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In part two of Red Eye Radio with Gary McNamara and Eric Harley, with just weeks before Election Day, Democratic engagement and positive ratings give Democrat James Talarico a razor-thin edge over Republican Ken Paxton in what is, so far, shaping up to be a photo finish for the Lone Star State's U.S. Senate seat. This analysis, released Thursday, is among Texas likely voters, unless otherwise noted. Talarico enjoys a net positive personal rating of 8 points (52% favorable vs. 44% unfavorable), while Paxton's is underwater by 18 points (40% vs. 58%). Republicans are six times more likely to view Paxton unfavorably (32%) than Democrats do Talarico (5%). And audio from Senator John Kennedy sounding off on the lack of support for collegiate sports . For more talk on the issues that matter to you, listen on radio stations across America Monday-Friday 12am-5am CT (1am-6am ET and 10pm-3am PT), download the RED EYE RADIO SHOW app, asking your smart speaker, or listening at RedEyeRadioShow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A Democratic outside group called Defend the Vote has launched a $7 million statewide television campaign attacking Senator John Husted's ties to data-center developers and making him the face of AI data centers in Ohio. Husted knows he's vulnerable on this. That's why he attached his name to the Ratepayer Protection Act, which was designed to prevent regular citizens from paying higher electricity costs because of data centers. The bill passed the House but failed procedurally in the Senate, 57–43, because it needed 60 votes.Most people don't really know why data centers are supposed to be bad beyond the fact that big tech wants them and nobody knows what that means for their community. There's plenty of misinformation, but the issue has still become a galvanizing cross-party force. The strongest Democratic argument is to frame data centers as corruption — payback, kickbacks, graft, and politicians acting as supplicants to big tech. Otherwise, it's mostly a NIMBY concern. But if that concern reaches the exurbs, Democrats will gladly take those votes because they don't normally get them.Politics Politics Politics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Ohio used to be one of the swingiest swing states before moving firmly into the Republican column during the Trump era. Now it's close again. One poll has Sherrod Brown leading Husted by nearly four points, another has him up eight, another has him up 2.6, and the latest has him ahead by one. The race appears to be narrowing, but this is still a state Trump won comfortably in 2024 and one where nobody spent much time, money, or effort trying to elect Kamala Harris.Democrats may have an even better opportunity in the governor's race. Amy Acton leads Vivek Ramaswamy by six points in one poll and nine in another, and she's above 50 percent in both. Another poll has Ramaswamy ahead by one, so this isn't universal, but we may be seeing the degradation of the Trump coalition — voters who believed in Trump's brand of populism and now feel disillusioned or betrayed. Acton is also the more charismatic candidate. Ramaswamy is compelling when he's on the attack, but when he isn't tearing somebody down, he's odd. He's in this position because Trump was popular in Ohio. Now he may have to eat a gigantic sandwich full of excrement.Democrats also appear to be addressing their money problem in the House. Their two main outside groups raised a combined $230 million during the third quarter, the best quarter they've ever had, bringing their cycle total to $514 million. House Majority PAC plans to spend more than $291 million on advertising before Election Day. Democrats were hurting, and now they'll be able to play on the air. The question is where they can still buy space, because many of those slots were reserved months ago.Trump, meanwhile, is using investment announcements and campaign visits to help vulnerable Republicans. He announced a $54 billion Alaska gas project with Senator Dan Sullivan and promoted a proposed $15 billion steel plant in Iowa alongside Ashley Hinson. I don't think anyone will be able to say Trump was lazy during these midterms. The Republican fear was that he'd sense things were going badly, pull back, stop spending money, and start trashing his own candidates. Instead, he understands this is the last time he'll be on the ballot, even by proxy, and he's getting off his ass. Whether it'll matter is another question.Chapters00:00:00 - Intro00:01:57 - Ohio00:09:06 - Update00:09:40 - Dem Fundraising00:11:35 - Reflecting Pool00:12:46 - Trump's Midterm Push00:15:50 - Interview with Kirk Bado 00:55:05 - Emails and Wrap-up This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/subscribe
Thursday, October 1, 2026Today, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has moved arguments over whether to release Volume II of Jack Smith's final report from January to the day before the midterms; a new Federal Reserve Inspector General report shows no criminality in their renovation project; the Wisconsin Supreme Court agrees to hear a case on expanding voting hours; a court has ordered an in-camera review of the memo authorizing Caribbean boat strikes; an NCCU psychology professor says Black people don't hang themselves in response to a rash of lynchings in the South; a federal appeals court has halted the execution of the lone woman on death row in Tennessee; Riley Gaines' Title IX lawsuit against the NCAA has been thrown out; plus Allison and Dana deliver your Good News.Thank You, Mint Mobile | Make the switch! MINTMOBILE.com/DAILYBEANS On behalf of RAICES, we're fundraising critical funds to ensure immigrant families have access to legal aidDonate to Daily Beans for Equality New MexicoWe've Been Nominated for a Signal Award for best news podcast! Vote for The Daily Beans https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/shows/genre/news-politicsThe Trump Epstein Memorial BookmobileThe Daily Beans is proud to partner with Miles Taylor and our friends at DEFIANCE.org For a limited time, members of the Daily Beans community can receive a FREE 3-month full membership to DEFIANCE.org and gain access to one of the fastest-growing pro-democracy movements in America. Join here: defiance.org/beans The Latest Breakdown →What Do Mark Hamill, Kathy Griffin, Glenn Kirschner, Rep Gloria Johnson, and Brian Karem Have in Common?New Unjustified →Volume II Catch-22Diamond Dames → Diamond Dames - YouTube Diamond Dames - A Ted Lasso PodcastPatreon → The Daily Beans | PatreonStoriesPentagon ordered to show legal justification for boat strikes | Courthouse News ServiceWisconsin Supreme Court agrees to hear case on expanded voting hours during Election Day disruptions | Democracy DocketWatchdog finds no criminality in Fed renovation that drew Trump's scrutiny | NBC NewsTennessee inmate still alive after being administered two lethal injections, her lawyer says | NBC NewsBlack people don't hang themselves, NCCU psychology professor says | The Triangle TribuneRiley Gaines' Title IX Lawsuit Against The NCAA Struck Down After Judge Finds "No Evidence" Of Funding Claims | Erin In The MorningGood Trouble→Voterpalooza Fest St. Louis, MO→Battleground Support Hub - Democrats.org →Get Out The Vote: Volunteer Info Session→Voter Registration Deadlines - Vote.org→Hands Off Our Vote! 2026 Toolkit | Indivisible→Help staff your local polling place - Power The Polls→Voter Registration Volunteer Opportunities · Mobilize→Helpline Orientation- Spanish Speakers Needed! - VoteRiders→Help save Texas from Ken Paxton! →NO HATE in WA State→Stand With Minnesota →iceout.org Good NewsSanctuary One AnimalsMISS AMERICA 2003ElectTeresa.comDana Goldberg's Southwest FunnyFest Oct 9 - City of Albuquerque→Share your Good News & Good Trouble - The Daily Beans→Beans Talk audio -beans-talk.simplecast.comSubscribe to the MSW on YouTube - MSW Media - YouTubeOur Donation Links →Giving - The Daily BeansDr. Allison Gill - The Breakdown | Allison Gill→Federal workers email AG - fedoath@pm.meDana Goldberg - Dana is on Patreon! At Dana's Dugout, @dgcomedy - Bluesky, @dgcomedy - IG, Dana Goldberg - Facebook, DanaGoldberg.com for Tour DatesMore from MSW Media - Shows, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | Allison Gill Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Donald Trump has been running propaganda ads starring, well, himself as a way to help the GOP in the midterms. The ads are government-funded, and one official even suggested that the payment scheme is partly designed to get media attention to the ads, amplifying them further. It's appallingly corrupt and potentially illegal. But, amusingly, they're backfiring: A new Quinnipiac poll shows that Trump is more toxic for the GOP than we thought. It finds his approval at an abysmal 34 percent, and at 31 percent on the economy, a record low for him. Worse, Democrats now lead Republicans on the economy, international conflicts and immigration, three traditional GOP strengths, underscoring just how big a drag he's become. We talked to David Corn, author of the new book How Russia Won and a New Republic piece on Trumpian propaganda. We discuss how badly Trump is screwing the GOP, why those TV ads are destined to fail, why he'll grow more dangerous as Election Day approaches, and how to prepare for it. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Every Thursday from 1 to 2 PM on WNYC, through Election Day, WNYC senior political reporter Brigid Bergin hosts a pop-up local politics call-in show called Who's Running This Place. You can find out more on WNYC.org, and stay tuned to this podcast feed. We'll be sharing Brigid's conversations here every Thursday evening. New York Assemblymember Alex Bores discusses his efforts to sound the alarm about the risks that come with the rapid advance of AI technology. Plus, WNYC/Gothamist reporters Jon Campbell, Elizabeth Kim and Jessica Gould share the latest local headlines and analysis, and take your calls about local NYC government. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Former Mayor of Boca Raton Scott Singer, now running as a Republican to represent Florida's 25th district in Congress, makes his debut on the morning show to discuss his campaign ahead of his Election Day in November.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sid-friends-in-the-morning--7177409/support.
