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It's a primary night in America once again, for South Carolina, New York, Maryland, and Utah. In New York, two-term Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman is facing former city official Brad Lander, who is one of three Democratic House candidates running tonight with the endorsement of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. And South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson will win the state's Republican gubernatorial runoff, CNN's Decision Desk projects, defeating Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette. Plus, two reporters whose access inside the Trump White House has now gone into the remarkable and incredibly revealing book "Regime Change." The authors Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swann speak to Anderson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Democrats keep asking voters to choose them, but many people still can't answer a basic question: what do Democrats stand for right now? We bring on public affairs consultant and UCLA lecturer David Gershwin and AEI senior fellow Ruy Teixeira to wrestle with the party's direction, its internal incentives, and why “winning the next election” can mask deeper strategic failure.We talk about how the Democratic donor world and institutional ecosystem often reward coalition management over coalition expansion, making it harder to challenge interest-group orthodoxies or shrink a growing list of litmus tests. We also debate what “centrism” even means in 2026 America, and why so much mainstream Democratic strategy seems to default to anti-Trump positioning plus affordability messaging rather than a sharper, broader governing agenda that can compete in working-class, rural, and exurban places.Then we use California politics as a stress test: what a deep-blue primary system, heavy spending, and activist credibility can do to the candidate pipeline, and why a problem-solver profile can struggle against louder narratives. From there we widen the lens to the midterms and beyond, forecasting a likely Democratic House win, a Senate that's increasingly in play, and the possibility that all roads lead to veto-driven gridlock. We close with early 2028 handicapping, including Gavin Newsom's odds on the Democratic side and why Marco Rubio or J D Vance could shape the Republican field.If you care about the future of the Democratic Party, the progressive versus moderate divide, and the real mechanics of American electoral politics, listen through and share this with someone who argues politics with you. Subscribe, rate, and review, then tell us: what would it take for Democrats to expand their coalition again?Support Our WorkThe Center for Demographics and Policy focuses on research and analysis of global, national, and regional demographic trends and explores policies that might produce favorable demographic results over time. It involves Chapman students in demographic research under the supervision of the Center's senior staff.Students work with the Center's director and engage in research that will serve them well as they look to develop their careers in business, the social sciences, and the arts. Students also have access to our advisory board, which includes distinguished Chapman faculty and major demographic scholars from across the country and the world.For additional information, please contact Mahnaz Asghari, Associate Director for the Center for Demographics and Policy, at (714) 744-7635 or asghari@chapman.edu.Follow us on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-feudal-future-podcast/Tweet thoughts: @joelkotkin, @mtoplansky, #FeudalFuture #BeyondFeudalismLearn more about Joel's book 'The Coming of Neo-Feudalism': https://amzn.to/3a1VV87Sign Up For News & Alerts: http://joelkotkin.com/#subscribeThis show is presented by the Chapman Center for Demographics and Policy, which focuses on research and analysis of global, national and regional demographic trends and explores policies that might produce favorable demographic results over time.
Last week was one of the roughest for Democrats since Trump won the election in 2024: The Supreme Court ended Black congressional representation in most of the South and opened the door to the creation of several more Republican House seats, and then the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that the state's initiative that created four more Democratic House seats was invalid. Nevertheless, Trump is so unpopular that Democrats remain strong favorites to retake the House in November. Harold Meyerson comments.Also: During the first part of the 20th century, 100,000 Eastern European Jews joined a socialist organization that opposed Zionism. Their organization we call the Bund, and they believed that Jews should fight for full rights wherever they were, not for a new homeland somewhere else. Their motto was “Here, where we live, is our country”—that's the title of a new book about them by Molly Crabapple. Adam Hochschild comments.Plus: Historians on the March: Tennessee's anti-communist curriculum.
Last week was one of the roughest for Democrats since Trump won the election in 2024 - the Supreme Court ended Black congressional representation in most of the South and opened the door to the creation of several more Republican House seats – and then the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that the state's initiative that created four more Democratic House seats was invalid. Nevertheless Trump is so unpopular that Democrats remain strong favorites to retake the House in November. Harold Meyerson comments.Also: During the first part of the 20th century, 100,000 Eastern European Jews joined a socialist organization that opposed Zionism. Their organization we call the Bund, and they believed that Jews should fight for full rights wherever they were, not for a new homeland somewhere else. Their motto was “here, where we live, is our country”--that's the title of a new book by Molly Crabapple. Adam Hochschild comments.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
Last week was one of the roughest for Democrats since Trump won the election in 2024 - the Supreme Court ended Black congressional representation in most of the South and opened the door to the creation of several more Republican House seats – and then the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that the state's initiative that created four more Democratic House seats was invalid. Nevertheless Trump is so unpopular that Democrats remain strong favorites to retake the House in November. Harold Meyerson comments.Also: During the first part of the 20th century, 100,000 Eastern European Jews joined a socialist organization that opposed Zionism. Their organization we call the Bund, and they believed that Jews should fight for full rights wherever they were, not for a new homeland somewhere else. Their motto was “here, where we live, is our country”--that's the title of a new book by Molly Crabapple. Adam Hochschild comments.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
On today's Predictable with Stu Burguiere, Stu breaks down the redistricting wars erupting across America and explains why the market reaction may already be going too far. Republicans are gaining structural advantages in key House maps, but are traders mispricing it before the dust has even settled? Stu walks through the Virginia court decision he saw coming, the shifting House outlook, and the key price levels where he may look to re-enter Democratic House positions after the recent selloff. Plus, we do a 2028 presidential market draft featuring top market options to be on the lookout for as 2028 chatter continues. Stu explains the difference between candidates who can actually win and candidates whose prices can still surge long before Election Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Marc Rubio is at the Vatican to smooth things over with Pope Leo XIV after weeks of tension with the White House. Playbook's Dasha Burns and Jack Blanchard discuss the political importance of this meeting and what is really at stake. Meanwhile, Trump hosts Brazilian President Lula, who has been very critical of the Iran War, at the Oval Office. And Republicans are back to redrawing maps—this time in Tennessee—where they are threatening the state's lone Democratic House seat.
Most of us are going to be disappointed. The question is whether that disappointment has to mean paralysis. Corey Nathan recently joined Michael Baranowski on The Politics Guys for a conversation that refuses to offer easy comfort or easy despair. The 2026 midterms are the jumping-off point: what's likely, what's actually at stake, and whether a Democratic wave would change much of anything. But the conversation goes deeper than the electoral map. Structural incentives, uncompetitive districts, the filibuster, the parliamentary rulebook, and the question of where, if anywhere, the green shoots of real democratic renewal are actually growing. This feed drop brings that conversation to the TP&R audience. Calls to Action ✅ If this conversation resonates, consider sharing it with someone who believes connection across difference still matters. ✅ Subscribe to Corey's Substack: coreysnathan.substack.com ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion Key Takeaways The wave may come, but the players mostly stay the same. Structural analysis of the 2026 midterms suggests Democrats have a strong shot at the House and an outside chance at the Senate. But more than 90% of incumbents survive any given cycle, so even a wave election doesn't reset the cast of characters or their incentives. Investigations matter, but so does whether Congress actually does its job. A Democratic House would have subpoena power and majority-staffed committees. The more important question is whether that translates into substantive accountability or just performance. Competitive elections have made compromise harder, not easier. When one party holds power for decades at a stretch, half a loaf looks good. When every election is winnable, the incentive shifts to demonization and the next cycle. The hyper-competitive era since 1994 has structural roots that don't vanish with a change in majority. The green shoots are at the state and local level. Cross-partisan collaboration is visible in places like Santa Clarita, where a Republican city council member and a Democratic congressman are working together on local infrastructure. Organizations like Future Caucus are documenting exactly this kind of millennial and Gen Z cross-partisan energy. One conversation at a time is not a consolation prize. Incremental, constitutionally grounded change is not a failure of ambition. It is, as Corey puts it, what the founders actually promised future generations. The broccoli booth in the candy store still matters. About Michael Baranowski and The Politics Guys Michael Baranowski is a political scientist and the host of The Politics Guys, a podcast committed to honest, nonpartisan political analysis. He brings an institutionalist's eye to American politics and a refreshing willingness to follow the evidence wherever it leads, including to conclusions neither side particularly wants to hear. Links and Resources The Politics Guys - politicsguys.com The Context Podcast - kettering.org/thecontext Connect on Social Media Corey is @coreysnathan on all the socials… Substack LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Threads Bluesky TikTok Thanks to our Sponsors and Partners Thanks to Pew Research Center (pewresearch.org) for making today's conversation possible. Proud members of The Democracy Group Democracy is not a spectator sport.
