:00 Administration convinced deportations will help in midterms 12:30 Trump is completely misreading the situation, but nobody will tell him 13:15 Trump gives his endorsement to Mike Lindell from MyPillow 13:45 Trump supporting biggest election conspiracy theorist in the country* 14:30 Lindell was forced to pay $5 million due to his false claims 15:15 Lindell has lost every time his claims ended up in court 15:45 Lindell is a lunatic 16:45 The only constant for Trump is “it’s fraud” if he doesn’t get his way 17:30 It was Trump appointees who ran election security in 2020 18:15 The election fraud claims from Trumpworld kept changing 19:15 Guliani was forced to refute his election denial in court 20:00 Every election denier has had to retract in a court of law 21:15 Georgia conducted a full recount and it matched the machines 23:00 Multiple deaths have occurred during encounters with ICE 24:00 In the two shootings the men killed were not the targets of the operation 24:45 Witnesses have challenged DHS account & there’s no body cam footage 25:15 DHS has no credibility, can’t trust their account of events 26:00 ICE announced they have paused most vehicle stops nationwide 28:00 Trump wants the theater with ICE, he wants violent confrontations* 29:30 The violence isn’t an anomaly, it’s entirely predictable 30:00 DHS’s recruiting for ICE has changed the culture of the organization 31:00 ICE targeted candidates with a violent psychological profile 32:15 ICE used white nationalist slogans in recruitment ads 34:00 The culture of ICE promotes violent confrontation 34:45 Administration’s quotas has put officers under stress 36:45 Former ICE officials admit the agency doesn’t have experience for vehicle stops 37:30 Tragedy isn’t a risk under these circumstances… it’s a guarantee 38:15 Federal law enforcement has turned into a theater of dominance 39:00 ICE set itself up for a war… and we’re seeing the consequences 39:45 Iran has more leverage than before the war… that’s called losing 40:15 Houthis may close another chokepoint 41:15 The U.S. military always knew the Strait of Hormuz was the ballgame 41:45 Administration underestimated Iran’s willingness to close the Strait 42:30 Iran set up the regime to be decentralized in case of decapitation strikes 43:15 We’ve tried 3 major military strategies in 5 months & none worked 44:30 Trump has negotiated against himself for the entire war 46:00 This has now become a fight over leverage 47:00 Every week the war grinds on, the more unpopular it becomes 47:30 Iran can’t beat the U.S. military, they just need to wait out Trump 48:15 The best we can hope for is a managed stalemate 48:45 House passed a bill to make daylight savings time permanent 49:45 The public always wants permanent daylight savings, until they get it 50:15 Kids are forced to get to school in the dark, results in deaths 51:30 What’s good for you in the evening is bad for someone else in the morning 57:00 ToddCast Top 5 American athletes that could transition to politics 1:01:00 #5 Travis Kelce 1:02:15 #4 Paul Skenes 1:03:15 #3 Patrick Mahomes 1:04:00 #2 Steph Curry 1:05:00 #1 Caitlin Clark 1:08:15 Ask Chuck 1:08:30 Favorite old 40s and 50s films? 1:14:45 Your work made a real difference in my life 1:16:15 Are there any states where a congressperson could do what Farage did in UK? 1:19:45 Why don’t presidential campaigns create buzz around VP selection? 1:24:15 What signs would show us we’re turning the corner on this divisive era?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chuck Todd opens with the news that Trump is planning a primetime address to push election denialism, and uses it as a lens to examine how thoroughly fealty to the 2020 fraud lie has become the price of admission in Trump's Washington. He argues Todd Blanche should have no place in the Department of Justice, that he failed his test under questioning from John Cornyn, and that the weaponization fund could become the red line that finally moves Collins, Tillis, and Cornyn — because an inability to confirm Blanche would be a clear sign of Trump's weakening grip on the GOP. He points to the surreal spectacle of Jay Clayton refusing to answer Jon Ossoff's simple question of who won the 2020 election, looking like a ridiculous sycophant in the process, and to Trump endorsing MyPillow's Mike Lindell — the single biggest election conspiracy theorist in the country, a man who's lost every court case and been forced to pay $5 million over his false claims. He reminds listeners that it was Trump's own appointees who ran election security in 2020, that every major election denier from Giuliani on down has been forced to retract in court, and that Georgia's full hand recount matched the machines exactly — the only real constant in Trumpworld is that any outcome Trump dislikes gets branded fraud. He then turns to the mounting deaths during ICE encounters, arguing the violence isn't an anomaly but an entirely predictable consequence of an agency whose culture has been deliberately reshaped: DHS recruited candidates with violent psychological profiles using white nationalist slogans, imposed quotas that put officers under enormous stress, and pushed them into vehicle stops that former officials admit ICE has no experience conducting. In two fatal shootings the men killed weren't even the targets, witnesses have disputed the DHS account, there's no body cam footage, and Chuck argues DHS has zero credibility, even as Trump clearly wants the theater and the violent confrontations. On Iran, Chuck is blunt that having less leverage than before the war started is simply what losing a war looks like: the administration badly underestimated Iran's willingness to close the Strait of Hormuz, Iran deliberately decentralized its regime to survive decapitation strikes, and after three failed military strategies in five months, Trump has spent the entire war negotiating against himself — meaning the best America can now hope for is a managed stalemate, because Iran can't beat the U.S. military, it just has to wait out an increasingly impatient Trump. He closes on a lighter note with the House passing a bill to make daylight saving time permanent, offering the contrarian reminder that the public always wants permanent DST until they actually get it — kids forced to go to school in pitch darkness, and the simple reality that what's good for you in the evening is bad for someone else in the morning. Then, John