On this episode of Texas Take, host Jeremy Wallace examines a major voter registration backlog with Republican state Sen. Paul Bettencourt and what it could mean with Election Day approaching. The glitch has affected at least tens of thousands of voters in an election cycle that could be one of the closest in Texas history. Later, Austin American-Statesman reporter John Moritz joins Jeremy to break down the flood of money pouring into the U.S. Senate race, while Houston Chronicle reporter Ben Wermund explains Gov. Greg Abbott's rapidly changing stance on data centers. Plus, Jeremy looks across the border in Texarkana at the backlash surrounding Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' controversial welfare ad and how it ties into the backlash against Texas Railroad Commission candidate Bo French and his criticism that the University of Texas has too many non-white students. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Election Day is getting closer, the polls are getting weirder and Washington has officially entered full midterm obsession mode. Democratic strategist and former Biden White House Press Office chief of staff Yemisi Egbewole is back to help Meghan McCain and Miranda Wilkins make sense of the increasingly chaotic midterm map. Is the much-hyped blue wave actually coming, or are Democrats getting ahead of themselves? The three dig into Texas, where Ken Paxton is giving Republicans plenty to worry about, the races tightening in places nobody expected, what Maine could tell us about the mood of the country and why prediction markets may not be telling us nearly as much as people think. Then there is 2028. Yes, already. Meghan has had ENOUGH of everyone treating JD Vance like the Republican nomination is a coronation, especially as Eric Schmitt's name is already being floated as a possible running mate. That conversation gets even messier after Schmitt's spectacular Hawkeyes-versus-Hawks faceplant during the Jack Smith hearing, with former Klobuchar staffer Yemisi giving us the inside baseball on exactly how a Senate hearing goes that wrong. Plus, Mauricio Umansky says he's considering running for mayor of Los Angeles, which naturally requires an emergency Housewives-meets-politics summit. Meghan and Miranda also disagree over the now-infamous lone juror from the Lindsay Clancy trial, Amy Klobuchar gains some new fans and we ask the most important question in Washington right now: blue tsunami, blue wave or blue trickle? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mail-in or absentee voting for the midterms began in North Carolina in early September. Though not as popular as early or Election Day voting, it provides important access for many, but there have been numerous attempts to curtail mail-in voting and call into question the legitimacy of votes cast in this way. We take a look at those efforts, the new rules in place and what's behind these efforts.
Donald Trump has been running propaganda ads starring, well, himself as a way to help the GOP in the midterms. The ads are government-funded, and one official even suggested that the payment scheme is partly designed to get media attention to the ads, amplifying them further. It's appallingly corrupt and potentially illegal. But, amusingly, they're backfiring: A new Quinnipiac poll shows that Trump is more toxic for the GOP than we thought. It finds his approval at an abysmal 34 percent, and at 31 percent on the economy, a record low for him. Worse, Democrats now lead Republicans on the economy, international conflicts and immigration, three traditional GOP strengths, underscoring just how big a drag he's become. We talked to David Corn, author of the new book How Russia Won and a New Republic piece on Trumpian propaganda. We discuss how badly Trump is screwing the GOP, why those TV ads are destined to fail, why he'll grow more dangerous as Election Day approaches, and how to prepare for it. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Donald Trump has been running propaganda ads starring, well, himself as a way to help the GOP in the midterms. The ads are government-funded, and one official even suggested that the payment scheme is partly designed to get media attention to the ads, amplifying them further. It's appallingly corrupt and potentially illegal. But, amusingly, they're backfiring: A new Quinnipiac poll shows that Trump is more toxic for the GOP than we thought. It finds his approval at an abysmal 34 percent, and at 31 percent on the economy, a record low for him. Worse, Democrats now lead Republicans on the economy, international conflicts and immigration, three traditional GOP strengths, underscoring just how big a drag he's become. We talked to David Corn, author of the new book How Russia Won and a New Republic piece on Trumpian propaganda. We discuss how badly Trump is screwing the GOP, why those TV ads are destined to fail, why he'll grow more dangerous as Election Day approaches, and how to prepare for it. Looking for More from the DSR Network? Click Here: https://linktr.ee/deepstateradio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Who's running for Greenville County School Board in Area 26? Meet Amanda Brett and Stephanie Meek, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing our schools, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.How the interviews worked:All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves. There were no edits made to the interview.Candidate links:Amanda BrettStephanie MeekSample BallotResources:Greenville Federal Credit UnionPublic Education PartnersGreenville First StepsSimple Civics:Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good GreenvilleGet in touchSupport Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contributionSign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.View our entire catalogueSimple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.
On today's Morning Edition, a major announcement from the White House: a potential funding source for the LNG pipeline that's been the center of controversy for so long. We'll break down what the announcement was and how it could impact you. And later, we're one day closer to Election Day in Fairbanks, and debates are ramping up as candidates push to earn your vote. We'll bring you the latest on the race.
Kate and Josh talk September surprises for some Republican incumbents, SCOTUS' return to Trump's side, and Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt's rake step.Have polling questions ahead of the 2026 midterms? Email us, and we'll answer them on our new web show on YouTube every Tuesday from now til Election Day!To watch this episode on video, go to our YouTube page.We also have newsletters: subscribe here!Follow us on:Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/talkingpointsmemo.comFacebook: https://facebook.com/talkingpointsmemoTwitter: https://twitter.com/tpmInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkingpointsmemo/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Accusations of protecting pedophiles and choosing predators over Arizona families are flying almost every time you turn on your TV as we get closer to Election Day from both Gov. Katie Hobbs and her opponent, Congressman Andy Biggs. But what's really at stake for Arizonans? This week on The Gaggle, we are joined by Republic reporter Stacey Barchenger to analyze possibly the biggest race in Arizona this year. She talks us through their plan if elected, how having a running mate plays a role, where big money is coming in from and any wildcards that could shake up the race. Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on X, Instagram and Tik Tok Guest: Stacey Barchenger Hosts: Ron Hansen, Stephanie Murray Producer: Amanda Luberto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We're now under five weeks away from Election Day with most states, including Florida, having sent out vote by mail ballots to voters – meaning that the election season has already turned into Election Day for millions of voters across the country.
Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 18? Meet Virginia Maclure, one of the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where she stands on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day. Republican Alan Morgan was invited to participate but did not respond to our numerous requests.How the interviews worked:All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves. There were no edits made to the interview.Candidate links:Virginia MaclureSample BallotSimple Civics:Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good GreenvilleGet in touchSupport Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contributionSign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.View our entire catalogueSimple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.