Most of us are going to be disappointed. The question is whether that disappointment has to mean paralysis. Corey Nathan recently joined Michael Baranowski on The Politics Guys for a conversation that refuses to offer easy comfort or easy despair. The 2026 midterms are the jumping-off point: what's likely, what's actually at stake, and whether a Democratic wave would change much of anything. But the conversation goes deeper than the electoral map. Structural incentives, uncompetitive districts, the filibuster, the parliamentary rulebook, and the question of where, if anywhere, the green shoots of real democratic renewal are actually growing. This feed drop brings that conversation to the TP&R audience. Calls to Action ✅ If this conversation resonates, consider sharing it with someone who believes connection across difference still matters. ✅ Subscribe to Corey's Substack: coreysnathan.substack.com ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion Key Takeaways The wave may come, but the players mostly stay the same. Structural analysis of the 2026 midterms suggests Democrats have a strong shot at the House and an outside chance at the Senate. But more than 90% of incumbents survive any given cycle, so even a wave election doesn't reset the cast of characters or their incentives. Investigations matter, but so does whether Congress actually does its job. A Democratic House would have subpoena power and majority-staffed committees. The more important question is whether that translates into substantive accountability or just performance. Competitive elections have made compromise harder, not easier. When one party holds power for decades at a stretch, half a loaf looks good. When every election is winnable, the incentive shifts to demonization and the next cycle. The hyper-competitive era since 1994 has structural roots that don't vanish with a change in majority. The green shoots are at the state and local level. Cross-partisan collaboration is visible in places like Santa Clarita, where a Republican city council member and a Democratic congressman are working together on local infrastructure. Organizations like Future Caucus are documenting exactly this kind of millennial and Gen Z cross-partisan energy. One conversation at a time is not a consolation prize. Incremental, constitutionally grounded change is not a failure of ambition. It is, as Corey puts it, what the founders actually promised future generations. The broccoli booth in the candy store still matters. About Michael Baranowski and The Politics Guys Michael Baranowski is a political scientist and the host of The Politics Guys, a podcast committed to honest, nonpartisan political analysis. He brings an institutionalist's eye to American politics and a refreshing willingness to follow the evidence wherever it leads, including to conclusions neither side particularly wants to hear. Links and Resources The Politics Guys - politicsguys.com The Context Podcast - kettering.org/thecontext Connect on Social Media Corey is @coreysnathan on all the socials… Substack LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Threads Bluesky TikTok Thanks to our Sponsors and Partners Thanks to Pew Research Center (pewresearch.org) for making today's conversation possible. Proud members of The Democracy Group Democracy is not a spectator sport.
Joyce talks about: A 78 days for the government to pass a funding bill. Governor Ron DeSantis unveils new voting map targeting key Democratic House seats and giving Republicans an advantage. Supreme court votes 6 to 3 to do away with Louisiana's voting map, clearing a path for Republicans to dominate in redistricting war.Federal reserve holds rates/Jerome last meeting/ Kevin Warsh nomination goes through. Rumors the Apprentice is coming back with Don Jr. Sarah Palin speaks out about political violence / the media and celebrities. Florida's Chief Financial Officer. Blaise Ingoglia calls in to talk about redistricting map and remaining aggressive to keep Florida red, affordability in Florida and , investigating fraud within the insurance companies. D4vid details of the murder and attempted cover up. Iran The investigation into the Southern Poverty Law Center. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Ralph welcomes Professor Nicholas Chater, co-author of “It's on You: How Corporations and Behavioral Scientists Have Convinced Us That We're to Blame for Society's Deepest Problems.” Then, as most of the media turns its attention to Iran, we return to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and welcome back Dr. Feroze Sidhwa to break down his three-part series published in Zeteo called “The Truth About Gaza's Dead.”Nick Chater is Professor of Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School. He has written and co-written more than two hundred research papers and six books, including It's on You: How Corporations and Behavioral Scientists Have Convinced Us That We're to Blame for Society's Deepest Problems (co-written with George Loewenstein).I was on a UK government committee as the representative of behavioural science for six years, where my role was (at least I understood my role to be) coming up with smart-aleck ideas about what individual nudges or bits of useful information we could give to the public—how that would help people reduce their carbon emissions. And I came away from that experience extremely chastened. Because almost all the interesting issues were nothing to do whatsoever with individual behavior. They were all about big systemic changes… And the shock for me was realizing that the tools that I was hoping to wield were in fact completely ineffective.Nick ChaterI think it's absolutely true that many of the things that behavioral scientists are supposedly “discovering” [are] the things that campaigners and activists and indeed people in the political world generally and journalists intuitively have long known, and indeed probably have good evidence for. It's simply— it's sort of a sad process of trailing-along-behind which I think the academic world has been engaged in, where we've been slowly realizing that things that everybody else knew initially are actually true after all.Nick ChaterOne of the most powerful things that each of us has is the ability to propagate our own perspective and to campaign for change…I think getting people pulling together and pushing for change can be incredibly powerful. So seeing ourselves as citizens who are actively able to have our voice, make our voices heard, I think that's where the real power lies. And I think that the campaigners and political activists and so on have always known this. And of course, also, big businesses have always known this too. And they certainly don't want us to be doing too much of that. They want us to be focusing on quite the opposite. They want us to be focusing on our own gardens and not worrying about the big picture. They don't want organized opposition.Nick ChaterDr. Feroze Sidhwa is a general, trauma, and critical care surgeon in California. He is also a humanitarian surgeon who has worked in Palestine, Ukraine, Haiti, Zimbabwe, and Burkina Faso. He most recently volunteered at Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, Gaza. He was blocked from entering Gaza by Israel's Shin Bet intelligence service in November 2025.In the first 25 days of the assault on Gaza, more children were killed than in the entire worst year of conflict that Airwars had ever studied previously, which was Syria in 2016. In the first 25 days in Gaza, between 2,200 and 2,600 children were killed in Gaza, compared to 1,900 in Syria. So again, if you adjust for the size of the population (because Syria is a much bigger country than Gaza is a territory), the rate of killing of children in Gaza was 71 to 142 times higher than it was in the worst year on record for children in conflict—Syria in 2016.Dr. Feroze SidhwaGaza is a place where infants freeze to death if they are not sheltered. Well, there are no sheltered infants in Gaza for any practical purposes. They're all unsheltered. So we have a list of the actual names of a dozen or two dozen children who have actually frozen to death…And there is shelter—ready-made mobile shelters for hundreds of thousands of people right outside of Gaza. It's in Egypt and it's in Jordan. The only thing that's stopping anybody from bringing it in is the US and Israel…This is just dastardly. We should think about it for a second—we (meaning Americans) [are] living in a country where neither political party seems to care that we are freezing infants to death.Dr. Feroze SidhwaRight now, the Israelis are blocking cough medicine from going into Gaza. And the reason (they say) is because it contains glycerin. Now, glycerin, in theory, can be used to make explosives. But it's one picogram or something—it's just part of a pill or the syrup that goes into it, right? This is children's cough medicine. The idea that Hamas or Islamic Jihad or anybody else in Gaza has the laboratory equipment and facilities that would be needed to extract the 0.01% of glycerin that's in a pill or a medical syrup to then make a bomb is beyond idiotic. Furthermore, we all know that there's (and I'm speaking literally) hundreds of tons of unexploded Israeli bombs—actually I should say unexploded US bombs—all over the Gaza Strip. That's where Hamas gets all of its explosives from. It just repurposes unexploded Israeli munitions. So all of this is just sheer nonsense.Dr. Feroze SidhwaNews 4/24/26* Our top stories this week have to do with people losing their jobs. First up, Apple CEO Tim Cook – the handpicked successor of Steve Jobs who has led the tech giant for the past 15 years – announced this week that he would transition away from the CEO role. While he will remain on as Executive Chairman, John Ternus, the company's head of hardware engineering, will take over at the helm, PBS reports. Cook's tenure at Apple has received mixed evaluations, with many applauding the steady handed executive for adding an estimated $3.6 trillion in market value to the company, while others have critiqued his supposed lack of innovation compared to his predecessor. Some hope his more technical-minded successor will put more emphasis on product development moving forward. Like many tech CEOs, Cook went to great lengths to ingratiate himself with President Trump in his second term, donating $1 million to his inaugural committee and gifting Trump a glass plaque set in 24-karat gold last August.