Opdycke — founder and president of Open Primaries, one of the leading organizations pushing to end closed partisan primaries — joins the Chuck Toddcast to make the case that the exclusion of independent voters is one of the great overlooked scandals of American democracy. Opdycke walks through the byzantine patchwork of voter and party registration rules that vary wildly by state, explains why so many independents sit out partisan primaries entirely, and argues that after 30 years of closed primaries the cumulative effect has been a system where the parties function as both the umpires and the players — a structure that simply doesn't work. He makes the bipartisan argument that tax dollars shouldn't fund the private nominating contests of what are essentially private organizations, and is pointedly critical of Democrats for actively fighting open primary initiatives.He notes that policies with 80% public support routinely fail to pass because voters don't actually have a meaningful say. The conversation turns tactical and forward-looking, with Opdycke offering a sober assessment of the broader reform landscape and its persistent failures. He argues the ranked-choice voting movement has made serious tactical errors, that the party in power always fights ranked choice voting, and that the modern reform and independent movement suffers from a fundamental lack of a compelling public face — as well as from philanthropic funders who attach outcome expectations that distort the work. Opdycke is candid that third parties fare poorly in nearly every electoral system, that Ross Perot's Reform Party is now essentially a shell, and that the American people still don't trust the reform movement — but he sees real opportunity in specific fights, particularly mobilizing Florida's independents to change the law and pursuing top-two systems that would genuinely open the door to competition. He notes the striking statistic that 10,000 people per week are changing their voter registration, laments the general lack of curiosity (and polling) about who swing voters actually are, and argues there's meaningful left-right overlap among libertarians that reformers could tap. They explore whether the redistricting wars could create a backlash against the two-party system, why there are only about 25 competitive House districts left, and why several states are now actually moving back toward closed primaries. They close with a clear-eyed take on 2028: the reform movement needs a credible presidential candidate, and with 2028 shaping up to be a wild and unpredictable year, the opening for that kind of disruption may be wider than it's been in decades. Finally, Chuck presents his ToddCast Top 5 list of professional athletes best positioned to run for political office and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. From the opening whistle to the final kick. Bet on a match and get bonus bets for every goal scored at 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. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. 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 03:00 Trump planning primetime address to push election denialism 04:15 Todd Blanche should have no place in the Department of Justice 05:00 Blanche failed the test when questioned by John Cornyn 05:30 Weaponization fund could be the red line for Collins, Tillis and Cornyn 07:00 Inability to confirm Blanche would show Trump’s weakening grip on GOP 08:15 John Ossoff asked simple question Jay Clayton wouldn’t answer 09:00 Clayton refused to answer “who won the 2020 election?” 09:30 You must agree with election denialism to work for Trump 10:30 Clayton looked like a ridiculous sycophant 12:00 Administration convinced deportations will help in midterms 12:30 Trump is completely misreading the situation, but nobody will tell him 13:15 Trump gives his endorsement to Mike Lindell from MyPillow 13:45 Trump supporting biggest election conspiracy theorist in the country* 14:30 Lindell was forced to pay $5 million due to his false claims 15:15 Lindell has lost every time his claims ended up in court 15:45 Lindell is a lunatic 16:45 The only constant for Trump is “it’s fraud” if he doesn’t get his way 17:30 It was Trump appointees who ran election security in 2020 18:15 The election fraud claims from Trumpworld kept changing 19:15 Guliani was forced to refute his election denial in court 20:00 Every election denier has had to retract in a court of law 21:15 Georgia conducted a full recount and it matched the machines 23:00 Multiple deaths have occurred during encounters with ICE 24:00 In the two shootings the men killed were not the targets of the operation 24:45 Witnesses have challenged DHS account & there’s no body cam footage 25:15 DHS has no credibility, can’t trust their account of events 26:00 ICE announced they have paused most vehicle stops nationwide 28:00 Trump wants the theater with ICE, he wants violent confrontations* 29:30 The violence isn’t an anomaly, it’s entirely predictable 30:00 DHS’s recruiting for ICE has changed the culture of the organization 31:00 ICE targeted candidates with a violent psychological profile 32:15 ICE used white nationalist slogans in recruitment ads 34:00 The culture of ICE promotes violent confrontation 34:45 Administration’s quotas has put officers under stress 36:45 Former ICE officials admit the agency doesn’t have experience for vehicle stops 37:30 Tragedy isn’t a risk under these circumstances… it’s a guarantee 38:15 Federal law enforcement has turned into a theater of dominance 39:00 ICE set itself up for a war… and we’re seeing the consequences 39:45 Iran has more leverage than before the war… that’s called losing 40:15 Houthis may close another chokepoint 41:15 The U.S. military always knew the Strait of Hormuz was the ballgame 41:45 Administration underestimated Iran’s willingness to close the Strait 42:30 Iran set up the regime to be decentralized in case of decapitation strikes 43:15 We’ve tried 3 major military strategies in 5 months & none worked 44:30 Trump has negotiated against himself for the entire war 46:00 This has now become a fight over leverage 47:00 Every week the war grinds on, the more unpopular it becomes 47:30 Iran can’t beat the U.S. military, they just need to wait out Trump 48:15 The best we can hope for is a managed stalemate 48:45 House passed a bill to make daylight savings time permanent 49:45 The public always wants permanent daylight savings, until they get it 50:15 Kids are forced to get to school in the dark, results in deaths 51:30 What’s good for you in the evening is bad for someone else in the morning 00:00 John Opdycke joins the Chuck ToddCast 59:45 Voter & party registration rules vary greatly by state 1:01:00 Why do so many independents sit out partisan primaries? 