What would a “No” vote on Massachusetts Ballot Question 4 mean for voters? A “No” vote would keep the current voter registration rules right where they are, meaning no Election Day registration or updating your address at the polls. Dan took a closer look at what’s at stake in the debate over Election Day registration with Amy Carnevale, Chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
With five weeks until Election Day in the midterms, the latest Quinnipiac University national poll shows President Donald Trump's approval rating at 34%. Sixty-one percent of registered voters disapprove of his performance, while approval on the economy hit a new low of 31%. Additionally, registered voters favor Democrats over Republicans for House control by a 12-point margin. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aurn.com/newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Voters are already voting in this year's midterms. With Election Day just five weeks away, we take a look at how things are going so far in an election cycle filled with confusion and questions about voting by mail and potential federal interference in election processes.This episode: voting correspondents Ashley Lopez and Miles Parks, and politlcal correspondent Jude Joffe-Block.This podcast was produced and edited by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show's perks include bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy
I sat down with longtime enterprise and investigative reporter Scott MacFarlane to discuss all things these upcoming midterms. What are Republicans really thinking about Election Day? What are Trump voters really going to do? And if Democrats take back Congress, what are they going to do? Have a listen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
What New York really needs is a City Hall that nails the normie stuff: getting the homeless off the streets, fighting crime and fixing the budget. Plus, Bradley explains why nobody should feel compelled to abide by strict religious rules, argues that declaring martial law on Election Day would only hasten Trump's downfall, and gives a hearty plug to Ari Emanuel's memoir.This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City's only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today's episode: info@firewall.media.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack.
Karen Bass is fighting to keep her job and with just weeks to go until Election Day, the pressure is mounting. In an exclusive interview, the Los Angeles mayor speaks to Don as she battles City Councilmember Nithya Raman in a closely watched race for control of America's second-largest city. Don presses Mayor Bass on the latest polls, her record at City Hall, homelessness, affordability, public safety and why she believes Los Angeles voters should give her another four years. FIND THE DON LEMON SHOW: Youtube: / @thedonlemonshow Substack: https://substack.com/@donlemon Facebook: facebook.com/donlemon Instagram: instagram.com/donlemonofficial Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@donlemonofficial LEMON NATION: Website: donlemon.com Buy Merch: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopi... DL Tour Dates: https://www.dlplusdl.com BUSINESS ENQUIRES: Contact info@donlemon.com for any advertising or interview requests
Who's running for South Carolina House of Representatives in District 17? Meet Mike Burns and Rich Nicoloff, the candidates on the ballot in the November 3, 2026 general election. Hear where they stand on the issues facing voters, then share this episode with your neighbors before Election Day.How the interviews worked:All candidates received the same question at the time of their invitation to join us, and they were given 10 minutes for their interview. Candidates were allowed to bring along a companion, such as a campaign manager, family member, or friend, and to record our session themselves. There were no edits made to the interview.Candidate links:Mike BurnsRich NicoloffSample BallotSimple Civics:Simple Civics: Greenville County is a project of Greater Good GreenvilleGet in touchSupport Simple Civics with a tax-deductible contributionSign up for the Simple Civics newsletter.View our entire catalogueSimple Civics: Greenville County is produced by Podcast Studio X.
Guest host Garry Bredefeld, Alex Tavlian, and Jeff Aiello break down Measure S, explain why they oppose it, and make their case for a NO vote. September 29th 2026 --- Please Like, Comment and Follow 'The Ray Appleton Show' on all platforms: --- 'The Ray Appleton Show’ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever else you listen to podcasts. --- 'The Ray Appleton Show’ Weekdays 11 AM -2 PM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 KMJ | Website | Facebook | Podcast | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | Instagram See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Election Day is just five weeks away and Republicans are hoping to keep control of the House through the end of President Trump's term. Such a case has not happened since 2002. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is trying to turn that around, by kicking off a 22-state blitz, where he plans to campaign in Democrat held districts. Johnson says he's confident that the trend of the Democratic Socialist of America backed candidates taking wins, will help boost their chances of keeping control of the House.President Trump announcing on Monday, that the largest steel mill in the U.S. will be opening in Iowa. There will be $15 billion in investments going into this mill and the White House is saying that this new project could create over 1,700 permanent jobs and 6,000 construction jobs. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick doubling down on this newest investment, saying that it was only made possible by tariffs.The Senate has passed the Protect College Sports Act on Tuesday night, a sweeping bill that would establish nationwide rules for college athletics. The bill is sponsored by Senator Ted Cruz, and would create a nationwide standard for name, image and likeness rules and exempt the NCAA from antitrust laws. It would allow athletes five seasons of eligibility within five years and limit them to one transfer during their college careers. President Trump says the Act will not only save college sports, but will save the colleges themselves.
In this episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz, Senator Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson analyze new polling showing increased support for socialism among Americans, particularly among independents and Democrats, and debate what is driving those trends. They also discuss immigration policy, Democratic priorities in the midterm campaign, and concerns about proposals involving legal status for millions of undocumented immigrants. The conversation then turns overseas, where British authorities arrested five men suspected of preparing a terrorist attack near RAF Fairford, a military base that hosts U.S. forces. Cruz and Ferguson review the details of the investigation, the reported possibility of links to Iran, and what they see as broader national security implications. The episode also examines reports involving a former Hamas leader's bodyguard who allegedly obtained asylum and citizenship status in the United Kingdom before later being accused in a major terrorism plot. With five weeks until the midterm elections, Democratic messaging on impeachment, immigration, and the growing popularity of socialism takes center stage. Senator Ted Cruz argues that the stakes of the election extend well beyond control of Congress, touching on economic policy, border security, and the future direction of the country. Cruz and Ben Ferguson examine comments from Democratic lawmakers regarding potential impeachment efforts if Democrats regain power, and they discuss what those proposals could mean for the political landscape heading into Election Day. Topics Covered: Democratic discussions of potential impeachment efforts if they regain congressional power New Gallup polling on rising public support for socialism Immigration policy and proposals involving legal status for millions of undocumented immigrants Midterm election messaging and voter concerns heading into Election Day The foiled terrorist plot near RAF Fairford in the United Kingdom Reports involving a former Hamas bodyguard and broader security concerns tied to immigration screening Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz X: https://x.com/tedcruz X: https://x.com/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mass immigration, assimilation, and national identity are reshaping political debates across the West. Nick Freitas joins “The Midterm Report” to discuss his new documentary, “The Immigration Crisis That Will Destroy the West,” which examines how Britain has changed in recent decades and what lessons its experience could hold for the United States. Freitas argues that one of the quickest ways to destabilize a nation is to give it an identity crisis. Drawing on his travels across the United Kingdom, he discusses immigration, assimilation, cultural differences, and why he believes Americans should pay attention to what is happening in Britain. Freitas also weighs in on the constitutional amendments before Virginia voters and discusses what Americans can do in their own families, communities, and political institutions. Also on the program, Rob Bluey is joined by Daily Signal state correspondents Joe Thomas, Rebecca Downs, and Emily Madeiros for the latest from Virginia, Ohio, and Texas. They break down key races and ballot measures, as well as the issues driving voters ahead of Election Day, including immigration, data centers, and the battle for control of Congress. NEW FILM by the Heritage Foundation: “Preventable: The System That Failed My Daughter.” Available now. https://youtu.be/HxiwOSSRT6s?si=r9k6BFD-iMmvnvpn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Caroline Shinkle, Republican running for election to the U.S. House to represent New York's 12th Congressional District, joins Sid to talk about her campaign and how she feels a little over a month out from Election Day on November 3rd.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sid-friends-in-the-morning--7177409/support.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, Republican candidate in the 2026 New York gubernatorial election, join Sid to update listeners on his campaign as we enter the home stretch leading up to November's Election Day.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sid-friends-in-the-morning--7177409/support.
Former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer tells the REAL inside story of the press vs. the White House - Politico, CNN and MS NOW, Air Force One access, and who actually decides who gets in. Then the main event: Sean sits down with Taylor Budowich, Trump 2024 top aide, Deputy Chief of Staff in the White House and Founder of Innovation Council Action Inc. With 36 days until Election Day, they break down the messaging, the money, and what candidates and President Trump himself must do to win. Which ads are working, which are failing, and where the campaign goes from here. ---------------------------------------------- Head on over to https://www.seanspicer.com subscribe for an ad free version of this podcast and support the show! ---------------------------------------------- Visit GuardYourCard.com to take action and learn more ---------------------------------------------- https://ruffgreens.com/ enter code: SPICER for your FREE starter pack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Nevada governor's race is heating up with less than two months to go, and there's a lot to unpack. We sat down with Nevada Independent Capital Bureau Chief Tabitha Mueller and criminal defense attorney Dayvid Figler to lay out everything you need to know heading into Election Day. We dive into how Lombardo is running on his economic record, Ford's strategy of tying the governor to Trump at every turn, what recent polls actually tell us about how close this race really is, and whether these two will ever actually debate each other. Learn more about the sponsors of this Monday, September 28th episode: Opportunity Village SNWA Watering Restrictions Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastVegas on Instagram, or email us at lasvegas@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 702-514-0719. For more Las Vegas news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter. Learn more about becoming a City Cast Las Vegas Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm. Looking to advertise on City Cast Las Vegas? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise.