* Meanwhile, Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned this week amid “an internal investigation into her conduct,” which included “instructing staff to buy her bottles of sauvignon blanc on work trips… [stashing] liquor in her office, [encouraging] young female staffers to ‘pay attention' to her father and husband, [having] an affair with a member of her security detail, and [arranging] work travel to visit family and friends,” per Vox. For the time being, the Labor Department will be headed by Keith Sonderling, whom POLITICO calls a “quintessential Washington insider who is well-connected in the capital's Republican circles and his home state of Florida.” Sources quoted in this piece identify Sonderling as a key behind-the-scenes player in the administration whose accumulated influence “extends well beyond DOL.” The choice of Chavez-DeRemer, a former Congresswoman who was seen as perhaps the most labor-friendly Republican in the House, was supported at the time by Trump-aligned Teamster boss Sean O'Brien; her ouster therefore, represents the latest humiliating setback for his strategy of cozying up to Trump to win favorable treatment for his membership. In the words of a recent Current Affairs piece published before the downfall of Chavez-DeRemer, “Sean O'Brien Sold Labor to Trump, and Got Nothing.”* In the House, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick resigned her seat this week, just minutes before the House Ethics Committee was set to weigh punishment for the Congresswoman, whom the panel had previously found guilty of “a slew of ethics violations, including accusations that she stole millions in pandemic relief funds and used it to bolster her 2021 campaign,” according to CNN. Cherfilus-McCormick was one of the four Members of Congress included in the proposed bipartisan expulsion deal some weeks ago, along with Representatives Swalwell, Gonzales, and Mills. With the first two gone, a tremendous amount of pressure is sure to be exerted on Congressman Mills to resign as well. Prior to resigning, Cherfilus-McCormick was already facing a stiff primary challenge from young progressive Elijah Manley. Now, it seems her seat – representing hundreds of thousands in Broward and Palm Beach counties – could remain vacant until a new member is sworn in next January, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis unlikely to call a special election before then.* Also in Congress, Axios reports Representative David Scott of Georgia, a powerful Black Georgia Democrat who served in the lower house for over 20 years, passed away this week at age 80. Scott, who rose to become the first Black chair of the key House Committee on Agriculture, had filed to run again in 2026 despite rumored resistance from his colleagues. His death leaves Georgia's 13th district without representation in the House and amounts to a stunning fourth death-based Democratic House vacancy in the past year. Like the ones that preceded it, this must be seen as a bright red warning signal to Democratic leadership.* In DC more broadly, the employment picture looks even worse. According to a new report in the Guardian, the combined purging of 300,000 jobs from the federal government – the piece notes this is the “region's largest employer” – by Elon Musk's absurd Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, with another 13,000 job cuts in the private sector, has left DC with the highest unemployment rate in the nation at 6.7%. With little sign of increased hiring in the public or private sectors, there is no indication this trend will reverse itself any time soon.* Elsewhere in the DMV, this week Virginia voters approved a referendum to amend the state constitution allowing Democrats to redraw the state's congressional districts in their favor. Currently, Virginia Democrats hold six districts to the Republicans' five; under the new map, Democrats are poised to hold 10 districts and the Republicans just one. This is the latest episode in the mid-decade redistricting fight begun last year, when Texas Republicans sought to redraw the Lone Star state's maps to be more favorable to the GOP. This set off a stampede of states seeking to redraw their district lines. Now, in light of the Virginia referendum passing, Florida is threatening to redraw their maps to the detriment of Democrats there. The Hill reports House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, taking a sharper tone than usual, responded to news of the Florida redistricting attempt with a statement reading “If Florida Republicans proceed with this illegal scheme, they will only create more prime pick-up opportunities for Democrats, just as they did with Trump's dummymander in Texas…[he vowed] maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time.”* In California, the downfall of Eric Swalwell has resulted in the unexpected rise of another candidate – former Congressman, California Attorney General, and Biden-era Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. Between April 10th and April 22nd, Becerra surged from a polling average of under 4% to an average of 13% – and in some polls, even moved into first place. While Becerra seeks to consolidate this spike in support, progressives are airing long-held grievances. David Sirota, former Bernie Sanders campaign advisor and founder of the Lever, cited that publication's 2021 report on how “As California AG, [Becerra] demanded the HHS secretary use existing law to lower medicine prices - and then he became HHS secretary & literally refused to do that.” Others have pointed out that, according to Transparency USA, Becerra's campaign has received massive donations from the likes of Chevron. Progressive billionaire Tom Steyer on the other hand this week received the endorsement of Our Revolution, closely aligned with Bernie Sanders, which noted that “Yes, Tom Steyer is a billionaire. But it matters what he is doing with that power: pushing for taxes on the wealthy, expanding universal programs, and dismantling corporate influence in our politics.”* In another case of politics making strange bedfellows, the Chicago Tribune reports the political arm of Planned Parenthood is making an endorsement in the race to succeed retiring Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García in Illinois 4th congressional district. Except, in this case, the reproductive rights group is not endorsing the Democrat in the race. Listeners may recall that Congressman García was sharply criticized for his maneuvering to ensure his chief of staff Patty García would be the Democratic nominee. This has forced other potential aspirants to run as independents. These include DSA-aligned Chicago Alderman Byron Sigcho-López and activist Mayra Macías – the latter of whom won the Planned Parenthood Action endorsement this week. The Tribune notes that Macías served on the board of Planned Parenthood Action until the beginning of this year. In a statement, Planned Parenthood President Alexis McGill Johnson called Macías “a proven leader,” who “will be unrelenting in the fight to protect access to sexual and reproductive health care.”* Turning to international news, in South Africa, leftist politician and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party Julius Malema was sentenced to five years in prison this week for “firing a rifle in the air at a party rally,” Al Jazeera reports. Unsurprisingly, given that the EFF is the fourth largest political party in South Africa, this case has become a rallying cry for Malema's supporters, with those same supporters accusing the prosecution of being politically motivated. Presiding Magistrate Twanet Olivier disputes this, contending that it “is not a political party who has been convicted here … it is a person, an individual.” Malema's lawyers immediately applied for – and were granted – leave to appeal, but if these appeals fail Malema could be barred from serving as a Member of Parliament.* Finally, in more positive news from abroad, Reuters reports that the much-trumpeted summit of the global Left held in Barcelona this week – designed to help progressives rally their forces to defeat modern reactionary Right-wing nationalism characterized by figures like Trump – drew over 6,000 attendees from over 40 countries. Headline speakers included Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Brazilian President Lula, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. From the United States, an ecclectic group addressed the summit, ranging from video messages of support from Hilary Clinton to Bernie Sanders to Zohran Mamdani, with an in-person address by Minnesota Governor and former Vice-Presidential candidate Tim Walz. A recurrent theme, hammered home by Isabel Allende, former Senate president of Chile and daughter of Salvador Allende, Chile's leftist president ousted in a U.S.-backed coup and replaced with the dictator Augusto Pinochet, was that the left has become too distant from the daily concerns of workers, stating in no uncertain terms that “It's unimaginable to fight against the right if we can't get closer to ordinary people.”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
The Manhattan District Attorney has already opened a criminal investigation into Swalwell, and California has no statute of limitations on rape allegations dating to 2018, meaning Swalwell faces potential criminal prosecution on both coasts. Ruben Gallego, described as Swalwell's best friend and a 2028 presidential hopeful, held his own press conference claiming he was manipulated and unaware. But Gallego then admitted he had heard rumors about Swalwell circulating in Washington DC for many years, and that he had asked Swalwell directly about the allegations. Gallego says he will only release his text message communications with Swalwell within the context of a legal proceeding, not in response to public pressure. The House Ethics Committee investigation into Swalwell is closed because he resigned from Congress. Multiple reports indicate Democratic House leadership knew not to allow young staffers near Swalwell. Swalwell has apologized to family, friends, and colleagues but has issued no apology to any of his accusers. 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
Democratic House candidates try to separate from the pack. Senate Republican candidate Kurt Alme tries to downplay the last-minute maneuver that put him into the race. Senate Democratic candidate Reilly Neill promises to hold President Trump accountable if she's elected. And this may be the last time voters elect members of the state Public Service Commission.
Democratic House candidates try to separate from the pack. Senate Republican candidate Kurt Alme tries to downplay the last-minute maneuver that put him into the race. Senate Democratic candidate Reilly Neill promises to hold President Trump accountable if she's elected. And this may be the last time voters elect members of the state Public Service Commission.