1:03:30 NYC Democratic party actively fought open primary initiative 1:05:00 There have been cumulative effects of 30 years of closed primaries 1:06:15 Voter apathy across the board for voting in primaries 1:07:00 Independents showing strong support for Open Primaries 1:08:45 Parties have every right to choose their candidates 1:09:15 Parties now are both the umpires and the players, it doesn’t work 1:11:00 There’s bipartisan arguments for not using tax dollars for private orgs 1:12:15 Why are Democrats fighting against open primaries? 1:14:15 Ross Perot’s Reform Party is basically a shell at this point 1:17:00 Independent voters are incorrectly understood as in the middle 1:17:30 Independents are moderate in temperament, not ideology 1:19:15 Politics post-Clinton/Gingrich designed to keep independents down 1:20:15 The modern reform/independent movement lacks a face 1:21:15 Philanthropic funders come with expectations of outcomes 1:22:15 Ranked choice voting movement has made serious tactical errors 1:24:30 Party in power always fights ranked choice voting 1:26:00 Exclusion of independent voters is a Jim Crow level violation of rights 1:26:30 Policies with 80% support don’t pass, voters don’t have a say 1:28:00 Third parties don’t do well in almost any electoral system 1:29:15 Swing voters are ignored until October 1:29:45 Which states offer best opportunities for a third party? 1:30:30 Independents require the Democrat to drop out in senate races 1:34:00 Could the redistricting wars create backlash to the two party system? 1:34:45 There’s only 25 competitive house district 1:35:30 Leaders in several states now looking to go back to closed primaries 1:36:45 The American people don’t trust the Reform movement 1:38:45 Mobilizing independents in Florida to change the law 1:41:15 There’s left-right overlap amongst the libertarians 1:42:45 There’s a lack of curiosity about independent/swing voters 1:44:45 10,000 people per week change their voter registration 1:45:30 We need a flood of polling and research about independent voters 1:46:45 What does success look like for Open Primaries this year? 1:49:45 A top two system would open up the door to competition 1:51:15 There are fewer “generic” candidates, much more variance 1:53:45 The Reform movement needs a presidential candidate in ‘28 1:57:30 Perot had to scare both parties to get them to make reforms 1:59:00 Have to creative in ‘28, it will be a wild year in politics 2:00:00 Primaries should be open to all voters 2:00:15 ToddCast Top 5 American athletes that could transition to politics 2:04:15 #5 Travis Kelce 2:05:30 #4 Paul Skenes 2:06:30 #3 Patrick Mahomes 2:07:15 #2 Steph Curry 2:08:15 #1 Caitlin Clark 2:11:30 Ask Chuck 2:11:45 Favorite old 40s and 50s films? 2:18:00 Your work made a real difference in my life 2:19:30 Are there any states where a congressperson could do what Farage did in UK? 2:23:00 Why don’t presidential campaigns create buzz around VP selection? 2:27:30 What signs would show us we’re turning the corner on this divisive era?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chris Cillizza and Chuck Todd open on a jolting weekend in politics: the sudden death of Lindsey Graham and the frantic — and faintly unseemly — scramble to replace him. Rather than relitigate Graham through the usual partisan lens, the guys argue that his loss, alongside the coming departures of Cornyn, Tillis, Cassidy, Durbin and others, amounts to a gutting of the Senate's dealmaking center, and they lay out their favorite framework for understanding him: the difference between "ideologues" and "politicians," and why the politicians are the ones who actually get things passed. They break down the near-term fallout for Trump, who just lost his most effective back-channel to skeptical senators and to Ukraine, and handicap the wide-open South Carolina race — from Henry McMaster's likely caretaker appointment to a crowded August primary featuring Pamela Evette, Nancy Mace, and a possible Trey Gowdy compromise play. From there it's on to two health stories the news cycle nearly buried — the mystery around Mitch McConnell's fall, pneumonia and rehab stay, and Trump's latest Walter Reed cognitive test — before a deep dive into Maine, where Susan Collins suddenly has no opponent after Graham Platner's exit and seven Democrats will fight it out at a 600-person nominating convention. Chuck and Chris debate whether Collins is now more or less vulnerable, take a spirited detour through New England blue bloods and Platner's "oyster farmer" branding, and skewer the knives-out world of political consultants. Then they close personal and sporty: their National Journal origin story, and a nerdy back-and-forth on the reinvented Home Run Derby, All-Star nostalgia, a World Baseball Classic pitch, and the Nats' latest heartbreak. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Welcome to Super Tuesdays 01:29 Lindsey Graham dies Saturday night of an aortic rupture 02:01 When death hits mid-campaign, everything accelerates 03:59 The "humans vs. aliens" acting analogy, applied to politicians 04:43 Ideologues vs. politicians — and why Graham was the latter 05:42 Democratic senators genuinely liked working with Graham 06:21 The real story: the gutting of the Senate's dealmaking center 11:33 Graham would've been a Democrat if he'd grown up in Oregon 14:26 Near-term fallout — Graham was Thune & Trump's whisperer 14:59 Why Todd Blanche's confirmation just got harder 16:14 Zelensky lost his best Trump whisperer, too 17:30 Republicans have functionally lost control of the Senate 19:37 An open South Carolina Senate seat comes once a generation 22:09 South Carolina's factional GOP sets up a free-for-all 24:43 A full six-year term raises the stakes 29:06 Could Trey Gowdy be the compromise candidate? 31:02 What is going on with Mitch McConnell? 35:45 The buried health story: Trump's new Walter Reed cognitive test 36:36 Should cognitive tests be mandatory for presidents over 75? 