The midterms are barreling closer and closer, and it appears the tides have turned. Democrats are already favored to take the U.S. House, but what about the Senate? The founder of The Cook Political Report says there’s a “very realistic” chance that Dems could take over the Senate too. Plus, the White House is running a political ad ahead of the elections, which is a repurposed ad from President Trump's 2024 campaign. But this time, the ad says it's being paid for by the U.S. Government -- by taxpayer dollars. With 5 weeks and 1 day to go, Holly and Greg give their political takes on where the elections stand today.
Election Day check-in: Could Republicans lose both the House and the Senate? Family… Isn't it about time? Celebrating the cornerstones of our society on National Family Day How can we work together to end the high rates of veteran suicide? Senate set to vote on bill affecting college sports Pres. Trump continues touting strong economy while pushing plans to try and lower price of diesel Prosecutors to reopen investigation into allegations of mass sexual assault by Cornell University students The state of religion and faith in America Declassified: The best-kept fantastical fall secrets in Utah
Jack and Gonzo are joined by retired Columbus trial lawyer Rick Topper, who now spends a significant amount of time testifying about and working to protect voting rights.Topper talks about in-person ID checks, the use of provisional ballots and the four-day deadline to cure them, and how absentee voting is verified through identifying information and bipartisan signature review. He makes clear that voting fraud is virtually nonexistent in Ohio.The conversation covers legislative efforts to require photo ID copies with mail ballots (vetoed by Governor Mike DeWine), reductions in absentee ballot grace periods and the new requirement that ballots be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, and the end of “Golden Week” same-day registration/early voting.The three also voice their concerns about voter intimidation, such as the potential for federal officers, including ICE agents, being at voting sites. Credentialed poll observers will be at voting sites to report any problems or intimidation.
Coming up today on the Federal Drive with Terry Gerton The closer Congress gets to Election Day, the harder it becomes to choose between governing and campaigning. The Senate appears ready to spend another week trying to finish work before heading home Wildfires are usually discussed as a land-management challenge. A growing coalition wants Congress to think about them as a national-security challenge Military families are navigating a challenging fall. PCS season is winding down, combat deployments are stretching on, and many families are trying to build a sense of home in a brand-new communitySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
With the election approaching, senators would normally rather be home talking with voters. Instead, Senate leaders appear prepared to keep members in Washington for another week as several unfinished items compete for floor time. Here with an update on what's moving and what's not, is Deputy news director for bloomberg government, Loren Duggan.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Greg Davis opens this Monday edition of Priority Talk Radio and then highlights the Pray, Prepare, and Vote campaign, a nonpartisan voter education and awareness initiative encouraging Alabamians to participate in the November 3 election. He explains why voting is a spiritual, civic, prayerful, and caring responsibility for Christians and introduces a new voter bulletin designed to help churches educate and encourage their congregations.The voter bulletin outlines what's on the ballot, provides information about voting locations and registration, and offers resources to help voters prepare for Election Day without endorsing candidates or political parties.
With six weeks until Election Day, Republican nominee for Governor Steve Hilton joins the FOX News Rundown: Extra as he attempts to pull off a historic upset in California. Trailing Democratic opponent and former Biden Cabinet official Javier Becerra in the polls, Hilton argues that decades of one-party rule have led to a record-high cost of living, top-tier unemployment, and a massive business exodus. In this full, uncut interview, Hilton outlines his practical campaign platform—including cutting working-class taxes, lowering gas prices to $3 a gallon by unleashing domestic energy production, abolishing the DMV, and creating an "Office of Fun and Freedom" to roll back excessive nanny-state regulations. He also addresses Republican turnout strategies, appeals to independent voters, and his upcoming debate against Becerra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Don Lemon sits down with Democratic nominee for Texas governor Gina Hinojosa at Courier Texas' "On the Ballot" event in Houston. Hinojosa makes her case to Texas voters and takes aim at Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's record, arguing that decisions made under his administration have left working families paying the price. She discusses affordability, public education, rising electricity costs, immigration enforcement and what she says she would do differently as governor. With Election Day approaching, Hinojosa explains why she believes Texas voters are ready for a change and what's at stake in her race against Abbott. FIND THE DON LEMON SHOW: Youtube: / @thedonlemonshow Substack: https://substack.com/@donlemon Facebook: facebook.com/donlemon Instagram: instagram.com/donlemonofficial Tik Tok: tiktok.com/@donlemonofficial LEMON NATION: Website: donlemon.com Buy Merch: https://don-lemon-merch-store.myshopi... DL Tour Dates: https://www.dlplusdl.com BUSINESS ENQUIRES: Contact info@donlemon.com for any advertising or interview requests
With six weeks until Election Day, Republican nominee for Governor Steve Hilton joins the FOX News Rundown: Extra as he attempts to pull off a historic upset in California. Trailing Democratic opponent and former Biden Cabinet official Javier Becerra in the polls, Hilton argues that decades of one-party rule have led to a record-high cost of living, top-tier unemployment, and a massive business exodus. In this full, uncut interview, Hilton outlines his practical campaign platform—including cutting working-class taxes, lowering gas prices to $3 a gallon by unleashing domestic energy production, abolishing the DMV, and creating an "Office of Fun and Freedom" to roll back excessive nanny-state regulations. He also addresses Republican turnout strategies, appeals to independent voters, and his upcoming debate against Becerra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
With six weeks until Election Day, Republican nominee for Governor Steve Hilton joins the FOX News Rundown: Extra as he attempts to pull off a historic upset in California. Trailing Democratic opponent and former Biden Cabinet official Javier Becerra in the polls, Hilton argues that decades of one-party rule have led to a record-high cost of living, top-tier unemployment, and a massive business exodus. In this full, uncut interview, Hilton outlines his practical campaign platform—including cutting working-class taxes, lowering gas prices to $3 a gallon by unleashing domestic energy production, abolishing the DMV, and creating an "Office of Fun and Freedom" to roll back excessive nanny-state regulations. He also addresses Republican turnout strategies, appeals to independent voters, and his upcoming debate against Becerra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
With just 39 days until midterm Election Day, a new ruling from the Supreme Court allows the Trump administration expanded access to review who is and who is not eligible to vote. Plus, did anything substantial come from the three day visit from Chinese leader Xi Jinping? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 25, 2026, 4pm; In an emergency ruling, the Supreme Court will allow the federal government to use the SAVE citizenship database in coordination with states to find noncitizens. For more from Nicolle, follow and download her podcast, “The Best People with Nicolle Wallace,” wherever you get your podcasts.To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
- Trump hosts Xi Jinping at the White House for high-stakes talks on AI, Taiwan and Iran before a packed state dinner featuring major tech executives and administration officials. - Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the UN, invokes Israel's pager operation against Hezbollah and sharply criticizes Zohran Mamdani over his positions on Israel and Hamas. - The episode reviews worsening midterm polling for Republicans and argues that the continuing Iran war is overshadowing other issues as Election Day approaches. - The first Madden trailer puts Nicolas Cage's transformation into John Madden under the microscope, with Christian Bale, Shane Gillis and a loaded cast fueling anticipation. - Ed Sheeran's Foxborough concert is reported canceled because of bad weather as fallout from the Macklemore tour controversy continues. Today's podcast is sponsored by PARAMOUNT PLUS - Don't Miss “MobLand.” All episodes NOW STREAMING on Paramount Plus. Got a comment or question? Send it to EmailGreta@newsmax.com and it may be used or answered on an upcoming episode. You can watch the video version of the “Greta Wire” podcast on NEWSMAX social media channels, plus YouTube and Rumble, on the same afternoon the audio version launches. Listen to Newsmax LIVE and subscribe to our entire podcast lineup at http://Newsmax.com/Listen Don't miss Greta every weekday on “The Record with Greta Van Susteren” at 4 PM ET, only on NEWSMAX TV. Watch the show anytime, anywhere with NEWSMAX+. Get your 15-day free trial of NEWSMAX+ at http://NewsmaxPlus.com Follow Greta on Social Media: Facebook: / greta X/Twitter: https://x.com/greta Instagram: / greta TikTok: / greta.com Follow NEWSMAX on Social Media: Facebook: http://nws.mx/FB X/Twitter: http://nws.mx/twitter Instagram: http://nws.mx/IG YouTube: / newsmaxtv Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NewsmaxTV TRUTH Social: https://truthsocial.com/@NEWSMAX GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/newsmax Threads: http://threads.net/@NEWSMAX Telegram: http://t.me/newsmax BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/newsmax.com Parler: http://app.parler.com/newsmax THANKS FOR LISTENING! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Justice Department is planning to dispatch a widening network of poll monitors on Election Day in what it calls the “biggest DOJ election observer effort ‘in history”. Meanwhile, new records reviewed by CNN suggest that several DOJ monitors deployed during this year's primaries previously helped challenge Trump's 2020 election loss. We examine how state election officials are responding amid plans by the RNC to scrutinize voting machines. --- Guest: Gabe Cohen, CNN Correspondent Host: David Rind Producer: Paola Ortiz Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Last week, Hightower had the absolute pleasure of appearing on Tavis Smiley's live radio talk show—a lot of great laughs, and a lot of good ground covered! From the Texas races, to America at 250, to the idea that fundamental fairness is a sense all humans share, Tavis and Hightower went deep. Tavis and his team have given us permission to share it with you here, and we're so grateful—he's also just started his own Substack newsletter, and we encourage you to subscribe to one of the greats of American media at tavissmiley.substack.com. You can also listen live on KBLA 1580 daily, and subscribe to his podcast. —dzTranscriptEdited lightly for clarityPart 1Tavis Smiley: Tavis Smiley, glad you're with us in the second hour of our program here today.Yesterday, we stepped into what I call the Elders' Skybox to talk to Dr. Johnette Cole. She was absolutely amazing yesterday. If you missed that conversation with Johnnetta Cole yesterday, I encourage you to check out the podcast, now posted. She, of course, is the legendary, the iconic, first African American woman to be president of Spelman. But she's covered so much ground in her amazing career, and she joined us yesterday on the show. And Johnnetta Cole still got it. I mean, she was just blazing yesterday. So if you missed the conversation with Johnnetta Cole yesterday, I encourage you, you will not be disappointed. Check out the podcast, now up, of our dialogue with Dr. Cole yesterday.So we stepped into the Elders Skybox again today to talk to our friend and brother Jim Hightower, the legendary talk show host down in Texas. I quote him oftentimes. When you hear me say that the only thing you find in the middle of the road is a dead armadillo, that was Jim Hightower years ago, and I've never forgotten that line from all those years ago. You can't be middle of the road. We were just talking about that in our hour with Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead about Hakeem Jeffries and some of these Democrats who, on a number of issues, still want to occupy the center, the middle of the road. That is not where one needs to be, especially right about now. Pick a side. Pick a side is my point. And that was Jim Hightower's advice many, many years ago. I never forgot when he said it, and I've held on to it all these years.I invited him on today to talk about this hot Texas Senate race, but more broadly to get his take, as a longtime progressive, on the march that we are witnessing in real time by these progressives after decades of being in the wilderness. With all that said, I'm honored to welcome Jim Hightower to this program. Jim, how are you, sir?Jim Hightower: I'm doing great, Tavis, and all the greater because I get to visit with you.Tavis Smiley: It's my honor to have you on this program. Thank you for those kind words. I meant what I said earlier about having listened to you. I'm at that age now. I just turned 62 a couple of days ago, and I've been at this, what, 35 years. My mom teases me about it, but people come on the show all the time: “Mr. Smiley, I grew up listening to you, I grew up watching you.” So I'm at that age now where I'm getting that. And this is funny, because I can say that to Jim Hightower now. I grew up listening to him and watching him, and so I'm thrilled to have him on this program.Let me just start with this, broadly speaking. I've asked this question of other guests. I've got two minutes now, we've got the rest of the hour when we come forward, but in these first two minutes, I'm asking you the same question I've asked of others. We are inside that eight-week sprint from Labor Day to Election Day. How are you feeling?Jim Hightower: I am feeling more upbeat than I have been in years about Texas politics. Our party has finally come alive down here, as you just indicated. We've had too many corporate centrists trying to dominate our party, thinking we can fool the people if we just tiptoe around our progressivism, rather than recognizing that people themselves are progressive. And if we talk to them in that kind of language, they might respond to us in a more favorable way than they have in the past, or respond at all.I would point out, first of all, Tavis, that Texas is not a right-wing state. It is not a Republican state. It is a non-voting state. And it has not been voting because the Democratic Party, my party, has been over in the ditch somewhere, trying not to be discovered, rather than recognizing that most people are quite progressive. I think of it in terms of my own father, who kept up with politics, but he was not political, particularly. He didn't know he had a political philosophy, but he did, and it was expressed to me many times in these words. He said, “Jim, everybody does better when everybody does better.” And that is what the Democratic Party is supposed to represent.And so that spirit is coming back within the Democratic Party. We have it with James Talarico running for Senate, Gina Hinojosa running for governor, but also let us not forget those down-ballot candidates, who can make such a difference in a campaign. I've been one of those myself, so I can attest to it. And we have a terrific lineup this year, including Clayton Tucker running for agriculture commissioner, a position that most people wouldn't pay a whole lot of attention to until you realize, wait a minute, if you eat, you are involved in agriculture. And we need to make that political as well as edible.Tavis Smiley: Love it. He's already on a roll. That is the Jim Hightower that I grew up listening to. He's wise, he drops these one-liners; as we say these days, he's dropping bars. I love his father's edict that everybody does better when everybody does better. It's so simple. But I want to give him some time to unpack this. I want to interrogate this notion that people themselves are progressive. People themselves are progressive. That line resonated with me; I suspect it did with you as well. I'll let him unpack that and a great deal more. I'm glad to have Jim Hightower for the hour on Tavis Smiley.Tavis Smiley, and longtime progressive activist, legendary talk show host, bestselling author Jim Hightower. So we've stepped into the Elders Skybox to tap into his wisdom in this hour as we are hurtling inexorably toward Election Day on Tuesday, November 3rd. Wanted to check in with him on some national issues, but certainly everybody's watching this Senate race in Texas. I talk to my friends down there all the time, and they are so excited about turning Texas blue. You heard Jim Hightower say a moment ago that Texas is not a Republican state, it's not a red state, it's a non-voting state. I'll let him unpack that as we move through this hour.But just some quick updates here. So you saw the Republican convention, that two-day farce they had down in Texas not long ago. Since that convention, a new poll has come out about the race in Texas. Interestingly, the survey happened on September 13th. That was Sunday, my birthday. And it's good news for James Talarico. The latest poll, this is the SoCal Strategies poll, shows Talarico leading Paxton 50 percent to 45 percent. It's a five-point margin. There had been a two-point lead by Paxton over Talarico. It's fascinating. So before the convention, Paxton was leading Talarico by two points in Texas. Post the convention, it flips. Talarico is now leading Paxton by five points. Not sure what Ken Paxton did or said at that convention that made these numbers flip. Obviously it's very, very tight, and these polls are snapshots in time. We still have weeks to go before Election Day. We'll let Jim Hightower unpack a bit more about the tightness of this race in Texas in this hour.But I want to start right now, Jim, where we left off moments ago, and that is with your suggestion that people are themselves a great deal more progressive than we acknowledge or give them credit for. We've got time. Unpack that for me.Jim Hightower: Well, just go back to your childhood. The very first political expression of a child, maybe at two years old, is “That's not fair.” That is a powerful political sentiment, and it's within all of us. And that's what we're seeing today. The unfairness of the billionaires with their data centers invading our communities. The unfairness of the destruction of voting rights, period. Not just the Voting Rights Act, but voting rights. The unfairness of economic plutocracy, really, and just a general unfairness that pervades our society, including the election itself.The idea that money can control. That happened to Texas, just as it did nationally, in the 1980s, when Tony Coelho, a member of Congress from California, decided that the