Marilyn Marks is no stranger to The Ron Show. Today, the executive director of the Coalition for Good Governance joined to raise the alarm volume on a bill that state Senator Greg Dolezal "zombified" from a Democratic House member's attempt to secure another judicial appointment for her home county. In HB960, Dolezal essentially stripped its intent and instead pumped a bunch of what the organization calls "numerous unworkable provisions," not the least of which includes onerous mandated hand recounts. Their release states "HB 960 will impose tens of millions of dollars in new, undisclosed, and unfunded costs on Georgia counties to pay for extreme needless requirements for manual vote counting. "Hear Marilyn explain how the bill already runs afoul of state law and thus shouldn't even come up for a vote, but listen as she and Ron opine as to why Lt. Governor Burt Jones isn't shielding the Senate from taking up the measure. Yes, Rick Jackson may unwittingly be playing a role, but Marks contends Democrats could stage a symbolic walkout to prevent the bill from passing.There's also enough potential chaos in the bill to put Senator Ossoff's re-election in the hands of his US Senate colleagues next January, but even then, there's the potential for more than a year of litigation. Maybe that's the sought-after result?A lot to chew on, but again - perhaps the solution rests in sticking with the state's current system, minus touchscreens and with hand marked paper ballots. Yep; that came up, too.
It's Primary Day in Illinois, where 15 Democrats, spanning three generations, are vying to succeed longtime Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky in the state's 9th Congressional District. We discuss what the race tells us about the future of the Democratic Party.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political reporter Elena Moore, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below:See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Democrats competing in Montana's western district congressional race met for a debate in Butte Tuesday. They discussed money in politics, data centers and access to health care, among other topics. While the candidates found some distinction between their views, they agree on most issues.
Four Democrats competing for Montana's western U.S. House seat met for their first public forum Tuesday. The candidates covered a wide range of topics, from housing costs to immigration policy.
Get ready to dive into the juicy world of political drama! Stephanie Miller peels back the layers on the Epstein files and the big names caught in the crossfire. Join her as she unpacks the latest gossip about high-profile players like President Trump and former President Clinton. Will these revelations shake up our faith in the government? Spoiler alert: it's a wild ride filled with laughs and serious chats that you won't want to miss! With guests Democratic House candidate Andrew Sneed & the hilarious Carlos Alazraqui!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Ralph welcomes Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson to discuss a wide range of topics, including NATO, Greenland, Gaza, and more. Then, Ralph speaks to Rabbi Alissa Wise (founding director of Rabbis for Ceasefire) about the “Jews for Food Aid for People in Gaza" campaign. Finally, Ralph and the team address some current events.Lawrence Wilkerson is a retired U.S. Army colonel. Over his 31 years of service, Colonel Wilkerson served as Secretary of State Colin Powell's Chief of Staff from 2002 to 2005, and Special Assistant to General Powell when he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993. Colonel Wilkerson also served as Deputy Director and Director of the U.S. Marine Corps War College at Quantico, Virginia, and for fifteen years he was the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Government and Public Policy at the College of William and Mary. He is currently a Senior Fellow at the Eisenhower Media Network, senior advisor to the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and co-founder of the All-Volunteer Force Forum.You aren't a newspaper, not really, if you don't have the guts to go out and get the news wherever it's happening. And you're reporting, nonetheless, to the American people [on the truth]. And it's nothing about the truth. It's as bad as what Netanyahu does in his own country in Hebrew. It's propaganda. And in many cases, it's not even accurate propaganda. It's falsified propaganda. You know, there used to be a law. And the law prohibited anyone in the Defense Department, for example, but any of the government agencies (Defense Department was the most guilty) that said: you cannot propagandize the American people. You can propagandize foreign audiences—even in wartime, you can propagandize those audiences, but you must not propagandize the American people. You have to tell them the truth or tell nothing at all. And if you're a media outlet, you should be telling them the truth, or the truth as you best can determine it. We don't honor that law anymore.Colonel Lawrence WilkersonI think [NATO and the EU are] gone, but I think the prospect for the future ought to be that we replace them. We don't just let them go and not have a replacement. And the replacement should be a European security architecture, which includes the Russians. And last time I checked a Rand McNally map, Russia (at least from the Urals inward) was a part of Europe. And it needs to be based not on spheres of influence, but on economic and financial and other needs that all of that group of people have. That's how you create something that will keep Europe and Russia together and not at loggerheads.Colonel Lawrence WilkersonI've said this a number of times (publicly I've said it) —the January 6th attempt to overthrow the United States government in favor of Donald Trump didn't fail because the system held. It failed because the coup plotters were incompetent, and their incompetence was most visible in not having the military (or a sizable segment thereof). They will not do that again.Colonel Lawrence WilkersonRabbi Alissa Wise is the Lead Organizer of Rabbis for Ceasefire, which she founded in October 2023. She was a staff leader at Jewish Voice for Peace from 2011-2021 and co-founded the JVP Rabbinical Council in 2010. She is co-author of “Solidarity is the Political Version of Love: Lessons from Jewish Anti-Zionist Organizing”. She is also one of the organizers of the “Jews for Food Aid for People in Gaza” campaign.I think there is a lot of support in the Jewish community for living up to core liberatory values that there are within Jewish tradition. This is true in every religious tradition and it's true in Judaism, where you can open the sacred text and find a justification for oppression or you could open a sacred text and find a pathway to liberation. And so what we're inviting people into is to pull the thread of liberatory Judaism. And making the conscious choice that those are the threads of the tradition that we want to pull on.Rabbi Alissa WiseThere's nothing Jewish about what the state of Israel is doing—about the state of Israel at all. It's not actually a fulfillment of Jewish practice or tradition or Torah. It's not a Torah-based government. It's government. It's a nation state. It's a military. And it uses—as I was saying before, one could open the Torah and identify justification for endless war or justification for freedom. And I think they often use their Jewishness as a fig leaf in order to shield themselves from criticism because “when you criticize them, you're being anti-Semitic.” And they pull on certain quotes or elements of Jewish teachings that either seem to uphold what they're doing while at the same time being palatable and accessible to the Christian Zionists that actually have for a long time been empowering US foreign policy.Rabbi Alissa WiseNews 2/6/26* Last week, we discussed the showdown in Congress over forcing Bill and Hillary Clinton to testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding the Epstein probe. Despite pressure from Democratic House leadership, many Democrats broke ranks to vote in favor of holding the former President and former Secretary of State in contempt of Congress. If this vote had gone to the full House, it is possible the couple could have been jailed until they agreed to testify. Instead, this week, Bill and Hillary Clinton agreed to appear before the Committee. Bill Clinton's relationship with Epstein is well-documented through the flight logs and photos that have emerged since the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Hillary Clinton claims never to have met or spoken with the late sex offender and financier, per the BBC. Former President Clinton will appear for a deposition on February 27th; the former Secretary of State will appear the day before. This piece notes that this will mark the first time a former president has testified to Congress since Gerald Ford did so in 1983 – marking a watershed moment for Congress reasserting its constitutional authority.* In more news of Congress asserting its authority vis-a-vis the Epstein scandal, Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie appeared on “Meet the Press,” this week and said that while the release of the latest batch of files is “significant,” it “is not good enough.” Khanna estimates that only about half of the Epstein files have been released so far. Given how much we have learned from the files so far, it is anyone's guess what lurks in the files they have yet to release. Crucially, withholding the files is in direct contravention of the law authored by the two lawmakers. Khanna stated plainly that “If we don't get the remaining files…Thomas Massie and I are prepared to move on impeachment,” of Attorney General Pam Bondi. This from CNBC.* The Epstein scandal has contributed to growing fissures in the MAGA movement. Perhaps the most notable defector from that camp is retired Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. This week, Greene sat for an interview with conservative radio personality Kim Iversen, and said that President Trump's Make America Great Again slogan was “all a lie…a big lie for the people,” adding “What MAGA is really serving in this administration, who they're serving, is their big donors,” per the Hill. Elaborating further, Greene said that Trump's financial backers are the real beneficiaries of the supposedly populist movement, saying “They get the government contracts, they get the pardons, or somebody they love or one of their friends gets a pardon.” While Greene has resigned her seat in Congress, she shows little sign of disappearing from the public eye. Many speculate she could seek political office in the future, even the presidency, charting a path forward for a post-Trump GOP.* Another major fight in Congress has to do with checking the out of control Department of Homeland Security. While congressional Democrats' response to the events in Minneapolis leaves much to be desired, Senate Democratic leadership is pushing for reforms to “rein in” ICE and Border Patrol, including “body camera requirements, an end to roving patrols, elevated warrant requirements and a measure to ban officers from wearing masks,” per the Hill. While these reforms fall far short of what is needed, they would go a long way toward checking the worst excesses of these out of control organizations that have come to resemble nothing so much as secret police.* At the state level, the New York Times reports New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that her office will “deploy legal observers to document raids conducted by federal immigration authorities across the state.” These observers, who will be outfitted with clearly identifiable purple vests, are intended to serve as “neutral witnesses on the ground,” and will be “instructed not to interfere with enforcement activity.” This piece highlights that California and New York have already “unveiled online portals for residents to upload photos and videos of misconduct by federal agents that could be used in state lawsuits against the federal government.” A similar effort is being launched by New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill. It remains to be seen whether these attempts to step up oversight of ICE and CBP activity will check the flagrant misconduct we have seen in places in Minneapolis.* In more state and local news, the Root reports the Gullah-Geechee people – descendants of enslaved Africans who formed unique communities including a distinct culture and even language on the coasts of states like Georgia, Florida and the Carolinas – have scored a victory against gentrification on Sapelo Island, the only surviving Gullah-Geechee community in Georgia. In 2023, developers came in and, with local commissioners in their pockets attempted to “eliminate special zoning laws… [and] double the maximum home size on the island…to 3,000 square feet.” In response, local activists and groups like Keep Sapelo Geechee collected thousands of signatures to force a community vote on the matter. This measure passed late last month by a margin of 85%. While small in scale, this victory shows that when residents organize to protect their communities they can win, even in the face of long odds.* A more disturbing story of the American periphery comes to us from Bolts Magazine. This story concerns a family from American Samoa, an unincorporated U.S. Pacific territory where residents are “American Nationals” but not citizens of the United States. This family – Tupe Smith, her husband Mike Pese and their children – moved to Whittier, Alaska in 2017 to be close to Pese's mother. Smith, a pillar of the local community, was recruited to run for the school board and won unanimously. However, because she is only a National and not a citizen, despite having a U.S. passport and Social Security number, she was in fact not eligible to run for office or even vote. Smith was arrested and indicted on two charges of felony voter misconduct. The irony of this story is that “The Alaska DMV, which doubles as a voter registration office…did not [even] include [the option to identify as a non-citizen U.S. national on official forms] until 2022” and the state has admitted that it “registered an unspecified number of non-citizens to vote between 2022 and 2024.” Now, because of Alaska's own mistakes, some Nationals are beginning to be deported over their erroneous registrations. Beyond the bureaucratic incompetence, this is a story about the American empire designating people outside of U.S. mainland second-class citizens, or more precisely, Nationals, for no discernible reason other than keeping them as a permanent colonial underclass.* Speaking of American imperial expansion, the Financial Times reports Trump administration officials held covert meetings with fringe separatist groups from Canada's oil-rich province of Alberta, such as the far-right Alberta Prosperity Project. According to this report, separatist leaders have met with US state department officials in Washington three times since April 2025, and the separatists are seeking another meeting next month with state and Treasury officials to ask for a $500 billion credit line to help keep the province afloat financially if an independence referendum is passed. This blatant undermining of Canadian sovereignty triggered outcry in the country, with British Columbia premier David Eby saying “To go to a foreign country and to ask for assistance in breaking up Canada, there's an old fashioned word for that, and that word is treason.” This from another story in the FT.* In more Trump news, after a slew of embarrassing incidents including composer Philip Glass pulling his new Lincoln symphony from the Kennedy Center in protest and the arts director resigning after just days on the job, NPR reports the president announced he will close the center for two years for “Construction, Revitalization, and Complete Rebuilding.” As the NPR piece notes, this announcement has sent ripples of confusion through the D.C. arts world, including everyone from performers in long running shows like Shear Madness, which is currently booked at the center through October as well as unions with Kennedy Center contracts, such as the musicians of the National Symphony and backstage crew. Moreover, technically Congress would have to approve of this overhaul, though considering how deferential Republican congressional leaders have proven, they would likely rubber-stamp any proposed changes. Regardless, a long-term closure of the Kennedy Center would be a tragic loss for the cultural landscape of Washington and a humiliating acknowledgment of Trump's own mismanagement of the venerable institution.* Finally, we turn to the tiny island nation of Cuba, which has held out against imperialist pressure from the United States for so many decades. This week, President Trump told reporters “Mexico is gonna cease sending [Cuba] oil,” though he did not explain why, per Reuters. At the same time, the Guardian reports Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has pledged to send humanitarian aid to Cuba adding that Mexico is “exploring all diplomatic avenues to be able to send fuel to the Cuban people,” despite the pressure campaign by the United States. She further claimed that despite Trump's comments, “We never discussed…the issue of oil with Cuba.” The Reuters piece however notes that “Trump has privately questioned Sheinbaum about crude and fuel shipments to Cuba,” and Sheinbaum “responded that the shipments are ‘humanitarian aid,'” and that Trump “did not directly urge Mexico to halt the oil deliveries.” On Sunday, the Hill reported Pope Leo XIV weighed in to beseech that the two nations engage in a “sincere and effective dialogue in order to avoid violence and every action that could increase the suffering of the dear Cuban people,” echoing a call by the Bishops of Cuba.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
-- On the Show -- The right-wing media ecosystem turns Charlie Kirk into both a saint and a conspiracy object, hollowing out his legacy while the Trump administration exploits his death -- The White House insists Donald Trump is in perfect health while public footage shows cognitive lapses and a presidency increasingly shielded by public relations -- MAGA functions as a cult of personal loyalty to Donald Trump and collapses without him, leaving the Republican Party to repackage the same resentments in quieter forms -- A Democratic House after the 2026 midterms strips Donald Trump of legislative power and turns his presidency into institutional paralysis and constant investigation -- Republican leaders increasingly treat Donald Trump as a liability to manage rather than a leader to follow, quietly building parallel power structures -- New polling shows Donald Trump deeply underwater with independents, signaling midterm danger as congressional allies distance themselves -- The Trump administration follows the classic authoritarian pattern where loyalty replaces competence and governance collapses into chaos -- Donald Trump's behavior consistently contradicts his rhetoric, revealing a governing style built on performative outrage and quiet retreats rather than real belief -- On the Bonus Show: Producer Pat hosts the Bonus Show
On Monday, Oregon state lawmakers will convene in Salem to start the 2026 short legislative session. They’ll have just 35 days to tackle their legislative priorities, including the future of transportation funding, housing and rebalancing the state budget, which is facing a nearly $900 million shortfall due to projected federal spending cuts on programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have also seized on growing concerns around affordability and the cost of living, although with different views on what’s to blame. Also expected on the agenda is legislation Gov. Tina Kotek is sponsoring to accelerate job growth and ease business permitting as part of a multi-pronged effort that Kotek recently unveiled and appointed former state Senate Republican leader Tim Knopp to lead. House Minority Leader Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville, and House Speaker Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, join us to share their perspectives and priorities for the legislative session.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:The Texas House Democratic Committee reports a record $2.2 million fundraising windfall in 2025, fueled largely by the summer Democratic House quorum break: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/01/15/texas-house-democratic-caucus-2-2-million-fundraising/New Emerson College polling shows a nine point lead for Austin State Rep. James Talarico over Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic race for Senate, while incumbent Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton remain in a low-scoring virtual tie: https://emersoncollegepolling.com/texas-2026-poll/...Congresswoman Crockett put on a masterclass in destroying conspiracy theories yesterday, taking on January 6th types: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyHS28RsmQU...While Rep. Talarico appeared this week on the New York Times' Ezra Klein Show: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/13/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-james-talarico.htmlThe special election runoff for the Texas Senate in Tarrant County's Senate District 9 is increasingly seen as a bellwether for the following primary and general midterm elections: https://fortworthreport.org/2026/01/14/a-bellwether-election-tarrants-texas-senate-runoff-draws-national-attention/Local resistance in Hutchins, Texas is rising in relation to a massive planned "human warehouse" being developed there by Donald Trump's ICE. Initial report: https://baptistnews.com/article/trump-preparing-to-warehouse-immigrants-like-cargo/...And an update: https://baptistnews.com/article/update-on-proposed-human-warehouse-in-texas/Early voting in the March primary starts in mere weeks, on February 17 - the time to research your ballot is right now: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, HERE and HERE.Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Virginia Democrats won 64 House of Delegates seats last fall. Wednesday morning, they celebrated their wins and outlined how they'll govern over the 60-day General Assembly session. Brad Kutner was there and has this report.
'twas the day after The Night Before Christmas, and all through the house, nobody really wanted to be responsible for making other people work. So I didn't. Uh... not even a mouse, or whatever. Today, we'll all take a moment to relax--whether you have reason to or not--and think back to a time when Christmas meant the impending departure of Donald Trump. A simpler time, when we didn't yet know that someone had blown a city block of Nashville sky high, on Trump's "watch." You could be forgiven for forgetting, though, since he also launched a MAGA assalut on the U.S. Capitol less than two weeks later. So, yes, please enjoy this, our December 24, 2020 episode! David Waldman, opens today's KITM yawning like the MGM lion, waking us up for Christmas eve: Donald Trump keeps handing out pardons like moist candy canes to anyone that met him under the mistletoe over the last few years. Donald pardoned Jesse Benton as a gift to his employers, Ron Paul and Mitch McConnell and the uncle of Benton's wife, Rand Paul… (Jesse will probably be Matt Gaetz' son by the end of the day.) Trump pardoned a former Maryland police officer whose heart he knew was in the right place. (They need to be arrested faster than Trump can pardon them.) Merry Christmas! Trump's Blackwater pardons aren't bringing much cheer to their victim's families, however. There's bound to be more today, but Dad's saving the nicest ones for under the tree in Mar-a-Lago. Greg Dworkin reminds us that actually, Donald Trump doesn't give gifts to anyone but himself. If he can take someone else's gift, it's even better. Merry F***ing Christmas to everyone in Congress with the Gop at each other's throats and Democrats trying to pull $2000 checks out of the fireplace. It seems that Trump might be a little over his head still on how government works, or how reality works for that matter. Kelly Loeffler, too. Two Republican House members voted by proxy — while simultaneously suing to ban the use of proxy voting . Ron DeSantis figures, why appoint experts when he can be the guy that says expert things? Rep.-elect Luke Letlow checked himself into the hospital for no particular reason, and is now thinking about checking out the ICU for the holidays. People who are immunocompromised or otherwise allow coronavirus to hang around for while might encourage unfortunate mutations. Did Bill Barr arrest Lev Parnas to keep him from testifying against Donald Trump? Did a Democratic House candidate lose by 6 votes after 22 votes were improperly excluded in Iowa? Did the Kansas City Star misreport on Black Kansas Citians for generations? Yes.
Dave Rubin of "The Rubin Report" talks to Senator John Kennedy about the real world results of Trump's attacks on Venezuelan drug boats that Democrats would like to ignore; Congress racing to pass key legislation like the National Defense Authorization Act; how one GOP holdout could stall progress; why Republicans need to focus on lowering the cost of living through deregulation and economic reform ahead of the midterms; how a Democratic House could trigger impeachment chaos and gridlock; what makes Louisiana so unique; and much more. Check out the NEW RUBIN REPORT MERCH here: https://daverubin.store/ ---------- Today's Sponsors: Balance of Nature - Make sure you are getting all the positive effects from a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Get 50% off the Whole Health System FOR LIFE with this limited-time offer! Go to https://www.BalanceofNature.com MASA Chips - MASA's chips contain just three ingredients: organic nixtamalized corn, sea salt, and 100% grass-fed beef tallow. That's it. No seed oils, no mystery chemicals, just real food. Ready to give MASA or Vandy a try? Get 25% off your first order. Go to http://masachips.com/RUBIN and use code RUBIN.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun joined The Guy Benson Show today to discuss the ongoing battle across the country to redistrict states mid-decade, as is going on in his home state of Indiana. Braun walked through why Republicans are pushing back against census errors driven by illegal immigration that cost the party House seats, and he detailed his ongoing battle with the Indiana State Senate as he works to advance President Trump's agenda in the state. Braun also discussed why Republicans must continue their efforts across the country, as many Democrats are looking to add Democratic House seats in their own states, Braun wrapped by comparing his time in the U.S. Senate to his experience now as governor, outlining the differences between the two roles and working in the private sector as a business owner. Listen to the full interview below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Virginia just delivered a historic election, electing the first female chief executive, Abigail Spanberger, and expanding the Democratic House of Delegates majority by 13 seats. What does this shift mean for Virginia's business climate, the upcoming 2026 General Assembly session, and franchise auto dealers? Join host Dan Carrigan with two members of VADA's Lobbying team, Tripp Perrin (Lindl Government Affairs) and Greg Habeeb (Gentry Locke Consulting), as they provide an in-depth breakdown of the election results and the political landscape moving forward. This discussion is for auto dealers and those following the campaigns and election of Governor-elect Spanberger, Attorney General-elect Jay Jones and more.
In Tuesday's elections, Democrats scored crushing victories everywhere. They won the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races by double digits, made big inroads with working class voters, handily won the California referendum, which could result in five more Democratic House seats, and more. Yet Trump is blaming everyone but himself. Punchbowl's Andrew Desiderio reports that he privately rebuked GOP Senators, suggesting their shutdown was the culprit. He urged them to nuke the filibuster to end the shutdown, claiming failure could render the GOP a “dead party.” And he angrily snapped at Senator Lindsey Graham in the process. In short, Trump cannot accept something fundamental: His coalition is much more fragile than advertised, and he is making it even worse by, well, wrecking the country. We talked to New Republic senior editor Alex Shephard, who has a good new piece on the energy driving Democrats. We discuss the shift of working class voters toward Democrats, the media's hangover from overreading Trump's 2024 win, and the through line connecting those gubernatorial victories with Zohran Mamdani's triumph. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In Tuesday's elections, Democrats scored crushing victories everywhere. They won the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races by double digits, made big inroads with working class voters, handily won the California referendum, which could result in five more Democratic House seats, and more. Yet Trump is blaming everyone but himself. Punchbowl's Andrew Desiderio reports that he privately rebuked GOP Senators, suggesting their shutdown was the culprit. He urged them to nuke the filibuster to end the shutdown, claiming failure could render the GOP a “dead party.” And he angrily snapped at Senator Lindsey Graham in the process. In short, Trump cannot accept something fundamental: His coalition is much more fragile than advertised, and he is making it even worse by, well, wrecking the country. We talked to New Republic senior editor Alex Shephard, who has a good new piece on the energy driving Democrats. We discuss the shift of working class voters toward Democrats, the media's hangover from overreading Trump's 2024 win, and the through line connecting those gubernatorial victories with Zohran Mamdani's triumph. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In Tuesday's elections, Democrats scored crushing victories everywhere. They won the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races by double digits, made big inroads with working class voters, handily won the California referendum, which could result in five more Democratic House seats, and more. Yet Trump is blaming everyone but himself. Punchbowl's Andrew Desiderio reports that he privately rebuked GOP Senators, suggesting their shutdown was the culprit. He urged them to nuke the filibuster to end the shutdown, claiming failure could render the GOP a “dead party.” And he angrily snapped at Senator Lindsey Graham in the process. In short, Trump cannot accept something fundamental: His coalition is much more fragile than advertised, and he is making it even worse by, well, wrecking the country. We talked to New Republic senior editor Alex Shephard, who has a good new piece on the energy driving Democrats. We discuss the shift of working class voters toward Democrats, the media's hangover from overreading Trump's 2024 win, and the through line connecting those gubernatorial victories with Zohran Mamdani's triumph. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Today's Headlines: Trump kicked off his Asia trip with stops at the ASEAN Summit and meetings with China's Xi Jinping and North Korea's Kim Jong Un, bragging that a trade deal with China is “close” while hinting—again—that he might go for a third term. He also casually revealed he had an MRI and dementia test at Walter Reed that somehow didn't make it into his official health report (but don't worry, he says the scan was “perfect”). Meanwhile, Venezuela accused the U.S. of staging a “military provocation” after a U.S. warship docked in Trinidad and Tobago—an accusation that started sounding less wild after Lindsey Graham said Trump is considering “land strikes” against Venezuela and Colombia. A new study found that major chatbots—including ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok—have been echoing Russian propaganda from sanctioned media outlets, while another report revealed that a leaked database exposed personal data from over 450 Americans with top secret clearances tied to Democratic House offices. The government shutdown drags on, threatening food benefits for nearly 50 million people and hiking health insurance premiums nationwide. In Indiana, Governor Mike Braun called a special session to fast-track a redistricting plan that could add two GOP House seats. Elsewhere, Hurricane Melissa is bearing down on Jamaica after killing several people in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, Amazon is reportedly laying off 30,000 workers in its biggest job cut ever, and—because it's apparently 1975 again—the Trump administration just ordered the FBI to dig through its files for anything related to Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: NYT: Trump's China Deal May Avert a Crisis of His Own Making Axios: Trump underwent previously undisclosed MRI during Walter Reed visit Axios: Venezuela calls U.S.