38:26 On Graham, Trump can only make it about himself 39:32 The Butler anniversary crowd-size claim 40:32 To Maine: Collins is the most vulnerable Republican 41:02 Handicapping the seven-Democrat nominating convention 45:07 Is Susan Collins more or less vulnerable than a month ago? 47:13 Why the right Democratic nominee could actually beat her 51:15 Platner's privilege & the "oyster farmer" brand 51:39 The knives-out world of nepo-baby campaign consultants 51:56 Chuck & Chris's National Journal origin story 54:35 Why "he's a farmer, not a politician" branding is hypnotic nonsense 56:20 To sports: the reinvented, 20-swing Home Run Derby 56:41 The Nats blow three leads 58:04 Empty-nesting & the streaming shows worth your night 59:42 All-Star nostalgia in the age of the MLB app and interleague play 1:02:42 A pitch for a two-week WBC break every July 1:04:25 The Futures Game & Nats prospect Eli Willits 1:05:06 Wrap-up: subscribe to Super TuesdaysSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:A Texas Tribune piece on nine Republicans who voted for Senator John Cornyn in the primary finds three swinging to James Talarico, three sticking with Ken Paxton, and three opting for neither: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/13/texas-gop-voters-john-cornyn-ken-paxton-james-talarico-us-senate/...Meanwhile Latino business owners in Texas who voted for Cornyn are similarly split: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/07/12/trumps-deportation-drive-tests-gop-gains-in-texas-00993955The most-Googled definition query in Texas lately is requests to define the word "republic" - possibly connected to the common and incorrect MAGA argument that the U.S. isn't actually a democracy: https://www.chron.com/texas/article/texas-google-definitions-republic-22339143.phpSo, was Senator Lindsay Graham gay, or not? Regardless, throughout his career, he did all he could to hurt LGBTQ+ Americans: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DatnULlyM_j/Check out the Substack version of the Daily Dispatch, which delivers each pod to your inbox and frequently includes extra video goodies: https://substack.com/@progresstexasProgress Texas has expanded into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE. Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
On this Salcedo Storm Podcast:Ashley Brasfield is a reporter for the Daily Caller, where she covers Capitol Hill and political campaigns. She's a graduate of the University of South Carolina, where she played Division I Beach Volleyball, and earned her MBA in Finance from the College of Charleston. She previously covered the presidential campaign trail as a campaign correspondent for Right Side Broadcasting Network (RSBN).
On this Salcedo Storm Podcast:Chris & Sean talk about the drudgery of yard work in the summer, the FIFA World Cup coming to the USA, and the latest drama in the D.C. soap opera!
On this Salcedo Storm Podcast:Robert Montoya, investigative reporter for the Texas Scorecard.
"THE JACK SHOW" talks "Ye-mania" at SA City Hall, plus judges rule on illegals voting and SNAP buying junk foods, going "Talarican" and Cornyn shows us what a farce his last campaign was, and a guy says don't wish single moms "Happy Father's Day" .
On this Salcedo Storm Podcast:Chris & Sean explore their Father's Day message, faith, and the choice before us come the fall elections.
In a program devoted to the topic of AI, Ralph welcomes first, Tyson Slocum, director of the energy group at Public Citizen, who tells us about the local backlash against the construction of data centers. Then New York Times climate writer, David Wallace-Wells, explains how the Big Tech CEOs did not count on human beings possibly rising up against them and their machines.Tyson Slocum is director of Public Citizen's Energy Program, covering the regulation of petroleum, natural gas and power markets. He serves on the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's “Energy & Environmental Markets Advisory Committee,” and frequently intervenes before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) representing the interests of household consumers.The basic question is they (Big Tech companies) are developing essentially governmental powers— governmental powers— not market powers or corporate powers. They've reached a level now where they are our government, the corporate government. And we have to escalate our urgencies to that level. It's more than just the hour is late. The hour is over. So we have to go back and respond with a completely unprecedented level of public interest, standards, etc., including whether this technology (AI) should be allowed at all.Ralph NaderI definitely see that we are in a speculative bubble. That bubble will burst. And folks within the AI industry, like Sam Altman, have been very clear where they have publicly said, when the bubble breaks, we expect to get a financial bailout because our AI applications are so important to the national interest.Tyson SlocumAnd the backlash to data centers isn't just about, oh, I'm concerned about my power rates going up or I'm concerned about the noise or the water usage. It's also a civil rights and human rights issue where people are saying, I don't like this vision that Big Tech is laying out for us that is going to be produced in this building down the street from our community.Tyson SlocumDavid Wallace-Wells is a columnist and staff writer at the New York Times, where he writes a weekly newsletter on climate change, technology, and the future of the planet. He is the author of the book, The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming. His recent feature in the New York Times Magazine is “AI Populism is Here. And No One is Ready.”Just over the last six months, there's been a huge surge in anti-AI and in particular anti-data center organizing and activism in the U.S. And you can see that on the ground where you see huge crowds coming to town halls to protest new data centers that are being proposed. You see some towns that have approved those data centers literally having their entire city council voted out of office as a result. And you see it in these surveys where within the span of just a few months. Huge sentiment flips among the American public from being basically agnostic about AI with some misgivings and some optimism to pretty striking majority opposition to the technology and the infrastructure build out that it requires.David Wallace-WellsThis (AI) is a technological revolution that has been designed and is being built by an extremely small number of people with very particular idiosyncratic, in certain ways, I think, somewhat sociopathic worldviews.David Wallace-WellsNews 6/5/26* Our top story this week comes from Congress, where the House has, at long last, successfully pushed through a War Powers Resolution on Iran. As NPR notes “The resolution had originally been set for a vote two weeks ago, but Republican leaders sent House members home early for a May recess when it appeared the largely Democratic-backed measure had enough Republican votes for passage.” However, this did not substantially erode Republican support and the resolution passed by a margin of 215 to 208, with four Republicans, led by Thomas Massie, voting for a cessation of hostilities. The measure now heads to the Senate, where Democrats have been pressing the matter as well but face an uphill battle, and even if it passes through the upper chamber, President Trump is likely to veto the measure if it arrives on his desk. Moreover, House progressives are now pushing a new War Powers Resolution, this one focusing on Lebanon. POLITICO reports Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib forced a vote this Thursday on a resolution calling for the removal of U.S. troops from Lebanon in seven days, despite opposition from the leadership of her own party. The resolution failed by a wide margin, but still garnered a respectable 92 votes, including support from Congressman Massie. Symbolic though they may be, these votes show a growing backlash to Trump's military adventurism abroad, particularly in the Middle East. With oil prices continuing to rise, this discontent shows no sign of abating.* The main news this week however were the primaires. Tuesday saw a wave of major Democratic primaries across the country. Faiz Shakir, longtime advisor to Bernie Sanders and Executive Director of More Perfect Union, reports that election night was a “clean sweep for Bernie's endorsements” with five out of five of these candidates set to win the Democratic nomination in their respective races. One race Shakir highlighted was Sam Forstag's bid for Congress in Montana's 1st congressional district. Forstag, a firefighter – technically a “smokejumper,” who parachutes into remote areas to extinguish wildfires – earned the endorsements of AOC, Jamie Raskin, Pramila Jayapal and others, as well as many unions, in addition to that of Senator Sanders. Meanwhile in the Montana Senate race, Alani Bankhead has triumphed in the Democratic primary. According to Semafor, “Republicans suspect Bankhead will essentially cede the race to [independent candidate Seth] Bodnar (despite her denials), which would make the general election more competitive.” Bodnar is the former president of the University of Montana and his campaign is backed by former Democratic Senator Jon Tester. One recent poll of a head-to-head match up of Bodnar against Republican nominee Kurt Alme shows the candidates in a dead heat.* In New Jersey, two more Sanders-endorsed candidates have emerged victorious: Analilia Mejia and Dr. Adam Hamawy. Mejia won the special election to replace now-Governor Mikie Sherill in April, beating out former Congressman Tom Malinowksi, the heavy favorite in that race. Mejia is very likely to win this seat again in November, as she already defeated the Republican nominee, Joe Hathaway, in the special election. This from MorristownGreen. Perhaps more surprisingly is the victory of Dr. Adam Hamawy. Now a plastic surgeon, he has distinguished himself for his heroism: saving the life of now-Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth when her Blackhawk helicopter was shot down in Iraq, serving as a first responder to the 9/11 attacks, and most recently, for his work in Gaza. As the Intercept puts it, “In 2024, [Hamawy]...went to Gaza to provide medical aid to Palestinians wounded by Israeli forces and was temporarily trapped there after Israel closed the Rafah border crossing. When the crossing was reopened, Hamawy was among a small group who refused to leave on demands that more medical workers be let in.” Hamawy's progressive policy platform includes support for Medicare for All, abolishing ICE, and opposing military aid to Israel. He is almost guaranteed to win this D+13 seat, succeeding Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman.* The candidates Bernie endorsed in California also prevailed, with Randy Villegas poised to win his primary in the state's 22nd congressional district and Jane Kim winning her race for California Insurance Commissioner, but the results from the state overall are more mixed. As of now, Republican Gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton leads in the count, with centrist Democrat and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra in a close second and progressive billionaire Tom Steyer in third. However, as the count continues, Steyer's margin continues to improve while Hilton's ebbs away – meaning the runoff could end up being Becerra vs. Steyer, though it is still too early to say. A similar dynamic is unfolding in Los Angeles, where incumbent Mayor Karen Bass is ensured a slot in the general election while her opponents – Councilwoman Nithya Raman to her left and former reality TV star Spencer Pratt to her right – continue to duke it out for the second slot. With California's notoriously glacial counting pace and the LA Times reporting that millions of ballots remain to be counted, all we can do is watch and wait.* However, up in Minnesota, another Bernie-backed candidate is on the road to victory. On Tuesday, Peggy Flanagan, the Lieutenant Governor seeking the Senate seat being vacated by Amy Klobuchar, overwhelmingly won the endorsement of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Her closest rival, Congresswoman Angie Craig, did not even bother to attend the party convention. While Craig decried the supposed anti-democratic nature of a party convention endorsement, Flanagan posted a video telling Craig “If you can't show up and face your own party, then you're not ready to face Republicans,” per the Nation. Flanagan can boast the endorsement of many high-profile progressives in addition to Sanders, such as Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, and Minnesota's own Tina Smith, among many others. If elected, she would be the first ever Native American woman to serve as Governor of an American state.* More much-publicized endorsements came this week from AOC and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who both endorsed DSA-aligned legislative candidates, but as City and State NY notes, not the same ones. Mamdani gave his blessing to Darializa Avila Chevalier, a DSA-backed candidate running to unseat powerful Rep. Adriano Espaillat who is seeking his sixth term in Congress. Polling shows Avila Chevalier runs ahead of Espaillat when voters learn about her platform, but lags behind due to low name recognition – something the Zohran endorsement is sure to help remedy. Meanwhile AOC issued her endorsement of four DSA candidates for the state legislature. This all suggests that the two titans of the New York City Democratic Socialist movement are coordinating – with Zohran seeking to boost DSA's prospects without alienating the New York state establishment and vice versa for AOC – but that is nothing more than a hunch.* Looking southward, lame duck Republican Senator John Cornyn this week posted an article on his official Twitter page titled “Libertarian Ted Brown courts disaffected conservative voters in Texas' U.S. Senate race,” from Houston Public Media. Senator Cornyn's comment – “Ruh roh” – set off a firestorm of speculation that this was a subtle endorsement of the Libertarian's campaign and intended to undermine the campaign of his erstwhile opponent and victor of the Republican Senate primary, Ken Paxton. While Cornyn has furiously denied that this is in any way an endorsement of Brown, calling even the “characterization” that he is “promoting” this candidate “fake news,” there is little doubt that posting about Brown from his official account constitutes a promotion of the campaign, albeit not an endorsement. It will be interesting to see whether Cornyn takes other subtle, or not so subtle, digs at Paxton over the course of the campaign, given that he seems to hold a substantial degree of antipathy towards the Texas Attorney General.* Our next two stories come to us from Florida. First, in Florida's 24th congressional district, the National Journal reports longtime Congresswoman Frederica Wilson will not seek reelection. We recently discussed Congresswoman Wilson on this segment when it was revealed that she had been MIA from the House for weeks following an undisclosed eye surgery. Wilson is 82 years old. The National Journal couches this story in the context of aged members of Congress accepting, or more often refusing, to pass the torch. In its gerontocracy tracker, it highlights members like Doris Matsui, John Garamendi, Jim Clyburn and Maxine Waters, all of whom are 80 years old or older, who are actively seeking reelection this cycle.* Meanwhile, in Florida's 20th district, the Sunshine State's redistricting initiative has put the historically Black district in jeopardy. Under the newly drawn lines, the frontrunner in this seat is Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and though she claims the Congressional Black Caucus and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told her that “they know I know our community” the CBC has not endorsed her and Rep. Yvette Clarke, the CBC's chairwoman, said the caucus did not encourage Wasserman Schultz to run in the district. However, there are currently four Black candidates vying for the seat previously held by Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, including Cherfilus-McCormick herself as well as progressive challenger Elijah Manley, former Mayor of Broward County Dale Holness and Luther Campbell the former rapper more famously known as Uncle Luke. Now, according to the Miami Herald, all four of these candidates are meeting to “discuss coalescing behind one candidate.” Manley is quoted in this piece saying that while they have not reached an agreement, they “did agree that we needed to consolidate,” and he said the “conversations are going on. They have been very constructive and fruitful.” It is encouraging that in the wake of Callais decision we are beginning to see a more strategic approach to Black political representation, which has been too long monopolized by powerful longtime incumbents intent on nothing so much as preserving their own fiefdoms.* Finally, in a story shocking to exactly no one, Axios is out with a new report showing that the National Guard occupation of Washington D.C. has done little to reduce crime in the District. Per a new study by the centrist Niskansen Center, while the security theater of the deployment seems to have deterred “opportunistic” property crime, violent crime remained on the same downward trajectory it had been on since before the deployment. Moreover, the promised co-benefit – that the presence of the Guard would free up the Metropolitan Police Department to focus on high-crime areas – did not materialize at all. Despite these lackluster results, President Trump plans to double the National Guard presence in Washington – which already costs $1.5 million a day – ahead of the 250th anniversary events this summer. This is an outrageous waste of taxpayer money especially now that we know for sure how little impact this hostile occupation is actually having on driving down violent crime.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe
President Trump doesn't seem to care that much about winning the midterms. He's more unpopular at this point in his second term than basically any of his modern predecessors. Democrats seem poised to retake the House and have a real chance of retaking the Senate. You might expect a president in that position to pivot to the center, to focus on voters' top concerns and try to boost the strongest Republicans in key races. Trump isn't doing any of that. Instead, he announced a $1.8 billion slush fund to pay out “victims of lawfare,” he threatened to re-escalate the Iran war, and he intervened in Republican primaries in ways that are gifts to Democrats, like endorsing the scandal-plagued Ken Paxton over the incumbent, John Cornyn, in Texas' Senate race. Why doesn't Trump seem to care more about winning? Liam Donovan is a Republican strategist and a president at Targeted Victory, a Washington public affairs and digital marketing firm. He has worked on the National Republican Senatorial Committee and for Cornyn. In this conversation, we discuss the moves Trump is making, the rough political environment for Republicans and what the paths to Democratic victories look like. Mentioned: “Graham Platner Thinks a Political Revolution Is Coming” by The Interview Thomas Massie interview in The Washington Examiner Book Recommendations: The Right by Matthew Continetti Apple in China by Patrick McGee The Frackers by Gregory Zuckerman Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com. You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs. This episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” was produced by Jack McCordick. Fact-checking by Michelle Harris with Julie Beer and Mary Marge Locker. Our senior engineer is Jeff Geld. Our recording engineer is Johnny Simon. Our executive producer is Claire Gordon. The show's production team also includes Marie Cascione, Annie Galvin, Rollin Hu, Kristin Lin, Emma Kehlbeck, Marina King and Jan Kobal. Original music by Pat McCusker. Audience strategy by Shannon Busta. The director of New York Times Opinion Shows is Annie-Rose Strasser. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
1. Election Results & Significance Ken Paxton wins decisively with roughly 64% vs 36% (a ~28-point margin). This is described as: A major upset for an incumbent A “sea change” in Republican politics Cornyn had: 24 years in the Senate Significant institutional power and funding Despite heavy financial backing (over $100M+ spent, mostly for Cornyn), Paxton wins overwhelmingly. 2. Why Paxton Won Several factors are highlighted: ✅ Anti-establishment sentiment The race was a: “Conservative grassroots vs establishment Republican” Voters favored a more ideological, outsider-style candidate. ✅ Trump’s influence Donald Trump endorsed Paxton (late in the race). The hosts argue: The endorsement boosted Paxton’s margin But Paxton was already leading in polls ✅ Perception of ideological purity Paxton is: “The most conservative attorney general in the country” This appealed to Republican primary voters. 3. The Role of Money The race becomes: One of the most expensive Senate primaries ever Despite: Massive spending (mostly pro-Cornyn) Outcome shows:
Megyn Kelly is joined by Tom Bevan, president and co-founder of RealClearPolitics, to discuss Ken Paxton crushing John Cornyn in the GOP Texas primary runoff for U.S. senate, why this is a huge MAGA victory, the general election matchup with James Talarico on the Dem side, who's favored to win in the Paxton - Talarico battle in Texas, how radical Talarico is and whether he really has a chance in the race, Talarico's vegan past and what he's actually said about a "vegan" campaign, his new claims about his true meat eating, the attacks we're about to see against Paxton, and more. Then Andrew Lownie, author, "Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York," joins to discuss reports in his book on allegations about Prince Andrew's connections to Jeffrey Epstein, the truth about Virginia Giuffre, the allegations about his disturbing experiences as a young child, shocking new details involving "Fergie" Sarah Ferguson and Diddy, the truth about Fergie's marriage to Prince Andrew, Fergie's love of American celebrities, Prince Andrew's warning to Harry about Meghan Markle, alleged fights between Princes Harry and Andrew, and more. Bevan- https://www.realclearpolitics.com/ Lownie-https://andrewlownie.me/ ARMRA: go to https://tryarmra.com/MEGYNto get 30% off your first subscription order Birch Gold: Text MK to 989898 for a free info kit and to see if you qualify for up to $10,000 back through May 29. Ethos Life Insurance: 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/MK The Wellness Company: Don't let a sudden illness derail your summer—secure your peace of mind and save $45 on a Medical Emergency Kit today by visiting https://UrgentCareKit.com/MK and using promo code MK. Follow The Megyn Kelly Show on all social platforms: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MegynKelly Twitter: http://Twitter.com/MegynKellyShow Instagram: http://Instagram.com/MegynKellyShow Facebook: http://Facebook.com/MegynKellyShow Find out more information at:https://www.devilmaycaremedia.com/megynkellyshow Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
A bruising, record-setting Republican Senate runoff in Texas comes to an end, as Ken Paxton cruises to an easy victory over incumbent GOP Senator John Cornyn. Pope Leo the 14th releases his first encyclical, warning that artificial intelligence must be governed by moral responsibility and made to serve human dignity, not replace it. Vice President JD Vance brings state attorneys general to the White House as the Trump administration works to turn its anti-fraud task force into a national enforcement push. UFC and the White House prepare for a once-in-a-lifetime fight night on the South Lawn, with thousands of spectators, free tickets, and even the Oval Office as part of the show. Birch Gold: Text MK to 989898 for a free info kit and to see if you qualify for up to $10,000 back through May 29 SelectQuote: Compare top‑rated life insurance options. Visit https://SelectQuote.com/megyn to get the right coverage at the right price. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Glenn starts the show by discussing Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton (R) defeating incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R) in a landslide. Texans made it clear: It's a new era, and career politicians who don't represent Texans' core beliefs will no longer be tolerated. Glenn reacts to Paxton's opponent, James Talarico (D), who recently claimed that the Bible is silent on the issue of abortion. Glenn also reacts to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D) discussing a questionable policy regarding private property. The Left is losing its mind over President Trump's decision to hold a UFC cage fight on the White House lawn in July. Glenn explains why this fight is not desecration and lays out the real desecration that has been happening in D.C. Glenn speaks on the dangers of Hasan Piker, a radical leftist whom the government has now subpoenaed. Was Glenn one of the reasons Piker got subpoenaed? Glenn speaks on the importance of not letting anger lead a country, as only respect and love can lead a country to success. Glenn discusses the controversy surrounding AI data centers and explains the dire reason he believes they're necessary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Paxton Defeats Sen. Cornyn in Texas GOP Primary Runoff 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.