Democrats didn't need to have all this grassroots stuff. We could just get money from rich people and throw it at television ads, and then we could compete with the Republicans. And the powers that be in the Democratic Party here in Texas agreed with that. So they began to shift away from what Ann Richards and myself and Jim Mattox and Garry Mauro and other good, solid Democrats were winning elections with: a focus on the grassroots people of our state. That got abandoned. Instead they turned to money.And when you turn to money, I can tell you, if you get a corporate check, written on the back of it is the corporate agenda. And they're going to cash that check, not you. That is what happened to Texas. The Democrats quit being Democrats because, well, we don't want to upset those money people, so we'll just tone down our message. And by toning down the message, we tone down our public support, our people's support. If we weren't standing for them, why would they stand for us? And so that's what happened. Our solid Democratic constituencies, which were farmers, working-class folks, teachers, environmentalists, didn't hear themselves in the Democratic message. So they quit voting. It's not that they turned Republican.We consistently had among the top one or two worst voting records in the country in the state of Texas. We have the lowest turnout in our country. Ken Paxton, you just mentioned, is now running for the U.S. Senate on the Republican ticket. Paxton got 68 percent of the Republican primary election that made him their nominee. Sixty-eight percent, boy, that sounds good. He must be very popular, until you realize that is 3.4 percent of the voters of Texas. That's who nominated him. That's his basic support: 3.4 percent. Can we not get 3.5 percent? Well, maybe if we began to organize and mobilize and strategize and do something a little stronger than we had been doing.And that's the good news in Texas. That's what has changed this election cycle over previous ones: our Democratic Party, with a new party chair, and a dynamic bunch of candidates running for statewide office and local office as well. We used to have 50 counties in our state that had no Democratic Party chair, much less a Democratic committee. We had state legislative district after district that had no Democratic contender in it. So we weren't even running. But this year we do. We have candidates, good candidates, in all of those districts. We have vibrant party building in every county in the state. You have to have the infrastructure. It's not just handsome candidates like myself, or smart and sassy people, that make the difference. It is grassroots, fundamentally. And if you abandon the grassroots, then there's no one to appeal to.Part 2Tavis Smiley: Let me ask you this. You said a few things, and I want to go back to them right quick. You're on a roll, and that's what he does every day, and I love it. I just have to keep up with him. Let me start with the money. No naiveté here, but my sense is, even though we've seen efforts, I think of McCain-Feingold, other efforts we've seen over the years, my sense is that at this point that horse has left the barn, and I can't imagine how we get money out of our politics. Citizens United, I can do this all day long, as you could, Jim Hightower. But that trade-off that Democrats made to get access to that money, there's no 180 on this. I mean, the Democratic Party is so broke now, as you know. The national Democratic Party is so broke, they've been borrowing money. So even though your indictment about the money in our politics is spot on, can you imagine any way to get money out of our politics at this point?Jim Hightower: Yes, I can, which is to go to the people with it. It is the most popular polling issue in America and has been for some time: getting corporate money out of politics. It's up at the 90 percent level, including something like 75 percent of Republicans who want to get this corporate money out of our system. So we have the base of support, but we have to have a politics that goes out there and collects that base. And that means running on it again. Our party nationally has quit running on that issue. So we've abandoned one of the very best issues we have, an issue of abject plutocracy over democracy, money over people.And that is what's beginning to change. That's why Talarico is up there, running as our Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. He has raised a ton of money, outraised Paxton himself, because he's getting small-dollar donations from people who are mad as hell about money in politics and how government serves money, not people. And again, Clayton Tucker, running for agriculture commissioner, has a theme that says to beat money power, you have to have people power. You have to organize people against organized money. That is a winning topic, and candidate after candidate around the country this time are beginning to grasp that and make hay with it.Tavis Smiley: Let me ask you this. The other thing you said, I want to come back to it. You're saying so much that's just jumping out at me. I want to come back to this notion of fundamental fairness. I find myself time and time again over the course of my career, Jim, on any number of issues, making the point that it's ultimately about fundamental fairness. Pick the issue, and my moral stance on so many of these issues is that it's ultimately about what I term fundamental fairness.And I loved your suggestion that one of the first things that comes out of our mouths as kids... I don't know where we get this, but when you said it, I smiled. I'm sure every parent listening to this program right now smiled. We've all heard kids say, “That's not fair. That's not fair.” I don't even know where that comes from, but we've all heard babies say that line. So I'm glad you used that.I'm wondering whether or not, in this moment, you believe that everyday people in this country care about fundamental fairness. And before you answer, here's my point. I think that we've become more nativist for a lot of reasons. People are turning inward, they're lashing outward. I'm not sure that we actually believe in meritocracy anymore. We see Donald Trump and the big grift. We see him not playing the game by any set of rules that speaks to any kind of fairness. We see the Supreme Court putting its thumb on the scale in favor of Donald Trump too often. We see a Congress that's doing nothing; they're letting Donald Trump run roughshod. In the legislative branch, the executive branch, or the judicial branch, I don't see any semblance of fairness. Tell me whether or not you believe that everyday people in this nation still believe in the notion. Never mind what we say as a two-year-old: as adults, do we believe in fundamental fairness?Jim Hightower: Yes, we do. And in every case that you mentioned there, Trump being a sleaze, Congress not taking any action, the Supreme Court being a corporate subsidiary, et cetera, their popularity has declined in direct proportion to their abandonment of those values of fairness. That still is within the people. We don't appeal to it. For the most part, we've not had a politics nationwide that appeals to that fairness issue. But again, I think it is so fundamental that it is the core of reestablishing a people's democracy in our country: just to focus on that fundamental issue of fairness.You know, again, back to my upbringing in the little town of Denison, Texas. My parents taught egalitarianism. They didn't know what that word was. Probably couldn't spell it, you know. But they understood it. What they said to me was, “Nobody is better than you, and you're not any better than anybody else.” Again, those are powerful moral sentiments that are deeply imbued, I think, in the human experience.And you see it as people rebel against the privatization of our schools, as people rebel against the monopolization of our food economy, our energy economy, any basic economy you want to talk about, controlled by a handful of billionaires. You see it in the public disgust with Elon Musk and Peter Thiel and Jeff Bezos and these sorts of billionaires who seem to think that because they've got money, they've got brains, and they can just run things. But you can't run over the American people. You know, Lincoln said it: you can fool some of the people all the time, and all the people some of the time, but not all the people all the time. And I think those people are on the move.And again, if we have a politics that appeals to “we're going to be a unified country that believes in egalitarianism, that believes in fairness, that believes in economic justice, social justice,” then people will respond. They won't respond to those words, but they will respond to the reality that you put forward. Here's what we mean by that.Part 3Tavis Smiley: I hear it, I hear it. Jim Hightower, still on fire all these decades later. As I said earlier, in case you've just tuned in, people tell me all the time, “I grew up listening to you, I grew up watching you,” and I can say that about Jim Hightower, and now you see where I got it from. So much of the way I approach these issues I learned from Jim Hightower. He just speaks plain. I call it KISS MIP: keep it simple, make it plain. KISS MIP, keep it simple, make it plain. I love his parents' edict that everybody does better when everybody does better. There's a reason why he is the legendary Jim Hightower. You see why I want him on this program. I hope when I achieve his age, my mind is still as sharp as his and still on point the way his is. I am honored to have another half hour with Jim Hightower when we come forward on Tavis Smiley.I just saw the numbers. People are signing up by the hundreds to join us on Saturday, October 3rd. I'm inviting you once again, right now: mark your calendar. This is history in the making, the California Voices Town Hall and