-Trinidad and Tobago military exercises a "provocation" Axios: Graham predicts Trump's war on "narco-terrorists" will expand to land strikes Wired: Chatbots Are Pushing Sanctioned Russian Propaganda Wired: Hundreds of People With ‘Top Secret' Clearance Exposed by House Democrats' Website The Guardian: Food benefits set to expire for 41 million people as US shutdown continues Axios Indianapolis: Indiana Gov. Mike Braun calls special redistricting session Axios: Jamaica braces for direct hit from potentially "catastrophic" Hurricane Melissa CNBC: Amazon to announce largest layoffs in company history, source says CNN: Amazon to announce largest layoffs in company history, source says Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We're seeing a confluence of events that suggest President Trump's corruption has crossed over to an ugly new place. Trump is destroying a White House building to create a ballroom for him and his rich friends. He's demanding that the Justice Department hand over $230 million in taxpayer funds to compensate him for “damages.” And Democrats from Senator Chris Murphy to Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries are going after all this in a newly aggressive way. Into this mess stepped White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, who issued an extraordinary new defense of Trump's ballroom fiasco. It was absolutely laden with comically cultish devotion to the Audience of One, but the hagiography also revealed something darker. We talked to New Republic staff writer Matt Ford, author of a great new piece about Trump's self-dealing. He explains how all this corruption and all this worshipful propaganda reveals Trump's profound contempt for the rule of law, for DOJ independence, for the idea of the public good, and even for the American people. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The former president during a Wednesday call with volunteers painted Proposition 50 as a bid to change California’s congressional lines mid-cycle and pick up five Democratic House seats next year. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The former president during a Wednesday call with volunteers painted Proposition 50 as a bid to change California’s congressional lines mid-cycle and pick up five Democratic House seats next year. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Philip Teresi on KMJ' on all platforms: --- Philip Teresi on KMJ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. -- Philip Teresi on KMJ Weekdays 2-6 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Podcast | Amazon | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Today's Headlines: We're now on day 16 of the government shutdown, and Republican leaders are hinting it could drag on until Thanksgiving — casually blaming holiday travel chaos while admitting they're not even thinking about reopening the government. Meanwhile, OMB Director Russell Vought says the administration plans to fire 10,000 federal workers, though a federal judge just ruled they can't do that during a shutdown. While public employees go unpaid, the administration is finding cash for others — promising a “clever and generous” $10 billion bailout for farmers hit by the trade war with China once the shutdown ends, and another $20 billion to prop up Argentina's crumbling economy. Priorities! At the Pentagon, dozens of journalists turned in their press badges rather than sign Pete Hegseth's “state media” pledge requiring them to only report what the Defense Department approves — a move even Fox wouldn't touch. Over at the Supreme Court, justices heard a major case that could gut the Voting Rights Act by striking down race-based map protections — potentially flipping a dozen Democratic House seats in the South right before the 2026 midterms. Meanwhile, an Ohio GOP congressman's office was found to have a flag featuring a swastika intertwined with the American flag visible on a Zoom call. He blamed it on “vandalism,” because apparently random Nazi décor just appears in people's offices now. And finally, the yacht formerly known as the Lady Ghislaine — once owned by Robert Maxwell (yes, Ghislaine's dad) and now Rupert Murdoch's ex-wife's — caught fire in D.C. yesterday. Officials say it was electrical. Okay then. Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode: Politico: Thanksgiving travel looms as shutdown risk, GOP leaders say - Live Updates Axios: Federal firings could reach 10,000 during shutdown, Vought says AP News: Live updates: Judge blocks Trump administration from firing during shutdown Axios: Exclusive: "Clever and generous" farm bailout coming, Hassett says WaPo: Bessent says bailout for Argentina will double to boost U.S. influence in region The Wrap: Pentagon Reporters Turn In Press Badges as Pete Hegseth Restrictions Take Effect – but 'the Work Continues' NYT: Justices Seemed Open to Further Limiting the Voting Rights Act NBC News: Republican congressman calls flag with swastika displayed in his office 'vile' and says it's under investigation Telegraph: Yacht named after Ghislaine Maxwell catches fire in Washington DC Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Look Forward, the guys return discuss the insane speeches by both Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump to a room of 800+ active duty generals and admirals, government shutdown is here and who's to blame?, MAGA lunatic does mass shooting inside Mormon church and its almost complete silence from Republicans about it, Mike Johnson slow walks swearing in of Democratic House member because of looming Epstein files release vote, Marjorie Taylor-Greene still sticking to her guns on releasing the Epstein files no matter what, Trump administration is launch "TrumpRx" for lower direct to consumer pharma drugs, medbeds reach the mainstream thanks to sundowning grand in the White House, and much more!Big TopicTrump and Hegseth aim to make the military bend the kneeA Wretched Hive of Scum and VillainyGovernment shutdown looms, do Dems have the balls to let it happen?Looks like they do?What even is the Hatch Act?MAGA lunatic does mass shooting at Mormon churchWhere is the rightwing outpouring of support for victims?Where is the wall to wall coverage?Democrats release more Epstein files informationRepublicans aren't swearing in new Dem to stop Epstein files voteMTG might be the most interesting Congressperson involved in all of thisFast Corruption and Faster Screw-UpsAgriculture Secretary knows soybeans situation is horribleSundowning Grandpa thinks he approved medbedsTrumpRx, yeah good luck with all thatHarvard trade schools…man, I guessYouTube settles a lawsuit they already wonI'd really rather deal with the Chinese government versionWhat's Dumber, A Brick or A Republican?Yeah you read that right
MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Donald Trump suddenly canceling the meeting that was supposed to take place on Thursday with Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries and Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer to avoid a shutdown as Trump and MAGA Mike Johnson seem like they want to throw the government into a shutdown. Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com/tag/coalition-of-the-sane Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
California Governor Gavin Newsom is breaking through like no other Democrat. This is partly because he's forging ahead with a state gerrymander to add five Democratic House seats, countering President Trump's rigging of Texas. But we think there are deeper reasons Newsom is cutting through the noise. These were on display when Newsom recently issued a stark warning about Trump's long term intentions. Newsom connected numerous dots to offer a takedown of Trump that laid bare the full scope of his ongoing authoritarian takeover in a way other Democrats rarely do. We talked to Will Stancil, a policy researcher and attorney who has developed an interesting analysis of the Democratic Party on social media. We discussed what makes Newsom's approach different, how he's attempting to solve the party's struggles in the information wars, and why it offers the beginnings of an approach for the party to adopt amid Trump's imposition of authoritarian rule. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
California Governor Gavin Newsom is breaking through like no other Democrat. This is partly because he's forging ahead with a state gerrymander to add five Democratic House seats, countering President Trump's rigging of Texas. But we think there are deeper reasons Newsom is cutting through the noise. These were on display when Newsom recently issued a stark warning about Trump's long term intentions. Newsom connected numerous dots to offer a takedown of Trump that laid bare the full scope of his ongoing authoritarian takeover in a way other Democrats rarely do. We talked to Will Stancil, a policy researcher and attorney who has developed an interesting analysis of the Democratic Party on social media. We discussed what makes Newsom's approach different, how he's attempting to solve the party's struggles in the information wars, and why it offers the beginnings of an approach for the party to adopt amid Trump's imposition of authoritarian rule. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
California Governor Gavin Newsom is breaking through like no other Democrat. This is partly because he's forging ahead with a state gerrymander to add five Democratic House seats, countering President Trump's rigging of Texas. But we think there are deeper reasons Newsom is cutting through the noise. These were on display when Newsom recently issued a stark warning about Trump's long term intentions. Newsom connected numerous dots to offer a takedown of Trump that laid bare the full scope of his ongoing authoritarian takeover in a way other Democrats rarely do. We talked to Will Stancil, a policy researcher and attorney who has developed an interesting analysis of the Democratic Party on social media. We discussed what makes Newsom's approach different, how he's attempting to solve the party's struggles in the information wars, and why it offers the beginnings of an approach for the party to adopt amid Trump's imposition of authoritarian rule. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The big political news in California: its state legislature agreeing to a Nov. 4 special election to decide whether to temporarily return congressional redistricting to lawmakers – by doing so, California is adding more Democratic House seats and offsetting Republican gains in Texas via that state's mid-decade redistricting efforts. Hoover senior fellow Lee Ohanian and distinguished policy fellow Bill Whalen, both contributors to Hoover's California on Your Mind web channel, join Hoover senior product manager Jonathan Movroydis to discuss election wildcards (Gov. Gavin Newsom's mixed record as the face of initiative campaigns; former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as a voice against), what the ballot ploy means for Newsom's presidential prospects (is he a winner 2028-wise regardless of the outcome?), plus its impact on next year's gubernatorial race (if voters reject the plan, will Democratic hopefuls ease off democracy-in-danger rhetoric in favor of more tangible concerns like housing and public safety?). Recorded on August 21, 2025.
California lawmakers approved a redistricting measure aimed at gaining five Democratic House seats. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the legislation, placing the proposal—Proposition 50—on the November 4 ballot. The plan bypasses the independent commission, sparking partisan debate and legal challenges over voter representation and election fairness. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Broeske & Musson' on all platforms: --- The ‘Broeske & Musson Podcast’ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you listen to podcasts. --- ‘Broeske & Musson' Weekdays 9-11 AM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Facebook | Podcast| X | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by Robert Benson, D.Phil., Associate Director for National Security and International Policy at American Progress. The two breakdown Trump's summit with Putin, where he failed to secure a peace deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine. Then, Brad is joined by Tara Devlin, host of the podcast, 'TARABUSTER.' The pair exposes Trump and the GOP's hypocrisy as they deploy the National Guard to Washington D.C. with the excuse of stopping violent crime, yet they are the same people who pardoned those who violently assaulted Capitol Police Officers right in Washington D.C. on January 6th. They also discuss California Governor Gavin Newsom's efforts to nullify Trump led efforts to gerrymander Texas congressional districts, with the goal of gaining GOP house seats, by doing the same in California, in order to gain Democratic House seats to balance things out. The website for American Progress is http://www.AmericanProgress.org and their handle on BlueSky is @americanprogress.bsky.social. Robert's handle is @robertbenson92.bsky.social. Tara Devlin is a New York City based comedian, writer, and host of the unapologetically-liberal podcast "TARABUSTER.” Tarabuster is 5-star viewer-reviewed and 100% viewer-supported. Help keep the REAL liberal media going – and growing – by becoming a Patron of Tarabuster at Patreon.com/TaraDevlin. You can follow Tara on BlueSky at @tarabuster.bsky.social and on Instagram at @Taradackty. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET. Brad is first joined by Robert Benson, D.Phil., Associate Director for National Security and International Policy at American Progress. The two breakdown Trump's summit with Putin, where he failed to secure a peace deal to end Russia's war with Ukraine. Then, Brad is joined by Tara Devlin, host of the podcast, 'TARABUSTER.' The pair exposes Trump and the GOP's hypocrisy as they deploy the National Guard to Washington D.C. with the excuse of stopping violent crime, yet they are the same people who pardoned those who violently assaulted Capitol Police Officers right in Washington D.C. on January 6th. They also discuss California Governor Gavin Newsom's efforts to nullify Trump led efforts to gerrymander Texas congressional districts, with the goal of gaining GOP house seats, by doing the same in California, in order to gain Democratic House seats to balance things out. The website for American Progress is http://www.AmericanProgress.org and their handle on BlueSky is @americanprogress.bsky.social. Robert's handle is @robertbenson92.bsky.social. Tara Devlin is a New York City based comedian, writer, and host of the unapologetically-liberal podcast "TARABUSTER.” Tarabuster is 5-star viewer-reviewed and 100% viewer-supported. Help keep the REAL liberal media going – and growing – by becoming a Patron of Tarabuster at Patreon.com/TaraDevlin. You can follow Tara on BlueSky at @tarabuster.bsky.social and on Instagram at @Taradackty. Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.' He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
Host Dawn Vaughan is joined by Rep. Brian Turner, a Democrat from Buncombe County. First elected in 2014, Turner served the House and then took a term off, then came back. We talk about why he left and why he came back, and his career from Mills Manufacturing to UNC Asheville. More than a decade later, Turner has a unique perspective of serving under different Democratic House leadership, different governors and with a lot of different legislators. Host: Dawn Vaughan Guest: Rep. Brian Turner Executive Producer: Laura Brache Want even more North Carolina politics news? Our Under the Dome newsletter dives deep into all things #ncpol and legislative happenings. It's sent to your inbox Tuesday to Friday and Sunday. Sign up here. Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription to The N&O. If you're already a subscriber, thank you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Following a marathon 16-hour hearing, Texas Republicans have advanced the Trump-backed congressional map, which is expected to shift five Democratic House districts to Republican control. In response, California Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing a special election this November to adopt new congressional maps of his own. Texas State Representative Gina Hinojosa joins The Weekend to discuss the latest in the redistricting saga. Then, cities across the country are grappling with the influence import tariffs will have on their local industries and residents. The Weekend talks to Mayor Jim Rose of Arlington, Texas, and Mayor Andy Schor of Lansing, Michigan, to get their first-hand accounts. Plus, a dozen House Democrats sue the Trump administration after being barred from visiting immigration detention centers. Representative Adriano Espaillat of New York joins The Weekend to discuss the latest.
SEASON 3 EPISODE 107: COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN A-Block (1:45) SPECIAL COMMENT: He has to go. And Minority Whip Katherine Clark. And Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar. And for that matter, Gavin Newsom has to go. Because after these standard-issue moderate Democrats vanished on election night they have suddenly reappeared 125 days later to address the REAL issue: Democratic House members who actually DID something to protest Trump - even just something symbolic like Al Green did, or those who supported him did. Jeffries and the others called them to a "come to Jesus" meeting to warn them never to ignore his "Dear Colleague" letter again, that the way to stand up to Trump lighting the county and the world on fire is to hold up mincing little pickle ball paddles with mild words on them and especially to coordinate outfits while not clapping. Out. Jeffries, Clark, Aguilar. And anybody else who doesn't realize that the last people capable of piercing Trump's bubble are Democrats at his speeches to Congress, and the media which has failed at the task even more than the Dems have. We need civil disobedience and instead Jeffries is warning Democrats, and 10 Democrats are joining the fascists, in punishing Democrats. And Newsom? His comments about trans athletes are bad enough. That he did them during a podcast with Charlie Kirk, arranged by Newsom's ex-wife Kim Guilfoyle, is far worse. I mean Newsom's judgment was already in doubt (he married Kim Guilfoyle FFS), but this is insanity. The nation is ablaze and the Dems are sending strongly worded notes. The media continues to collapse.It believed Trump's lies about pressuring Russia while he was in fact increasing his demands of Ukraine to include Zelensky resigning. And when Trump told a reporter he couldn't ask a certain question the White House Correspondents Association continued its policy of not commenting. And golly why did Trump think he could publicly threaten Nicolle Wallace and Rachel Maddow? Well, because of Joe Scarborough, obvs. B-Block (38:00) THE WORST PERSONS IN THE WORLD: Stephen A. Smith is not running for president, but keep asking him. Happily he IS showing he doesn't understand the first thing about any of this. His newest political crush? Candace Owens. Meanwhile Musk doesn't understand sports or America. And the Prime Minister of New Zealand fired a diplomat for reminding Britain that Trump is simply doing now what they did to Czechoslovakia in 1938. C-Block (49:20) THURBER SPECIAL: Thurber House in Columbus, Ohio, needs about $200,000 to keep going. The least we can do is raise consciousness. So for the first time since the election here is not just one but two Thurber stories: my favorite ("A Box To Hide In") and my late father's ("I Went To Sullivant." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
MeidasTouch host Ben Meiselas reports on Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries finally going on the offense against MAGA Republicans in the House. VIIA: Try VIIA Hemp! https://bit.ly/viiameidas and use code MEIDAS Visit https://meidastouch.com for more! Remember to subscribe to ALL the MeidasTouch Network Podcasts: MeidasTouch: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/meidastouch-podcast Legal AF: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/legal-af MissTrial: https://meidasnews.com/tag/miss-trial The PoliticsGirl Podcast: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-politicsgirl-podcast The Influence Continuum: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-influence-continuum-with-dr-steven-hassan Mea Culpa with Michael Cohen: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/mea-culpa-with-michael-cohen The Weekend Show: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/the-weekend-show Burn the Boats: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/burn-the-boats Majority 54: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/majority-54 Political Beatdown: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/political-beatdown On Democracy with FP Wellman: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/on-democracy-with-fpwellman Uncovered: https://www.meidastouch.com/tag/maga-uncovered Coalition of the Sane: https://meidasnews.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
As Kamala Harris officially concedes after a terrible election, Democrats begin searching for lessons—and singling out others for blame. Jon, Lovett, Dan, and Tommy discuss Harris's farewell message, the various conflicting and enraging theories being floated as to why she lost, and how we should think about campaigns going forward. Plus: Sen. Jacky Rosen appears to score a win in Nevada, and Democratic House candidates in uncalled races see a path to victory—and maybe even a narrow majority.