HUGE WIN for the America First movement! President Trump just delivered another decisive blow to the Washington establishment, as Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton crushed RINO Senator John Cornyn in a massive 27-point landslide. Paxton destroyed Cornyn 64% to 36% in the Texas Republican Senate primary runoff — proving once again that Trump's endorsement is unstoppable and the Republican base is demanding real fighters, not career politicians. This runoff victory further proves that President Trump remains the most powerful force in Republican politics. While Washington insiders and moderate Republicans warned against backing Paxton, the voters of Texas overwhelmingly chose the fighter who stood with Trump over the longtime establishment senator. We also cover: Does the Bible talk about abortion? Fox News' Alexis McAdams called a “NAZI bitch.” Steve Jobs CHANGED the world. Zohran Mamdani wealth distribution is coming. RFK Jr. wrangles two snakes in Florida. The message is clear: Conservatives are done with spineless establishment Republicans. The MAGA movement is alive, stronger than ever, and ready to take back the Senate with real warriors in 2026. If you're tired of RINOs and want America First leaders who actually deliver, hit LIKE
In this edition of For All InTrendsive Purposes, Jack and Miles are joined by L.A. mayoral candidate Nithya Raman to talk about her run, and they also discuss Paxton ousting Cornyn in TX, Pope Leo spitting some mildly hot fire, NJ rep Tom Kean Jr. missing everything but the stonks and much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 26, 2026; 8pm: Tonight, the unbelievably high stakes of the Paxton, Cornyn runoff in Texas. Plus, how Trump's plan to redraw democracy ran into a surprise in South Carolina. Then, Sen. Andy Kim on getting tear-gassed outside an ICE detention facility. And the growing frustration with Trump corruption. Want more of Chris? Download and follow his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.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: -- Donald Trump attacks James Talarico as a vegan and plans rallies for Ken Paxton while Republicans reveal growing fear about holding Texas -- A Texas Republican voter says Donald Trump controls the Republican Party and refuses to support Ken Paxton in the general election -- Donald Trump declares “perfect” health after another medical exam, while the White House turns medical updates into a publicity campaign -- White House social media accounts flood the internet with energetic Trump photos as videos of him appearing asleep spread online -- Dr. Jonathan Reiner warns that Donald Trump's repeated daytime sleeping and insomnia could signal serious health concerns -- Videos show Donald Trump swaying while saluting, fueling debate about age, fatigue, balance issues, or shoe lifts -- Jessica Tarlov criticizes Donald Trump's Iran policy on Fox News and leaves the rest of the panel visibly speechless -- JD Vance stumbles through grammar comments and welfare claims during an awkward public appearance -- On the Bonus Show: Biden sues DOJ to stop audio release, California's public universities embrace AI, construction begins on the White House UFC cage for Trump's birthday party, and much more...
The U.S. and Iran appeared close to a deal over the holiday weekend. The Wall Street Journal’s Alex Ward explains why plenty of questions and skepticism remain. Texas Republicans vote today in a Senate primary runoff between incumbent John Cornyn and Trump-backed Ken Paxton. Steven Sloan of the Associated Press joins to discuss why some inside the party are worried about a Cornyn loss. Very little is known about Trump's “anti-weaponization” fund. Brian Schwartz of the Wall Street Journal breaks down why friends and foes of the president are lining up to file claims. Plus, authorities in Southern California said the threat of a major chemical explosion is eliminated for now, Pope Leo took on AI in his first encyclical, and why, despite viral claims, booking your flight at the library might not save you money. Today’s episode was hosted by Gideon Resnick.
Megyn Kelly begins the show by discussing why Thomas Massie lost in Kentucky, President Trump's impact on the race, the role pro-Israel money played in the results, and more. Then Tom Bevan, Carl Cannon, and Andrew Walworth of RealClearPolitics, join to discuss how Israel, Iran, and Trump all had a role in Massie's loss, Massie's Epstein focus and what GOP voters care most about, Trump's endorsement of Ken Paxton in Texas over John Cornyn, what the polls are showing on Paxton and Cornyn in comparison to Democrat James Talarico, Talarico's bizarre interview with Jamie Kern Lima about his "girlfriend," whether Talarico might win, and more. Then Patrick McEnroe, ESPN analyst and host of “Holding Court” on SiriusXM, joins to discuss why he's going public about there being too many international players in college tennis, the way it harms Americans and their chances at success, how he plans to propose solutions to this problem, how NIL has ruined college sports, the way paying college athletes has made it more like professional sports, how tennis has evolved over the years and why stars of the past would still dominate today, the top tennis players including Carlos Alcaraz, Jannick Sinner, and Novak Djokovic, which American tennis player is most likely to win a major, what percentage of the game is mental versus physical, and more. Bevan, Cannon, Walworth- https://www.realclearpolitics.com/ McEnroe-https://x.com/PatrickMcEnroe ARMRA: go to https://tryarmra.com/MEGYN to get 30% off your first subscription order Birch Gold: Text MK to 989898 for a free info kit and to see if you qualify for up to $10,000 back through May 29. Betterwild Pet Inc.: If your dog is scratching, licking, or showing signs of allergies, support their gut and skin health from the inside out with BetterWild—get up to 40% off at https://betterwild.com/MK. Ethos Life Insurance: 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/MK Follow The Megyn Kelly Show on all social platforms: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/MegynKelly Twitter: http://Twitter.com/MegynKellyShow Instagram: http://Instagram.com/MegynKellyShow Facebook: http://Facebook.com/MegynKellyShow Find out more information at:https://www.devilmaycaremedia.com/megynkellyshow Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.