Ballot Forum, live from L.A., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All the candidates are showing up, and you should too. The event is free, but you must register. Go to KBLA1580.com right now and get your seat. California Voices, Saturday, October 3rd. Come be a part of history, brought to you by KBLA Talk 1580 and the Community Voter Education Project.And this is what I call wisdom speaking. Wisdom speaking. I am honored to be in conversation with the legendary, the iconic talk show host Jim Hightower, New York Times bestselling author, syndicated columnist, who has his own Substack called the Hightower Lowdown that I encourage you to sign up for: the Hightower Lowdown on Substack, by Jim Hightower. He's still dropping bars as often as he can. And again, I'm just thrilled to have him on this program for the hour. In case you missed the first half hour, you missed a good one. I love this homespun wisdom that he's sharing with us. There are thankfully a few more minutes to go in this dialogue, but check out the podcast of the entire conversation, posted later this evening, if you missed any of the brilliance of Jim Hightower in this first half hour.I want to play a clip for you. Jim and I were talking a little bit ago about the Republican convention, the midterm convention, the first time in 50-plus years that somebody did one of these in the midterms. And it was in Texas, of course, in Dallas. James Talarico is running for Senate in Texas as a Democrat against Ken Paxton. He didn't go to the convention, but post the convention, Talarico got a bump. Typically the guy featured at the convention gets a bump. Didn't work that way. Paxton did not get a bump. Post the convention, the poll indicates that Talarico is now leading Paxton in Texas by five points.If you were listening earlier, you heard Jim Hightower say that Texas is not a red state, not a Republican state, it's a non-voting state. And when you break down the numbers, as he did so brilliantly earlier, you'll see that Texas really is a non-voting state. I was thinking, when Jim was making that point, that if we did the data on every state, we may find out that most of these 50 states are not blue or red. They're all non-voting states. It ain't just Texas. I think Jim is on to something. We should stop this red and blue nonsense, even the purple nonsense, and just call them non-voting states. Jim Hightower once again is giving us something to think about.But Talarico gets a bump out of their convention. He goes up. He's up by five points right now. So all of my friends in Texas are excited about the chance for Texas to turn blue this time around. We will see if Talarico can pull that off.But back to that convention. I want you to listen very carefully. I'm just setting this up now. There was a heckler at this convention when Ted Cruz was speaking. And maybe heckler is the wrong word, because in the Black church we say you've got your amen corner. So I'm not sure he's a heckler as much as he is an amen corner for Ted Cruz, who did nothing to chin-check this guy, to stop this guy from what he was saying repeatedly while Ted Cruz was speaking. Cruz heard it loud and clear. You can hear it on the tape. And at no point did Ted Cruz stop to correct him. But listen to Ted Cruz, and just listen very carefully. You're going to hear it two or three times; see if you can't pick it out for yourself. Give it to me, Miles.Ted Cruz (audio clip): When Mamdani says he wants to seize the means of production, he means it. When Abdul El-Sayed says he has a quote “obligation to comply with Sharia law,” he means it. And when James Talarico says he wants to dismantle capitalism, he means it.Tavis Smiley: Have Miles play it one more time. I want you to hear it now. I'll tell you exactly what you should have heard. Every time he calls out the name of Mamdani, then Abdul El-Sayed, then James Talarico, there's a guy standing not too far from Ted Cruz who yells out, “He should be shot.” Mamdani: “He should be shot.” Abdul El-Sayed: “He should be shot.” James Talarico: “He should be shot.” Now listen again; see if you hear it.Ted Cruz (audio clip, replayed): When Mamdani says he wants to seize the means of production, he means it. When Abdul El-Sayed says he has a quote “obligation to comply with Sharia law,” he means it. And when James Talarico says he wants to dismantle capitalism, he means it.Tavis Smiley: Going back, Jim Hightower, to all of the pronouncements made after the death, the murder, of Charlie Kirk, and now on national television, at a Republican convention, you have someone yelling three times, no less, “He should be shot, he should be shot, he should be shot,” and ain't nobody said nothing about it, Jim Hightower.Jim Hightower: Yes, the silence is the evil. And that's all about Trump. You know, almost no Republican will stand up and say Trump is just full of it. He is espousing hatred, he is espousing misogyny, he is espousing racism, he's espousing xenophobia. He's espousing everything that America is against. Everything America stands for is being rejected by Ted Cruz and Ken Paxton and Donald Trump, et cetera. You know, I heard on TV recently, Tavis, some Republican saying about Ted Cruz, “Well, you know, sometimes Ted is his own worst enemy.” And I said, “Not while I'm alive, he's not.”We have to take on these people. We progressives can't just say, “Well, they're just talking.” No, they're not. They're spewing a doctrine of hatred and of violence, really, as you just portrayed in that amazing work of audio technology that you pulled off. It's very, very telling. And again, you know, I keep coming back to the positive side of it. That is not America. That's what gets portrayed most, but that is not who we are.Part 4Tavis Smiley: Not who we are. You see why I love Jim Hightower. I mean, he said Ted's his own worst enemy? Not as long as I'm living. I love, love, love Jim Hightower. All right, and that's why I invited him on this program for an hour. Let me circle back, Jim, to something else you said earlier, and actually I opined on it myself. I thought about what you said during the break. Based on your analysis and based on your framing, Texas ain't the only non-voting state. So why are we stuck on this red, blue, sometimes purple narrative when the truth is that all of these states are non-voting states?Jim Hightower: Yes. Well, the media, the political consultants, they're the ones who drew this red-blue color map on us. And it is not true. It has never been true. I've got a great story from my campaigning days of going into an area with people who are supposedly right-wing, and being able to talk to them. And we have candidates today doing that. Talarico is doing it, Clayton Tucker is doing it, Gina Hinojosa is doing it: going into areas where people have been told, “You're right-wing,” and they're saying, “Wait a minute, we like what this person is saying. Can't we talk about that?” And so we just have to keep saying it. But that requires, Tavis, that we go back to grassroots people politics again, to where we're talking to the people, not talking through consultants and PR people.You know, I'll tell you, today I'm sitting in my kitchen in Austin, Texas. But I live on the south side of Austin, and we're a little more irreverent over here. We're just a little more spunky. In fact, our slogan over here is “We're all here because we're not all there.”Tavis Smiley: I love Austin, and I'm glad to know that you are in that part of town. As a matter of fact, Austin's my favorite city in Texas. I didn't realize that until 25, 30 years ago, when I started going to the Texas Book Festival, one of the best book festivals in the country. I've been honored to be invited to speak there a number of times over the course of the 24 or 25 books I've written. I've been going to the Texas Book Festival for years. It's in Austin, the state capital. And I remember the first time I went there, I wanted to know where Barbara Jordan sat. That's what I wanted to know. In what seat did Barbara Jordan sit, before she went to Congress, of course? I wanted to find that out. But I've been to Austin a number of times over the years, and I like Austin. It's my favorite city in Texas. I didn't know that's where Jim was today, but I'm glad to know he's there.When we come forward... We've been talking about Texas, and of course a lot of national issues, and I don't want to color this any more than this. I want to give Jim all the canvas he needs to paint. I am curious, given all the years he's been out here espousing these progressive POVs, these progressive points of view, what he makes of the march that progressives are on right now across the country. Call them progressives, call them DSA. What does Jim Hightower think of this march by progressives right about now? And I'm also curious to get his take more broadly on how he sees America at 250. He's been on the front lines as a progressive fighter for a long time, but here we are, 250 years in. What does Jim Hightower make of this moment in this republic? You're listening to Tavis Smiley.Tavis Smiley, with Jim Hightower. Jim Hightower, you've been out here a long time on the front lines of this fight as an unapologetic progressive. What's your read of, as I would term it, this progressive march literally all across the country?Jim Hightower: Well, it is the most encouraging thing I've seen in a long, long time. And it is happening for real reasons, because the powers that be are running roughshod over the powers that ought to be. And people are catching on to that. So they're beginning to rebel, and not just liberals, and not just progressives or populists like me, but everyday working people are saying, as we started our conversation, Tavis, “That's not fair. This ain't right. This is not America.”And so we've been battling for years. We win fights. Again, you know, I was elected in the 1980s, two terms as Texas agriculture commissioner, elected with Ann Richards running for treasurer, Mattox running for attorney general, Garry Mauro running for land commissioner. We ran a unified campaign, because we could then go to people and say, “It's not just about electing poor old Hightower here. It's about electing a government. We can make change.” And that is what's missing in our politics: people believing that change can actually happen. Because, as you indicated so rightly early on, Congress doesn't do anything, the Supreme Court just follows the corporate agenda, and the White House, of course, is the mess that it's in.So we have to have results coming from our work. And that means a long-term view of politics. You know, I ran for office the first time and I lost. I came very close, but I lost. But I was able to turn it around, because even a losing campaign creates energy. It creates new people. It creates talent. And you can apply that to the next campaign, not just for one individual, but for many, many others. As Willie Nelson put it to me once, he said, “Hightower, the early bird might get the worm, but it's the second mouse that gets the cheese.”Tavis Smiley: You can't fade Jim Hightower. You cannot fade Jim Hightower, coming with wisdom of his own, wisdom from his parents, wisdom from Willie Nelson. Love me some Jim Hightower. We'll close this conversation when we come forward with his thoughts on America at 250. You're listening to Tavis Smiley.I've got three minutes left in this hour, which I have enjoyed immensely, stepping into the Elders Skybox. Again, yesterday Johnnetta Cole was here, former president of Spelman. Check out the podcast if you missed that brilliant conversation. And if you missed any of this dialogue with Jim Hightower, there's so much richness in this thing, man. You'll want to hear it again if you heard it once. And if you didn't hear it, check out the podcast, posted tonight. You will not be disappointed in this conversation with Jim Hightower. As they say in Washington, I want to yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Texas. I've got three minutes left. It's all yours, Jim Hightower. Three minutes. Talk to me about America at 250 as you see it, my friend.Jim Hightower: I think America is healthy in a fundamental way. It's very active right now. You know, there are all kinds of great groups out there making fundamental changes, groups that are progressive and inclusive. And all the bad words we're not supposed to say, again: diversity and equity. I mean, what's wrong with diversity? What's wrong with equity? What are they talking about? And I think more and more people are asking that. And we need to have a constant politics that asks that question. Why should we be afraid of diversity? Unless you're a Native American, you are an immigrant. Stop pretending.And I'm talking to our people now, our progressive people. Stop thinking that it's dangerous to say this stuff. It's not dangerous. People want to hear it, and they will be better for hearing it. You'll get called an agitator. Our wonderful friend and mentor Jesse Jackson spoke brilliantly about being an agitator. You know, after all, it was agitators that built America: Thomas Paine, Shays' Rebellion, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, the populists, right on through. And Jesse put it like this. He said the agitator is the center post in the washing machine that gets the dirt out. We need a lot more of that. We need a lot more of that. And people are ready for it.And I would add just another Jesse Jackson moment, which, again, he did brilliantly. He said, “We might not all have come over on the same boat, but we're in the same boat now.” And that is a powerful political reality. So he was able to rally farmers, and I was with him at some of those events in his presidential campaign, and in his Rainbow Coalition and the other coalitions related to the Rainbow Coalition. They all built together. Jesse Jackson had an intentional program to create a little-d democratic, diverse populist movement based on equality for all. Those are old-time American themes. And we have fought for them, and we have won again and again. Let us not forget that we have won this battle before. It's in front of us, but we've got to do it again.Tavis Smiley: There you go, Jim. We say around here all the time, when we fight, we win. When we fight, we win, and you can't win it if you ain't in it. America needs more of Jim Hightower. I declare it. I knew I hadn't talked to Jim in a long time. I knew it'd be a great hour. I didn't know how great it would actually be, but he still got it. And I am pleased that he put me on his schedule for a full hour today. How blessed are we to have heard the insights of this longtime, unapologetic progressive, Jim Hightower, who's feeling himself these days, and I ain't mad at him, about this march that progressives are on. And I close with what his parents said to him many, many years ago: everybody does better when everybody does better. Jim Hightower, thank you, thank you, thank you, my friend.Jim Hightower: Thank you, Tavis.Tavis Smiley: Good to have you on. More of Tavis Smiley when we come forward.Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe
Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson are back in the Hendrickson Library — Dr. Pepper Zero in hand, courtesy of friend Mark Beardmore from Carroll — with a lot to cover six weeks out from Election Day.ITR has been crisscrossing the state for the constitutional amendment. If you want yard signs or want them to come to your community, reach out.On the campaign environment, Chris pushes back on the doom-and-gloom narrative taking hold in Republican circles. Then: a Capitol report from a property tax task force this week, an economic development story developing in southeast Iowa worth watching, and a new ITR Foundation research piece on school infrastructure spending and what the evidence actually shows about outcomes. Des Moines provides a timely real-world case study.The episode closes on a question worth asking about every government program: what's the return on investment?0:06 Welcome & Dr. Pepper Zero is back2:54 Trivia4:07 Amendment One on the road5:30 The political environment9:05 What ITR's polling shows13:38 Ground game matters14:59 Capitol report20:33 Southeast Iowa economic development23:03 School spending and outcomes27:26 Des Moines bond referendum31:12 ROI and government spending32:53 Sign off
COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN - SEASON 5 EPISODE 8 A-Block (SPECIAL COMMENT): BREAKING: Republicans finally throw Trump overboard - or maybe it's "Republicans finally throw Trump under the campaign bus." -Trump toady Byron Donalds, running for Governor of Florida and only ahead in the polls by 1/10 of a percentage point, scrubs Trump from his website. - Foundering GOP Senate candidates in Iowa and Michigan criticize Trump's war in Iran and resultant high prices. - Trump's approval among Pure Independents drops from +15 to -71 since Election Day (an 86 point swing against Trump!; 99 point swing on the economy) -The percentage of Trump voters who supported him - not the GOP - goes from +23 on Inauguration Week to -22. -And the Tump staff response? They want to rename Ford's Theatre after Trump! 'Ford's Theatre - because the one thing you really want as the midterms loom is some commercial that includes the tag lines 'The Lincoln Assassination - brought to you by Donald Trump!' The De-Trumpification Has Begun! PLUS the polls are crashing around him and Trump can't decide if the midterms are about him or aren't about him, and I have to take some of your time to protest this claim that a baseball player who may lead the American League in Runs Batted In this year after leading the National League four years ago, will be the first to ever do it. He isn't. There is now a desperate bid to make everything that happens, something that has never happened before. 'The first time since 1904' is a plenty big enough accomplishment without hyperbole. B-Block (40:00) THE WORST PERSONS IN THE WORLD: Stephen A. Smith is back and fully up to date on politics (as long as that date is July 15 2024). Jared Golden, phony Democratic congressman from Maine, endorses a Republican in New York because they worked together prioritizing lobstermen over democracy. And Friedrich Merz, a German chancellor having trouble fending off a bunch of fascists bent on ethnic cleansing. Get some help, Ethel Mertz. C-Block (52:00) THINGS I PROMISED NOT TO TELL: I cherish the memory of a friend no longer with us and the extraordinary person she was. In fact, she should've been president - at minimum, she should've been the VP candidate on the Democratic ticket, not her husband. Elizabeth Edwards - my friend. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In part one of Red Eye Radio with Gary McNamara and Eric Harley, even amid voter frustration over the economy and the Iran war, Republicans remain more popular than Democrats heading into Election Day. Republicans have a net favorability rating 8 points higher than Democrats, according to the latest NBC News poll. The GOP is viewed favorably by 36% and unfavorably by 49%, while Democrats fare even worse at 29% favorable and 50% unfavorable. Also the left can't identify a woman, let alone respect them / 'Palestinian Rachel Dolezal' outed as white woman of significant privilege and wealth / a drag performer and a clown school student try to keep a lesbian bar in Massachusetts afloat / and Gary's healthy heart. For more talk on the issues that matter to you, listen on radio stations across America Monday-Friday 12am-5am CT (1am-6am ET and 10pm-3am PT), download the RED EYE RADIO SHOW app, asking your smart speaker, or listening at RedEyeRadioShow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices