Podcasts about Partisan

Partisan trends being what they are, it's increasingly rare to see an election actually decided in November. The parties matter more, the candidates a bit less. But that divide doesn't seem so big in the Grand Canyon State, and Arizonans like a maverick. Chuck Warren of Breaking Battlegrounds joins Henry to discuss the flamboyant characters vying […]

Political Scientists Christopher Federico, Stanley Feldman, and Christopher Weber have an important and fascinating new book from Oxford University Press focusing on understanding authoritarianism, especially in the American context. As experts in political psychology, the authors are keen to consider authoritarianism as a psychological concept, which is more about submitting to authority, as a kind of conformity, and less about a particular political regime structure. The Authoritarian Divide: Partisan Identity, Voting, and the Transformation of the American Electorate (Oxford UP, 2026) is about trying to understand voters and how some of them are attracted to this idea or concept, and how this attraction then works itself out within the electorate and within our contemporary political moment. In order to understand this theory of psychological authoritarianism, the authors trace the idea from origins in critical theory and pre-World War I European thinkers (Freud, Benjamin, etc.) who were examining the concepts of conformity vs. autonomy, and how these ideas functioned in political life. The authors also examined differing approaches to child-rearing, since this also reflects these same concepts of conformity and autonomy, but in how they are put into practice in bringing up children, either with more freedom or in a more rules bound approach. In using these measures, Federico, Feldman, and Weber also pulled together data from election surveys starting in the 1990s and moving forward that include questions that get at some of the same ideas. The authors also used experiments to test individual inclinations towards autonomy or uniformity. The thrust of voter's choices was not about economics or specific public policy in these analyses, but around social issue differentiation and social context. The research for The Authoritarian Divide is complex and brings together a variety of different methodological approaches in order to examine this political divide, and to tease out the impact of psychological authoritarianism in American politics. The Authoritarian Divide: Partisan Identity, Voting, and the Transformation of the American Electorate reveals that this inclination towards psychological authoritarianism is much more prevalent among white conservative voters than among other voting blocs in the United States. This has also led voters to sort themselves within the two parties accordingly, with far more of those who are inclined towards psychological authoritarianism moving into the Republican Party, and fewer moving into the Democratic Party. The result of this sorting has contributed to the rise in polarization within American politics over the past thirty years. The Authoritarian Divide explains a lot about voter thinking and approaches to American politics over the past three decades. It helps to decipher the entrenched polarization because the examination is not about policy distinctions or issues, it is about how individual voters think and why they are inclined to think in particular ways about politics. The authors clearly assess the distinctions within the voting populace of the United States, and, in so doing, unpack different approaches to voting and vote choices in different sectors of the electorate. The Authoritarian Divide really helps us to understand our current political climate and to see how the rise of Donald Trump fits into a temporally longer era of American politics, partisan politics, racial politics, and the tensions between democracy and authoritarianism. Lilly J. Goren is a professor of political science at Carroll University in Waukesha, WI. She is co-host of the New Books in Political Science channel at the New Books Network. She is co-editor of The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Volume I: The Infinity Saga (University Press of Kansas, 2022), and of The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Volume II: Into the Multiverse (University Press of Kansas, 2025) as well as co-editor of the award winning book, Women and the White House: Gender, Popular Culture, and Presidential Politics (University Press of Kentucky, 2012). She can be reached @gorenlj.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Political Scientists Christopher Federico, Stanley Feldman, and Christopher Weber have an important and fascinating new book from Oxford University Press focusing on understanding authoritarianism, especially in the American context. As experts in political psychology, the authors are keen to consider authoritarianism as a psychological concept, which is more about submitting to authority, as a kind of conformity, and less about a particular political regime structure. The Authoritarian Divide: Partisan Identity, Voting, and the Transformation of the American Electorate (Oxford UP, 2026) is about trying to understand voters and how some of them are attracted to this idea or concept, and how this attraction then works itself out within the electorate and within our contemporary political moment. In order to understand this theory of psychological authoritarianism, the authors trace the idea from origins in critical theory and pre-World War I European thinkers (Freud, Benjamin, etc.) who were examining the concepts of conformity vs. autonomy, and how these ideas functioned in political life. The authors also examined differing approaches to child-rearing, since this also reflects these same concepts of conformity and autonomy, but in how they are put into practice in bringing up children, either with more freedom or in a more rules bound approach. In using these measures, Federico, Feldman, and Weber also pulled together data from election surveys starting in the 1990s and moving forward that include questions that get at some of the same ideas. The authors also used experiments to test individual inclinations towards autonomy or uniformity. The thrust of voter's choices was not about economics or specific public policy in these analyses, but around social issue differentiation and social context. The research for The Authoritarian Divide is complex and brings together a variety of different methodological approaches in order to examine this political divide, and to tease out the impact of psychological authoritarianism in American politics. The Authoritarian Divide: Partisan Identity, Voting, and the Transformation of the American Electorate reveals that this inclination towards psychological authoritarianism is much more prevalent among white conservative voters than among other voting blocs in the United States. This has also led voters to sort themselves within the two parties accordingly, with far more of those who are inclined towards psychological authoritarianism moving into the Republican Party, and fewer moving into the Democratic Party. The result of this sorting has contributed to the rise in polarization within American politics over the past thirty years. The Authoritarian Divide explains a lot about voter thinking and approaches to American politics over the past three decades. It helps to decipher the entrenched polarization because the examination is not about policy distinctions or issues, it is about how individual voters think and why they are inclined to think in particular ways about politics. The authors clearly assess the distinctions within the voting populace of the United States, and, in so doing, unpack different approaches to voting and vote choices in different sectors of the electorate. The Authoritarian Divide really helps us to understand our current political climate and to see how the rise of Donald Trump fits into a temporally longer era of American politics, partisan politics, racial politics, and the tensions between democracy and authoritarianism. Lilly J. Goren is a professor of political science at Carroll University in Waukesha, WI. She is co-host of the New Books in Political Science channel at the New Books Network. She is co-editor of The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Volume I: The Infinity Saga (University Press of Kansas, 2022), and of The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Volume II: Into the Multiverse (University Press of Kansas, 2025) as well as co-editor of the award winning book, Women and the White House: Gender, Popular Culture, and Presidential Politics (University Press of Kentucky, 2012). She can be reached @gorenlj.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/political-science

John Opdycke — founder and president of Open Primaries, one of the leading organizations pushing to end closed partisan primaries — joins the Chuck Toddcast to make the case that the exclusion of independent voters is one of the great overlooked scandals of American democracy. Opdycke walks through the byzantine patchwork of voter and party registration rules that vary wildly by state, explains why so many independents sit out partisan primaries entirely, and argues that after 30 years of closed primaries the cumulative effect has been a system where the parties function as both the umpires and the players — a structure that simply doesn't work. He makes the bipartisan argument that tax dollars shouldn't fund the private nominating contests of what are essentially private organizations, and is pointedly critical of Democrats for actively fighting open primary initiatives.He notes that policies with 80% public support routinely fail to pass because voters don't actually have a meaningful say. The conversation turns tactical and forward-looking, with Opdycke offering a sober assessment of the broader reform landscape and its persistent failures. He argues the ranked-choice voting movement has made serious tactical errors, that the party in power always fights ranked choice voting, and that the modern reform and independent movement suffers from a fundamental lack of a compelling public face — as well as from philanthropic funders who attach outcome expectations that distort the work. Opdycke is candid that third parties fare poorly in nearly every electoral system, that Ross Perot's Reform Party is now essentially a shell, and that the American people still don't trust the reform movement — but he sees real opportunity in specific fights, particularly mobilizing Florida's independents to change the law and pursuing top-two systems that would genuinely open the door to competition. He notes the striking statistic that 10,000 people per week are changing their voter registration, laments the general lack of curiosity (and polling) about who swing voters actually are, and argues there's meaningful left-right overlap among libertarians that reformers could tap. They explore whether the redistricting wars could create a backlash against the two-party system, why there are only about 25 competitive House districts left, and why several states are now actually moving back toward closed primaries. They close with a clear-eyed take on 2028: the reform movement needs a credible presidential candidate, and with 2028 shaping up to be a wild and unpredictable year, the opening for that kind of disruption may be wider than it's been in decades. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 John Opdycke joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:45 Voter & party registration rules vary greatly by state 03:00 Why do so many independents sit out partisan primaries? 05:30 NYC Democratic party actively fought open primary initiative 07:00 There have been cumulative effects of 30 years of closed primaries 08:15 Voter apathy across the board for voting in primaries 09:00 Independents showing strong support for Open Primaries 10:45 Parties have every right to choose their candidates 11:15 Parties now are both the umpires and the players, it doesn’t work 13:00 There’s bipartisan arguments for not using tax dollars for private orgs 14:15 Why are Democrats fighting against open primaries? 16:15 Ross Perot’s Reform Party is basically a shell at this point 19:00 Independent voters are incorrectly understood as in the middle 19:30 Independents are moderate in temperament, not ideology 21:15 Politics post-Clinton/Gingrich designed to keep independents down 22:15 The modern reform/independent movement lacks a face 23:15 Philanthropic funders come with expectations of outcomes 24:15 Ranked choice voting movement has made serious tactical errors 26:30 Party in power always fights ranked choice voting 28:00 Exclusion of independent voters is a Jim Crow level violation of rights 28:30 Policies with 80% support don’t pass, voters don’t have a say 30:00 Third parties don’t do well in almost any electoral system 31:15 Swing voters are ignored until October 31:45 Which states offer best opportunities for a third party? 32:30 Independents require the Democrat to drop out in senate races 36:00 Could the redistricting wars create backlash to the two party system? 36:45 There’s only 25 competitive house district 37:30 Leaders in several states now looking to go back to closed primaries 38:45 The American people don’t trust the Reform movement 40:45 Mobilizing independents in Florida to change the law 43:15 There’s left-right overlap amongst the libertarians 44:45 There’s a lack of curiosity about independent/swing voters 46:45 10,000 people per week change their voter registration 47:30 We need a flood of polling and research about independent voters 48:45 What does success look like for Open Primaries this year? 51:45 A top two system would open up the door to competition 53:15 There are fewer “generic” candidates, much more variance 55:45 The Reform movement needs a presidential candidate in ‘28 59:30 Perot had to scare both parties to get them to make reforms 1:01:00 Have to creative in ‘28, it will be a wild year in politicsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with the news that Trump is planning a primetime address to push election denialism, and uses it as a lens to examine how thoroughly fealty to the 2020 fraud lie has become the price of admission in Trump's Washington. He argues Todd Blanche should have no place in the Department of Justice, that he failed his test under questioning from John Cornyn, and that the weaponization fund could become the red line that finally moves Collins, Tillis, and Cornyn — because an inability to confirm Blanche would be a clear sign of Trump's weakening grip on the GOP. He points to the surreal spectacle of Jay Clayton refusing to answer Jon Ossoff's simple question of who won the 2020 election, looking like a ridiculous sycophant in the process, and to Trump endorsing MyPillow's Mike Lindell — the single biggest election conspiracy theorist in the country, a man who's lost every court case and been forced to pay $5 million over his false claims. He reminds listeners that it was Trump's own appointees who ran election security in 2020, that every major election denier from Giuliani on down has been forced to retract in court, and that Georgia's full hand recount matched the machines exactly — the only real constant in Trumpworld is that any outcome Trump dislikes gets branded fraud. He then turns to the mounting deaths during ICE encounters, arguing the violence isn't an anomaly but an entirely predictable consequence of an agency whose culture has been deliberately reshaped: DHS recruited candidates with violent psychological profiles using white nationalist slogans, imposed quotas that put officers under enormous stress, and pushed them into vehicle stops that former officials admit ICE has no experience conducting. In two fatal shootings the men killed weren't even the targets, witnesses have disputed the DHS account, there's no body cam footage, and Chuck argues DHS has zero credibility, even as Trump clearly wants the theater and the violent confrontations. On Iran, Chuck is blunt that having less leverage than before the war started is simply what losing a war looks like: the administration badly underestimated Iran's willingness to close the Strait of Hormuz, Iran deliberately decentralized its regime to survive decapitation strikes, and after three failed military strategies in five months, Trump has spent the entire war negotiating against himself — meaning the best America can now hope for is a managed stalemate, because Iran can't beat the U.S. military, it just has to wait out an increasingly impatient Trump. He closes on a lighter note with the House passing a bill to make daylight saving time permanent, offering the contrarian reminder that the public always wants permanent DST until they actually get it — kids forced to go to school in pitch darkness, and the simple reality that what's good for you in the evening is bad for someone else in the morning. Then, John Opdycke — founder and president of Open Primaries, one of the leading organizations pushing to end closed partisan primaries — joins the Chuck Toddcast to make the case that the exclusion of independent voters is one of the great overlooked scandals of American democracy. Opdycke walks through the byzantine patchwork of voter and party registration rules that vary wildly by state, explains why so many independents sit out partisan primaries entirely, and argues that after 30 years of closed primaries the cumulative effect has been a system where the parties function as both the umpires and the players — a structure that simply doesn't work. He makes the bipartisan argument that tax dollars shouldn't fund the private nominating contests of what are essentially private organizations, and is pointedly critical of Democrats for actively fighting open primary initiatives.He notes that policies with 80% public support routinely fail to pass because voters don't actually have a meaningful say. The conversation turns tactical and forward-looking, with Opdycke offering a sober assessment of the broader reform landscape and its persistent failures. He argues the ranked-choice voting movement has made serious tactical errors, that the party in power always fights ranked choice voting, and that the modern reform and independent movement suffers from a fundamental lack of a compelling public face — as well as from philanthropic funders who attach outcome expectations that distort the work. Opdycke is candid that third parties fare poorly in nearly every electoral system, that Ross Perot's Reform Party is now essentially a shell, and that the American people still don't trust the reform movement — but he sees real opportunity in specific fights, particularly mobilizing Florida's independents to change the law and pursuing top-two systems that would genuinely open the door to competition. He notes the striking statistic that 10,000 people per week are changing their voter registration, laments the general lack of curiosity (and polling) about who swing voters actually are, and argues there's meaningful left-right overlap among libertarians that reformers could tap. They explore whether the redistricting wars could create a backlash against the two-party system, why there are only about 25 competitive House districts left, and why several states are now actually moving back toward closed primaries. They close with a clear-eyed take on 2028: the reform movement needs a credible presidential candidate, and with 2028 shaping up to be a wild and unpredictable year, the opening for that kind of disruption may be wider than it's been in decades. Finally, Chuck presents his ToddCast Top 5 list of professional athletes best positioned to run for political office and answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. From the opening whistle to the final kick. Bet on a match and get bonus bets for every goal scored at Fanduel.com Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. For free and unbiased Medicare help, dial (980) 734-3985 to speak with my trusted partner, Chapter, or go to askchapter.org/chuck /*Paid Partnership Chapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:00 Trump planning primetime address to push election denialism 04:15 Todd Blanche should have no place in the Department of Justice 05:00 Blanche failed the test when questioned by John Cornyn 05:30 Weaponization fund could be the red line for Collins, Tillis and Cornyn 07:00 Inability to confirm Blanche would show Trump’s weakening grip on GOP 08:15 John Ossoff asked simple question Jay Clayton wouldn’t answer 09:00 Clayton refused to answer “who won the 2020 election?” 09:30 You must agree with election denialism to work for Trump 10:30 Clayton looked like a ridiculous sycophant 12:00 Administration convinced deportations will help in midterms 12:30 Trump is completely misreading the situation, but nobody will tell him 13:15 Trump gives his endorsement to Mike Lindell from MyPillow 13:45 Trump supporting biggest election conspiracy theorist in the country* 14:30 Lindell was forced to pay $5 million due to his false claims 15:15 Lindell has lost every time his claims ended up in court 15:45 Lindell is a lunatic 16:45 The only constant for Trump is “it’s fraud” if he doesn’t get his way 17:30 It was Trump appointees who ran election security in 2020 18:15 The election fraud claims from Trumpworld kept changing 19:15 Guliani was forced to refute his election denial in court 20:00 Every election denier has had to retract in a court of law 21:15 Georgia conducted a full recount and it matched the machines 23:00 Multiple deaths have occurred during encounters with ICE 24:00 In the two shootings the men killed were not the targets of the operation 24:45 Witnesses have challenged DHS account & there’s no body cam footage 25:15 DHS has no credibility, can’t trust their account of events 26:00 ICE announced they have paused most vehicle stops nationwide 28:00 Trump wants the theater with ICE, he wants violent confrontations* 29:30 The violence isn’t an anomaly, it’s entirely predictable 30:00 DHS’s recruiting for ICE has changed the culture of the organization 31:00 ICE targeted candidates with a violent psychological profile 32:15 ICE used white nationalist slogans in recruitment ads 34:00 The culture of ICE promotes violent confrontation 34:45 Administration’s quotas has put officers under stress 36:45 Former ICE officials admit the agency doesn’t have experience for vehicle stops 37:30 Tragedy isn’t a risk under these circumstances… it’s a guarantee 38:15 Federal law enforcement has turned into a theater of dominance 39:00 ICE set itself up for a war… and we’re seeing the consequences 39:45 Iran has more leverage than before the war… that’s called losing 40:15 Houthis may close another chokepoint 41:15 The U.S. military always knew the Strait of Hormuz was the ballgame 41:45 Administration underestimated Iran’s willingness to close the Strait 42:30 Iran set up the regime to be decentralized in case of decapitation strikes 43:15 We’ve tried 3 major military strategies in 5 months & none worked 44:30 Trump has negotiated against himself for the entire war 46:00 This has now become a fight over leverage 47:00 Every week the war grinds on, the more unpopular it becomes 47:30 Iran can’t beat the U.S. military, they just need to wait out Trump 48:15 The best we can hope for is a managed stalemate 48:45 House passed a bill to make daylight savings time permanent 49:45 The public always wants permanent daylight savings, until they get it 50:15 Kids are forced to get to school in the dark, results in deaths 51:30 What’s good for you in the evening is bad for someone else in the morning 00:00 John Opdycke joins the Chuck ToddCast 59:45 Voter & party registration rules vary greatly by state 1:01:00 Why do so many independents sit out partisan primaries? 1:03:30 NYC Democratic party actively fought open primary initiative 1:05:00 There have been cumulative effects of 30 years of closed primaries 1:06:15 Voter apathy across the board for voting in primaries 1:07:00 Independents showing strong support for Open Primaries 1:08:45 Parties have every right to choose their candidates 1:09:15 Parties now are both the umpires and the players, it doesn’t work 1:11:00 There’s bipartisan arguments for not using tax dollars for private orgs 1:12:15 Why are Democrats fighting against open primaries? 1:14:15 Ross Perot’s Reform Party is basically a shell at this point 1:17:00 Independent voters are incorrectly understood as in the middle 1:17:30 Independents are moderate in temperament, not ideology 1:19:15 Politics post-Clinton/Gingrich designed to keep independents down 1:20:15 The modern reform/independent movement lacks a face 1:21:15 Philanthropic funders come with expectations of outcomes 1:22:15 Ranked choice voting movement has made serious tactical errors 1:24:30 Party in power always fights ranked choice voting 1:26:00 Exclusion of independent voters is a Jim Crow level violation of rights 1:26:30 Policies with 80% support don’t pass, voters don’t have a say 1:28:00 Third parties don’t do well in almost any electoral system 1:29:15 Swing voters are ignored until October 1:29:45 Which states offer best opportunities for a third party? 1:30:30 Independents require the Democrat to drop out in senate races 1:34:00 Could the redistricting wars create backlash to the two party system? 1:34:45 There’s only 25 competitive house district 1:35:30 Leaders in several states now looking to go back to closed primaries 1:36:45 The American people don’t trust the Reform movement 1:38:45 Mobilizing independents in Florida to change the law 1:41:15 There’s left-right overlap amongst the libertarians 1:42:45 There’s a lack of curiosity about independent/swing voters 1:44:45 10,000 people per week change their voter registration 1:45:30 We need a flood of polling and research about independent voters 1:46:45 What does success look like for Open Primaries this year? 1:49:45 A top two system would open up the door to competition 1:51:15 There are fewer “generic” candidates, much more variance 1:53:45 The Reform movement needs a presidential candidate in ‘28 1:57:30 Perot had to scare both parties to get them to make reforms 1:59:00 Have to creative in ‘28, it will be a wild year in politics 2:00:00 Primaries should be open to all voters 2:00:15 ToddCast Top 5 American athletes that could transition to politics 2:04:15 #5 Travis Kelce 2:05:30 #4 Paul Skenes 2:06:30 #3 Patrick Mahomes 2:07:15 #2 Steph Curry 2:08:15 #1 Caitlin Clark 2:11:30 Ask Chuck 2:11:45 Favorite old 40s and 50s films? 2:18:00 Your work made a real difference in my life 2:19:30 Are there any states where a congressperson could do what Farage did in UK? 2:23:00 Why don’t presidential campaigns create buzz around VP selection? 2:27:30 What signs would show us we’re turning the corner on this divisive era?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political Scientists Christopher Federico, Stanley Feldman, and Christopher Weber have an important and fascinating new book from Oxford University Press focusing on understanding authoritarianism, especially in the American context. As experts in political psychology, the authors are keen to consider authoritarianism as a psychological concept, which is more about submitting to authority, as a kind of conformity, and less about a particular political regime structure. The Authoritarian Divide: Partisan Identity, Voting, and the Transformation of the American Electorate (Oxford UP, 2026) is about trying to understand voters and how some of them are attracted to this idea or concept, and how this attraction then works itself out within the electorate and within our contemporary political moment. In order to understand this theory of psychological authoritarianism, the authors trace the idea from origins in critical theory and pre-World War I European thinkers (Freud, Benjamin, etc.) who were examining the concepts of conformity vs. autonomy, and how these ideas functioned in political life. The authors also examined differing approaches to child-rearing, since this also reflects these same concepts of conformity and autonomy, but in how they are put into practice in bringing up children, either with more freedom or in a more rules bound approach. In using these measures, Federico, Feldman, and Weber also pulled together data from election surveys starting in the 1990s and moving forward that include questions that get at some of the same ideas. The authors also used experiments to test individual inclinations towards autonomy or uniformity. The thrust of voter's choices was not about economics or specific public policy in these analyses, but around social issue differentiation and social context. The research for The Authoritarian Divide is complex and brings together a variety of different methodological approaches in order to examine this political divide, and to tease out the impact of psychological authoritarianism in American politics. The Authoritarian Divide: Partisan Identity, Voting, and the Transformation of the American Electorate reveals that this inclination towards psychological authoritarianism is much more prevalent among white conservative voters than among other voting blocs in the United States. This has also led voters to sort themselves within the two parties accordingly, with far more of those who are inclined towards psychological authoritarianism moving into the Republican Party, and fewer moving into the Democratic Party. The result of this sorting has contributed to the rise in polarization within American politics over the past thirty years. The Authoritarian Divide explains a lot about voter thinking and approaches to American politics over the past three decades. It helps to decipher the entrenched polarization because the examination is not about policy distinctions or issues, it is about how individual voters think and why they are inclined to think in particular ways about politics. The authors clearly assess the distinctions within the voting populace of the United States, and, in so doing, unpack different approaches to voting and vote choices in different sectors of the electorate. The Authoritarian Divide really helps us to understand our current political climate and to see how the rise of Donald Trump fits into a temporally longer era of American politics, partisan politics, racial politics, and the tensions between democracy and authoritarianism. Lilly J. Goren is a professor of political science at Carroll University in Waukesha, WI. She is co-host of the New Books in Political Science channel at the New Books Network. She is co-editor of The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Volume I: The Infinity Saga (University Press of Kansas, 2022), and of The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Volume II: Into the Multiverse (University Press of Kansas, 2025) as well as co-editor of the award winning book, Women and the White House: Gender, Popular Culture, and Presidential Politics (University Press of Kentucky, 2012). She can be reached @gorenlj.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/politics-and-polemics

Political Scientists Christopher Federico, Stanley Feldman, and Christopher Weber have an important and fascinating new book from Oxford University Press focusing on understanding authoritarianism, especially in the American context. As experts in political psychology, the authors are keen to consider authoritarianism as a psychological concept, which is more about submitting to authority, as a kind of conformity, and less about a particular political regime structure. The Authoritarian Divide: Partisan Identity, Voting, and the Transformation of the American Electorate (Oxford UP, 2026) is about trying to understand voters and how some of them are attracted to this idea or concept, and how this attraction then works itself out within the electorate and within our contemporary political moment. In order to understand this theory of psychological authoritarianism, the authors trace the idea from origins in critical theory and pre-World War I European thinkers (Freud, Benjamin, etc.) who were examining the concepts of conformity vs. autonomy, and how these ideas functioned in political life. The authors also examined differing approaches to child-rearing, since this also reflects these same concepts of conformity and autonomy, but in how they are put into practice in bringing up children, either with more freedom or in a more rules bound approach. In using these measures, Federico, Feldman, and Weber also pulled together data from election surveys starting in the 1990s and moving forward that include questions that get at some of the same ideas. The authors also used experiments to test individual inclinations towards autonomy or uniformity. The thrust of voter's choices was not about economics or specific public policy in these analyses, but around social issue differentiation and social context. The research for The Authoritarian Divide is complex and brings together a variety of different methodological approaches in order to examine this political divide, and to tease out the impact of psychological authoritarianism in American politics. The Authoritarian Divide: Partisan Identity, Voting, and the Transformation of the American Electorate reveals that this inclination towards psychological authoritarianism is much more prevalent among white conservative voters than among other voting blocs in the United States. This has also led voters to sort themselves within the two parties accordingly, with far more of those who are inclined towards psychological authoritarianism moving into the Republican Party, and fewer moving into the Democratic Party. The result of this sorting has contributed to the rise in polarization within American politics over the past thirty years. The Authoritarian Divide explains a lot about voter thinking and approaches to American politics over the past three decades. It helps to decipher the entrenched polarization because the examination is not about policy distinctions or issues, it is about how individual voters think and why they are inclined to think in particular ways about politics. The authors clearly assess the distinctions within the voting populace of the United States, and, in so doing, unpack different approaches to voting and vote choices in different sectors of the electorate. The Authoritarian Divide really helps us to understand our current political climate and to see how the rise of Donald Trump fits into a temporally longer era of American politics, partisan politics, racial politics, and the tensions between democracy and authoritarianism. Lilly J. Goren is a professor of political science at Carroll University in Waukesha, WI. She is co-host of the New Books in Political Science channel at the New Books Network. She is co-editor of The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Volume I: The Infinity Saga (University Press of Kansas, 2022), and of The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Volume II: Into the Multiverse (University Press of Kansas, 2025) as well as co-editor of the award winning book, Women and the White House: Gender, Popular Culture, and Presidential Politics (University Press of Kentucky, 2012). She can be reached @gorenlj.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Political Scientists Christopher Federico, Stanley Feldman, and Christopher Weber have an important and fascinating new book from Oxford University Press focusing on understanding authoritarianism, especially in the American context. As experts in political psychology, the authors are keen to consider authoritarianism as a psychological concept, which is more about submitting to authority, as a kind of conformity, and less about a particular political regime structure. The Authoritarian Divide: Partisan Identity, Voting, and the Transformation of the American Electorate (Oxford UP, 2026) is about trying to understand voters and how some of them are attracted to this idea or concept, and how this attraction then works itself out within the electorate and within our contemporary political moment. In order to understand this theory of psychological authoritarianism, the authors trace the idea from origins in critical theory and pre-World War I European thinkers (Freud, Benjamin, etc.) who were examining the concepts of conformity vs. autonomy, and how these ideas functioned in political life. The authors also examined differing approaches to child-rearing, since this also reflects these same concepts of conformity and autonomy, but in how they are put into practice in bringing up children, either with more freedom or in a more rules bound approach. In using these measures, Federico, Feldman, and Weber also pulled together data from election surveys starting in the 1990s and moving forward that include questions that get at some of the same ideas. The authors also used experiments to test individual inclinations towards autonomy or uniformity. The thrust of voter's choices was not about economics or specific public policy in these analyses, but around social issue differentiation and social context. The research for The Authoritarian Divide is complex and brings together a variety of different methodological approaches in order to examine this political divide, and to tease out the impact of psychological authoritarianism in American politics. The Authoritarian Divide: Partisan Identity, Voting, and the Transformation of the American Electorate reveals that this inclination towards psychological authoritarianism is much more prevalent among white conservative voters than among other voting blocs in the United States. This has also led voters to sort themselves within the two parties accordingly, with far more of those who are inclined towards psychological authoritarianism moving into the Republican Party, and fewer moving into the Democratic Party. The result of this sorting has contributed to the rise in polarization within American politics over the past thirty years. The Authoritarian Divide explains a lot about voter thinking and approaches to American politics over the past three decades. It helps to decipher the entrenched polarization because the examination is not about policy distinctions or issues, it is about how individual voters think and why they are inclined to think in particular ways about politics. The authors clearly assess the distinctions within the voting populace of the United States, and, in so doing, unpack different approaches to voting and vote choices in different sectors of the electorate. The Authoritarian Divide really helps us to understand our current political climate and to see how the rise of Donald Trump fits into a temporally longer era of American politics, partisan politics, racial politics, and the tensions between democracy and authoritarianism. Lilly J. Goren is a professor of political science at Carroll University in Waukesha, WI. She is co-host of the New Books in Political Science channel at the New Books Network. She is co-editor of The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Volume I: The Infinity Saga (University Press of Kansas, 2022), and of The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Volume II: Into the Multiverse (University Press of Kansas, 2025) as well as co-editor of the award winning book, Women and the White House: Gender, Popular Culture, and Presidential Politics (University Press of Kentucky, 2012). She can be reached @gorenlj.bsky.social Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/book-of-the-day

Political Scientists Christopher Federico, Stanley Feldman, and Christopher Weber have an important and fascinating new book from Oxford University Press focusing on understanding authoritarianism, especially in the American context. As experts in political psychology, the authors are keen to consider authoritarianism as a psychological concept, which is more about submitting to authority, as a kind of conformity, and less about a particular political regime structure. The Authoritarian Divide: Partisan Identity, Voting, and the Transformation of the American Electorate (Oxford UP, 2026) is about trying to understand voters and how some of them are attracted to this idea or concept, and how this attraction then works itself out within the electorate and within our contemporary political moment. In order to understand this theory of psychological authoritarianism, the authors trace the idea from origins in critical theory and pre-World War I European thinkers (Freud, Benjamin, etc.) who were examining the concepts of conformity vs. autonomy, and how these ideas functioned in political life. The authors also examined differing approaches to child-rearing, since this also reflects these same concepts of conformity and autonomy, but in how they are put into practice in bringing up children, either with more freedom or in a more rules bound approach. In using these measures, Federico, Feldman, and Weber also pulled together data from election surveys starting in the 1990s and moving forward that include questions that get at some of the same ideas. The authors also used experiments to test individual inclinations towards autonomy or uniformity. The thrust of voter's choices was not about economics or specific public policy in these analyses, but around social issue differentiation and social context. The research for The Authoritarian Divide is complex and brings together a variety of different methodological approaches in order to examine this political divide, and to tease out the impact of psychological authoritarianism in American politics. The Authoritarian Divide: Partisan Identity, Voting, and the Transformation of the American Electorate reveals that this inclination towards psychological authoritarianism is much more prevalent among white conservative voters than among other voting blocs in the United States. This has also led voters to sort themselves within the two parties accordingly, with far more of those who are inclined towards psychological authoritarianism moving into the Republican Party, and fewer moving into the Democratic Party. The result of this sorting has contributed to the rise in polarization within American politics over the past thirty years. The Authoritarian Divide explains a lot about voter thinking and approaches to American politics over the past three decades. It helps to decipher the entrenched polarization because the examination is not about policy distinctions or issues, it is about how individual voters think and why they are inclined to think in particular ways about politics. The authors clearly assess the distinctions within the voting populace of the United States, and, in so doing, unpack different approaches to voting and vote choices in different sectors of the electorate. The Authoritarian Divide really helps us to understand our current political climate and to see how the rise of Donald Trump fits into a temporally longer era of American politics, partisan politics, racial politics, and the tensions between democracy and authoritarianism. Lilly J. Goren is a professor of political science at Carroll University in Waukesha, WI. She is co-host of the New Books in Political Science channel at the New Books Network. She is co-editor of The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Volume I: The Infinity Saga (University Press of Kansas, 2022), and of The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Volume II: Into the Multiverse (University Press of Kansas, 2025) as well as co-editor of the award winning book, Women and the White House: Gender, Popular Culture, and Presidential Politics (University Press of Kentucky, 2012). She can be reached @gorenlj.bsky.social

Governor Landry says “Louisiana will determine the fate of New Orleans.” Is this just the beginning of Baton Rouge wielding more power over the city? Mike Sherman, local political analyst and an adjunct assistant professor of politics at Tulane, joins us.

In the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, we spoke with a dear friend and colleague to him, US Senator Richard Blumenthal. The Connecticut senator talked about his personal and professional relationship with the late Senator Graham and a piece of legislation they worked on together that still needs passage.Image Credit: Reuters

The most obvious occasion for civility in Washington is the sudden death of a public official. It shouldn't be a time for score-settling and expressing glee. Lindsey Graham's death led to both of these. Plus: Ro Khanna's West Bank stunt backfires.

Episode 4173 │ July 6, 2026 The 250th wasn't a celebration of the Declaration. It was a partisan spectacle that proved exactly why the document's core warning still matters. WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS  Scott Kesterson opens the post-250th Monday with a direct assessment of what the anniversary actually delivered — the documented capture of the bipartisan America 250 commission by Freedom 250, a Trump-aligned LLC that redirected congressional funds, installed partisan figures into leadership, and produced an event that substituted bread and circus for the one conversation the Declaration demands: that government is subordinate to the wills of the people, and when it ceases to be, the document itself gives the people not merely the right but the duty to throw it off. He frames the weekend against the Norse concept of the oath — eiðr, the most binding act a Viking could perform, staking honor, name, and standing in life and beyond on its fulfillment — as a direct parallel to the final sentence of the Declaration, the mutual pledge of lives, fortunes, and sacred honor that the 56 signers made knowing they had just committed treason punishable by hanging, an oath depth that Scott argues is entirely absent from the partisan celebration that replaced it. The episode closes with the only honest response Scott can offer to the weekend: not frustration but a doubling down — a commitment to continue the pursuit of history, context, and the theological architecture the Black Robe Regiment built into the founding, paired with a prayer of national repentance and the question he puts to himself and every listener: if the moment demanded it, could you sign your name to the bottom of that document and mean every word? KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED  What is the documented mechanism by which Freedom 250 captured the congressionally authorized America 250 bipartisan commission — and why does the parallel construction of a partisan event alongside the official one represent the same division tactic the founders warned against when George Washington named political parties as the greatest threat to the republic? What is the Norse concept of the oath — and why does the eiðr framework, loyalty as covenant rather than sentiment, staking everything on its fulfillment — map more precisely onto the Declaration's final sentence than anything the 250th celebration produced? What has the American pulpit failed to do that the Black Robe Regiment did without fail — and why does Scott argue that the force that should be shaping the nation is the same force that built its moral foundation, and that force has gone silent? ABOUT BARDSFM BardsFM is a daily independent podcast covering faith, liberty, history, and information warfare. Hosted by Scott Kesterson — combat veteran, documentary filmmaker, and rancher. Over 4,100 episodes and 50 million lifetime downloads. New episodes every weekday. bards.fm This episode was researched and produced under the Sentinel Framework v3 — the analytical methodology built by Scott Kesterson — with AI-assisted research synthesis at a 70/30 human/AI authorship ratio, fully disclosed. All analysis, conclusions, and editorial judgments are those of Scott Kesterson. AFFILIATE LINKS Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS26: TreadliteBroadforks.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%: www.enviroklenz.com Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here DONATIONS: If you wish to support this podcast directly you can donate here... DONATE: Click here MAILING ADDRESS: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

Howie Kurtz on the 250th anniversary of America's founding marked by deeply polarized political messaging, a Wall Street Journal report exposing billions in personal earnings and high-volume stock trading within President Trump's investment accounts, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's sharp critique of Gen Z upon her return from maternity leave. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Republican leaders at the North Carolina General Assembly have pursued few objectives with more zeal than their crusade to overhaul state elections. Repeatedly, GOP leaders have advanced new laws that make voting more difficult and the oversight of elections more partisan. A new omnibus bill that sprang up at the legislature in recent weeks doubles down on that strategy. To get a better idea of what's been going on and what's at stake, NC Newsline sat down for an extended conversation with the executive director of the North Carolina Black Alliance, Marcus Bass. Bass said while such proposals may be dressed up and marketed as being about promoting election integrity, the real objectives aren't that hard to discern. Click here to listen to our full interview with North Carolina Black Alliance director Marcus Bass.

Missed the fireworks? Catch up on Inside Politics Sunday for a breakdown of the July 4th celebrations and President Trump's latest address. Dive into the discussion of politics, patriotism, and upcoming elections with our expert panel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This weekend, the United States marks its 250th birthday, and what Congress intended to be a nonpartisan, patriotic celebration has instead become — like seemingly everything else — partisan. We discuss how the event became fraught with politics and a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll showing that American pride is also deeply divided along partisan lines. Plus, a special Thursday edition of Can't Let It Go.This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, White House correspondent Danielle Kurtzleben, and senior political correspondent Tamara Keith.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.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

There is nothing "republican" about this celebration, except that republicans seem to be the only ones willing to celebrate our history. It's playing out in real time, as Democrat leaders manufacture reasons to avoid celebrating.

When the Nazis invade Yugoslavia Tito takes to the mountains. Winston Churchill dispatches a crack team of paratroopers, led by a man rumoured to inspire the character of James Bond. Sneaking their way through the countryside, they will seek to rendezvous with the mysterious Partisan leader and take the fight to the German war machine… A Noiser podcast production. Narrated by Paul McGann. Featuring Neil Barnett, Branko Brkic, Christopher Catherwood, Richard Mills, Nicholas O'Shaughnessy, Geoffrey Swain, Susan L Woodward. This is Part 3 of 5. Written by Jeff Dawson | Assistant Producer: Luke Lonergan | Exec produced by Joel Duddell | Sound supervisor: Tom Pink | Sound design & audio editing by George Tapp | Assembly editing by Dorry Macaulay, Rob Plummer, Jacob Booth | Compositions by Oliver Baines, Dorry Macaulay, Tom Pink | Mix & mastering: Cian Ryan-Morgan | Recording engineer: Joseph McGann. You can listen to the final two episodes of the Tito story straight away, without waiting and without ads, by joining Noiser+. Just click the subscription banner at the top of the feed or go to noiser.com/subscriptions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Steve Hayes, Mike Warren, and Jonah Goldberg are joined by Rachel Hoff, policy director at the Ronald Reagan Institute, to take a look at the Reagan Institute's 2026 Survey Report and what it reveals about American sentiment towards foreign policy. The Agenda: —The 2026 survey report —American support for Iran war —Partisan shifts in foreign policy —Socialists win in New York —Democrats' Pat Buchanan moment —Gavin Newsom's billionaire tax —Democrats in San Francisco —NWYT: Ranch dressing Show notes: —Friday G-File The Dispatch Podcast is a production of ⁠The Dispatch⁠, a digital media company covering politics, policy, and culture from a nonpartisan perspective. To access all of The Dispatch's offerings—including audio versions of all our articles and newsletters—⁠click here⁠. If you'd like to remove all ads from your podcast experience, consider becoming a premium Dispatch member ⁠by clicking here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Sullivan with a Chokepoint: How to navigate beach driving along the Washington Coast // Luke Duecy with a "Tech Talk": Concerns surround drone use during World Cup matches //Libbey Dean on President Trump's rejection of a bi-partisan bill on housing in the US // Charlie Commentary on Washington's pitch to the political left // James Lynch with the "Cold Case Project": Looking for answers // Leyla Farange on being a part of the Iranian-American community in Seattle // Gee Scott on World Cup matches so far

Sponsored by Charity Mobilehttps://www.charitymobile.com/rtt.phpSources:https://substack.com/@returntotradition1Contact Me:Email: return2catholictradition@gmail.comSupport My Work:Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/AnthonyStineSubscribeStarhttps://www.subscribestar.net/return-to-traditionBuy Me A Coffeehttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/AnthonyStinePhysical Mail:Anthony StinePO Box 3048Shawnee, OK74802Follow me on the following social media:https://www.facebook.com/ReturnToCatholicTradition/https://twitter.com/pontificatormax+JMJ+#popeleoXIV #catholicism #catholicchurch #catholicprophecy#infiltration

Partisan politics, hurricanes and earthquakes, mass shootings, nuclear threats … our world at times feels like a living nightmare. Sunada reflects: How do we as Buddhists respond, individually and as a sangha? And how do we keep our sanity? Excerpted from the talk entitled Practice During Times of Chaos and Uncertainty given on a Sangha Day celebration at Aryaloka Buddhist Center, 2017. *** Help us keep FBA Podcasts free for everyone! Donate now Subscribe to our Dharmabytes podcast: Bite-sized clips - Buddhist inspiration three times a week. Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube

Speaking of Writers welcomes historian Matthew Pinsker to discuss his groundbreaking new book, Boss Lincoln: The Partisan Life of Abraham Lincoln. This is part of The Speaking of Writers America 250 Series. Discover the political genius behind America's 16th president as Pinsker explores Lincoln's remarkable ability to build coalitions, navigate fierce partisan battles, and lead the nation through its greatest crisis.From the Gettysburg Address to the election of 1864, this conversation reveals a side of Lincoln that history books often overlook—the master politician who helped preserve the Union and secure emancipation.LikeSubscribeShare your favorite Lincoln fact in the comments!#speakingofwriterspodcast #MatthewPinsker #BossLincoln #AbrahamLincoln #CivilWar #AmericanHistory #HistoryPodcast #Lincoln #Books #AuthorInterview

James Henson and Joshua Blank look at 2026 Texas trial ballots and strikingly negative views of data centers and AI in the June Texas Politics Project Poll. This episode was engineered and mixed by Uriel Murillo.

Today, Josh opens the show with a troubling new statistic that reveals just how deeply divided America has become. In a nation that once rallied around shared traditions and patriotic holidays, even the Fourth of July is now becoming a source of political and cultural division. Josh examines what’s driving the growing disconnect and asks the critical question: Is there anything that can still bring Americans together? Then, Rich Goldberg of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies joins the program to break down the recently released memorandum of understanding surrounding the U.S.-Iran agreement. Did the deal achieve its stated objectives? What are the long-term implications for American national security and stability in the Middle East? Rich separates fact from spin and explains what Americans need to know moving forward. Finally, Josh reacts to recent comments from Pete Hegseth regarding NATO and America's role in the alliance. Josh explains why Hegseth's remarks strike the right tone and why it's time for a serious conversation about what NATO should look like in the years ahead—and what America's allies should be contributing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With basketball fresh on everyone's mind, someone with his feet in both the sports world, and the political world, discusses.  On Today's Show:Bill Bradley, two-time NBA champion with the Knicks and former U.S. senator (D NJ), host of American Voices on Sirius XM and featured in the autobiographical documentary "Rolling Along: Bill Bradley" talks about this year's NBA finals, his take on national politics, and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, an in-depth investigatory show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (6/9/26). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay Vigilant. !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble");   Rumble("play", {"video":"v78vcdm","div":"rumble_v78vcdm"}); Source Links (In Chronological Order): Federal Court Overturns Historic Fluoride Ruling as Trump Admin Fights to Keep Fluoride in the Water Digital Embassies: Host Countries Build Data Centers For Foreign Nations To Access New Tab (19) Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene

David French — New York Times columnist, veteran constitutional attorney, and one of the sharpest legal thinkers writing today — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a riveting conversation about how the legal system is straining to handle a world being remade by AI, an out-of-control executive branch, and the slow erosion of America's basic constitutional architecture. French opens with the chilling case the Florida Attorney General has now brought against OpenAI in connection with the Florida State University shooter, who asked ChatGPT how to disengage his weapon's safety just three minutes before opening fire. French argues that if ChatGPT had been a human person, it would unquestionably have been charged as a co-conspirator — humans get prosecuted for encouraging suicide all the time — and that when ChatGPT is speaking, OpenAI is legally speaking, full stop. He walks through the murky liability questions the law is now scrambling to answer: Google Search has never been held to the same standard as ChatGPT, but ChatGPT actively generates new speech rather than just pointing users to existing content, and French argues that litigation needs to function as a meaningful deterrent rather than mere compensation — though ultimately Congress is going to have to actually legislate AI regulation rather than leave the entire field to civil lawsuits. The conversation turns to what French sees as a more immediate constitutional crisis: Trump's blanket immunity for tax violations and the "anti-weaponization" slush fund scheme, both of which French argues are flatly indefensible on legal grounds. He explains the deeper problem — Trump suing his own government creates a fiction of an adversarial proceeding when there isn't actually one, and Trump cares far more about the liability shield than the slush fund itself, because he's trying to remove himself from the operation of the law in essentially the same way a king would. The pardon power only covers federal crimes, not civil offenses, and Congress has clear authority to stop this if it had the will. French offers several concrete reforms: require congressional approval for legal settlements above a certain dollar threshold, force members of Congress to obtain a certification in the Constitution itself, and that political parties should perform comprehensive background checks for their candidates, On the question of whether the Founders intended a Christian nation, French is unequivocal: they didn't, and Madison rebuked Christian nationalism explicitly. The deeper structural problem behind the DOJ's loss of credibility is the unitary executive theory itself — Article II of the Constitution is dangerously vague, the executive was never meant to be a co-equal branch (Congress was supposed to be most powerful), and the only durable fix may require constitutional reform to formally remove the DOJ from executive control. French closes on a hopeful note: after every dark period in American history, the country has entered a major era of reform — and he believes one is coming again. Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 David French joins the Chuck ToddCast 01:30 Insurance companies & gambling companies have opposite incentives 04:00 States liberalized sports gambling and the public hasn’t liked it 05:45 Trying to regulate after the fact can be difficult 07:00 Common law concepts are starting to come into regulating AI 07:30 Florida AG has brought criminal case against OpenAI over FSU shooter 09:00 There has to always be human liability in AI cases 11:00 If ChatGPT was a human in FSU case, it would have be charged as co-conspirator 12:00 Shooter asked ChatGPT how to disengage the safety 3 mins before shooting 14:00 In Canadian school shooting, ChatGPT’s participation was overt 16:30 Determining liability is murky. Google search isn’t held to same standard as ChatGPT 18:00 Humans can be prosecuted for encouraging someone to commit suicide 19:15 There are circumstances where criminal liability could apply to AI 19:45 When ChatGPT is speaking, OpenAI is speaking 21:00 Litigation needs to be a deterrent, not just compensation for victims 23:30 We need to pass laws regulating AI, not just pressure via civil lawsuits 24:45 How is blanket immunity for Trump tax violations remotely legal? 25:45 Congress’s job to stop weaponization fund & Trump IRS immunity 26:45 Legal system rests on an adversarial relationship in court cases 27:45 There’s no adversarial proceeding when Trump sues his own government 28:30 Trump cares more about liability shield than the slush fund 29:30 Pardon power only applies to federal crimes, not civil offenses. Can be sued 30:15 Trump is trying to remove himself from the operation of the law like a king 31:00 How can congress stop Trump’s DOJ from issuing these settlements? 32:45 Congress should have to approve settlements above a certain amount of $ 34:30 Member of congress should have to get a certification in the constitution 35:45 Parties should force candidates to pass a comprehensive background check 37:00 Why aren’t state funded partisan primaries a violation of equal protection? 40:15 Partisan primaries are killing the political system 41:00 States can say that they’ll only fund open primaries 42:15 Campaign finance reforms and PACs have weakened party control 44:00 Did the founders intend for America to be a christian nation? 45:00 Founders were biblically literate, but not particularly devout 45:30 Founders intentionally did not create a christian nation 46:30 Madison argued against paying clergy with tax dollars 47:15 Madison rebuked christian nationalism and immigration restriction 49:45 DOJ has lost credibility, how can we separate the DOJ from the executive? 50:30 Problems with DOJ are downstream from the unitary executive theory 51:30 Article II of the constitution is vague and inexplicit 52:45 After dark period, America enters periods of reform, which we badly need 54:45 Never supposed to be co-equal branches. Congress should have most power 55:30 Have to remove executive’s ability to claw power to the top 56:30 Would likely need constitutional reform to pull DOJ out of executive branch 59:00 Past congressional leaders wouldn’t voluntarily cede power 1:00:45 In late 80’s - early 90’s, congress was incentivized to compromise 1:01:30 Changes to college basketball in one-and-done and NIL era 1:03:00 Transfer portal has created a new form of one-and-done 1:04:45 NBA can only improve regular season by reducing the 82 games 1:06:15 Regular season NBA games are more intense than 30 years agoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with an uncomfortable truth Republicans are doing everything possible to avoid acknowledging: Trump turns 80 next week, his physical and mental decline is increasingly visible to anyone paying attention, and the GOP is now repeating exactly the same mistake Democrats made by ignoring Joe Biden's obvious deterioration. The cruelest irony: Trump literally built his entire 2024 campaign on the premise that his opponent was too old and too sleepy to do the job, but Biden's catastrophic debate finally broke the Democratic silence in a way the GOP shows no signs of replicating. Chuck argues Trump's behavior isn't unusual for an 80-year-old — it's deeply unusual for an American president. He warns that Senate Republicans made an enormous mistake by not killing the weaponization fund, that every GOP incumbent up for reelection is now vulnerable to extremely effective attack ads, and that acting DNI Bill Pulte is almost certainly holding that position illegally — the courts will probably step in to declare him ineligible. He previews Tuesday's primaries in Maine and South Carolina, where Lindsey Graham looks genuinely vulnerable, and notes that if Graham gets forced into a runoff, history says he's in real trouble. He's watching how much protest vote Janet Mills picks up in Maine, and on Graham Platner — who has been saying that the war "messed him up" — Chuck offers a pointed observation: just because behavior is explainable doesn't always make it excusable.He closes with a sharp analysis of the Scott Pelley firing at 60 Minutes, arguing the real story isn't Pelley at all — it's the Ellisons, who are using 60 Minutes as a bargaining chip with Trump to get their Paramount merger approved. He believes 60 Minutes is a symbol with massive brand equity, and Trump wants to bring it to heel or topple it altogether. Then, David French — New York Times columnist, veteran constitutional attorney, and one of the sharpest legal thinkers writing today — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a riveting conversation about how the legal system is straining to handle a world being remade by AI, an out-of-control executive branch, and the slow erosion of America's basic constitutional architecture. French opens with the chilling case the Florida Attorney General has now brought against OpenAI in connection with the Florida State University shooter, who asked ChatGPT how to disengage his weapon's safety just three minutes before opening fire. French argues that if ChatGPT had been a human person, it would unquestionably have been charged as a co-conspirator — humans get prosecuted for encouraging suicide all the time — and that when ChatGPT is speaking, OpenAI is legally speaking, full stop. He walks through the murky liability questions the law is now scrambling to answer: Google Search has never been held to the same standard as ChatGPT, but ChatGPT actively generates new speech rather than just pointing users to existing content, and French argues that litigation needs to function as a meaningful deterrent rather than mere compensation — though ultimately Congress is going to have to actually legislate AI regulation rather than leave the entire field to civil lawsuits. The conversation turns to what French sees as a more immediate constitutional crisis: Trump's blanket immunity for tax violations and the "anti-weaponization" slush fund scheme, both of which French argues are flatly indefensible on legal grounds. He explains the deeper problem — Trump suing his own government creates a fiction of an adversarial proceeding when there isn't actually one, and Trump cares far more about the liability shield than the slush fund itself, because he's trying to remove himself from the operation of the law in essentially the same way a king would. The pardon power only covers federal crimes, not civil offenses, and Congress has clear authority to stop this if it had the will. French offers several concrete reforms: require congressional approval for legal settlements above a certain dollar threshold, force members of Congress to obtain a certification in the Constitution itself, and that political parties should perform comprehensive background checks for their candidates, On the question of whether the Founders intended a Christian nation, French is unequivocal: they didn't, and Madison rebuked Christian nationalism explicitly. The deeper structural problem behind the DOJ's loss of credibility is the unitary executive theory itself — Article II of the Constitution is dangerously vague, the executive was never meant to be a co-equal branch (Congress was supposed to be most powerful), and the only durable fix may require constitutional reform to formally remove the DOJ from executive control. French closes on a hopeful note: after every dark period in American history, the country has entered a major era of reform — and he believes one is coming again. Finally, Chuck hops into the ToddCast Time Machine to revisit the infamous quote “Have you no sense of decency” from the Army/McCarthy hearings, why McCarthy was one of the first American politicians to master the attention economy, and why that famous quote precipitated the decline of McCarthy’s influence. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Predict the action all the way through the finals. Sign up now for your twenty-five dollar bonus on https://fanduel.com/predicts Link in bio or go to https://getsoul.com & enter code TODDCAST for 30% off your first order. Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at https://ethos.com/chuck. Application times may vary. Rates may vary. Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 05:30 Trump turns 80 in a week. Plans on celebrating himself with UFC fight 06:30 You can tell that Trump is not doing well physically/mentally 07:30 Republicans ignoring Trump’s decline like Dems did with Biden 10:00 Trump won’t do events where he has to stand, he sits now 11:30 Trump’s staff has been padding his schedule with private meetings 12:30 Trump built his campaign on premise his opponent was too old & sleepy 13:15 Biden’s debate broke the Dems silence, GOP hasn’t done same with Trump 14:30 Trump has influence and pull over his party that Biden didn’t 15:15 Trump’s behavior isn’t unusual for an 80 year, is unusual for a POTUS 16:00 Reinforces public perception that parties will say/defend anything for power 19:00 This will add to the credibility problems for the Republican party 19:30 Senate Republicans made huge mistake not killing the weaponization fund 20:15 Every Republican up for reelection is now vulnerable to easy attack ads 21:15 It’s probably illegal for Bill Pulte to hold the acting DNI position 23:00 Courts will likely step in to declare Pulte ineligible for position 25:30 Major primaries coming up on Tuesday including ME & SC 26:45 Lindsey Graham is vulnerable in South Carolina 27:45 Christian conservative right has always been skeptical of Graham 28:45 Outsiders have been ousting incumbents across the country 30:15 Since the Tea Party, GOP base has gone against the establishment 32:30 The anti-war vote will have qualms with Trump & Graham 33:15 Graham’s career is defined by being a political weathervane 35:00 If Graham is forced into a runoff, history says he’s in trouble 35:30 Will be interesting to see how much protest vote Janet Mills gets in ME 36:15 Platner says war messed him up… does he have the temperament for the job? 37:45 Just because behavior is explainable, doesn’t always make it excusable 38:15 Platner is in “save his campaign” mode 39:30 Bad actors will exploit California’s slow ballot counting process 40:30 Counting process requires people have faith in it, slowness hurts credibility 42:00 California has a duty to make citizens confident in the election 44:00 Thoughts on changes at 60 Minutes and Scott Pelley’s firing 44:30 Too much focus on Pelley and not enough on the Ellisons 45:00 Publicly traded media companies have all folded to & appeased Trump 47:30 Companies have a responsibility to shareholders, bad for news integrity 48:30 60 Minutes is a symbol, and Trump wants to bring it to heel/topple it 49:30 We don’t know the politics of the Ellisons, but they want their merger approved 50:30 Ellison’s know one 60 Minutes piece Trump dislikes could blow up merger 51:45 Bari Weiss is being used… is she comfortable being used? 53:00 Scott Pelley has the money to speak out and fight back 54:00 Journalists that stayed hoping to weather the storm & wait for new management 55:15 60 Minutes has incredible brand equity and is being gutted for the merger 56:45 The story is the Ellisons using 60 Minutes as a bargaining chip 1:04:00 David French joins the Chuck ToddCast 1:05:30 Insurance companies & gambling companies have opposite incentives 1:08:00 States liberalized sports gambling and the public hasn’t liked it 1:09:45 Trying to regulate after the fact can be difficult 1:11:00 Common law concepts are starting to come into regulating AI 1:11:30 Florida AG has brought criminal case against OpenAI over FSU shooter 1:13:00 There has to always be human liability in AI cases 1:15:00 If ChatGPT was a human in FSU case, it would have be charged as co-conspirator 1:16:00 Shooter asked ChatGPT how to disengage the safety 3 mins before shooting 1:18:00 In Canadian school shooting, ChatGPT’s participation was overt 1:20:30 Determining liability is murky. Google search isn’t held to same standard as ChatGPT 1:22:00 Humans can be prosecuted for encouraging someone to commit suicide 1:23:15 There are circumstances where criminal liability could apply to AI 1:23:45 When ChatGPT is speaking, OpenAI is speaking 1:25:00 Litigation needs to be a deterrent, not just compensation for victims 1:27:30 We need to pass laws regulating AI, not just pressure via civil lawsuits 1:28:45 How is blanket immunity for Trump tax violations remotely legal? 1:29:45 Congress’s job to stop weaponization fund & Trump IRS immunity 1:30:45 Legal system rests on an adversarial relationship in court cases 1:31:45 There’s no adversarial proceeding when Trump sues his own government 1:32:30 Trump cares more about liability shield than the slush fund 1:33:30 Pardon power only applies to federal crimes, not civil offenses. Can be sued 1:34:15 Trump is trying to remove himself from the operation of the law like a king 1:35:00 How can congress stop Trump’s DOJ from issuing these settlements? 1:36:45 Congress should have to approve settlements above a certain amount of $ 1:38:30 Member of congress should have to get a certification in the constitution 1:39:45 Parties should force candidates to pass a comprehensive background check 1:41:00 Why aren’t state funded partisan primaries a violation of equal protection? 1:44:15 Partisan primaries are killing the political system 1:45:00 States can say that they’ll only fund open primaries 1:46:15 Campaign finance reforms and PACs have weakened party control 1:48:00 Did the founders intend for America to be a christian nation? 1:49:00 Founders were biblically literate, but not particularly devout 1:49:30 Founders intentionally did not create a christian nation 1:50:30 Madison argued against paying clergy with tax dollars 1:51:15 Madison rebuked christian nationalism and immigration restriction 1:53:45 DOJ has lost credibility, how can we separate the DOJ from the executive? 1:54:30 Problems with DOJ are downstream from the unitary executive theory 1:55:30 Article II of the constitution is vague and inexplicit 1:56:45 After dark period, America enters periods of reform, which we badly need 1:58:45 Never supposed to be co-equal branches. Congress should have most power 1:59:30 Have to remove executive’s ability to claw power to the top 2:00:30 Would likely need constitutional reform to pull DOJ out of executive branch 2:03:00 Past congressional leaders wouldn’t voluntarily cede power 2:04:45 In late 80’s - early 90’s, congress was incentivized to compromise 2:05:30 Changes to college basketball in one-and-done and NIL era 2:07:00 Transfer portal has created a new form of one-and-done 2:08:45 NBA can only improve regular season by reducing the 82 games 2:10:15 Regular season NBA games are more intense than 30 years ago 2:13:45 ToddCast Time Machine - June 9th, 1954 2:14:15 “Have you no sense of decency?” quote becomes famous 2:15:00 Quote came during the Army/McCarthy hearings 2:15:30 The famous line didn’t end McCarthyism 2:16:15 The myth is that McCarthy created the Red Scare… he did not 2:17:00 The Cold War was not a distant abstraction, people were worried 2:17:30 McCarthy didn’t create the wave… he was surfing it 2:18:45 Mass media was growing in America and sped up the information wars 2:19:30 McCarthy understood media and how to create anticipation 2:21:00 McCarthy mastered the politics of attention, his and Trump’s mentor was Roy Cohn 2:23:00 The fear of communism still existed, but public confidence in McCarthy eroded 2:24:00 Television exposed McCarthy in a way quotes and newspapers couldn’t 2:25:30 Army/McCarthy hearings started as a personnel dispute for Roy Cohn ally 2:27:00 There were multiple institutions moving against McCarthy 2:28:00 Army chief counsel Joseph Welch spoke the infamous line 2:28:30 Welch gave words to a conclusion Americans were reaching on their own 2:31:15 Ask Chuck 2:31:30 When will congress actually hold cabinet members accountable? 2:38:15 Thoughts on DHS pulling CBP from sanctuary city airports? 2:42:15 Navigating the tension between voting for and against a candidate? 2:48:15 Thoughts on Democrats proposing a national gerrymandering ban?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Schenk of Amboy argues that 40 years of Democrat governors — led by Jay Inslee's 123 judicial appointments — have stacked Washington's courts with partisan judges who rubber-stamp emergency clauses, tax hikes, and the Interstate Bridge Replacement. https://www.clarkcountytoday.com/opinion/letter-forty-years-of-democrat-governors-judicial-appointments/ #WashingtonState #JudicialAppointments #ClarkCounty #Opinion #Politics #DemocratGovernors #JayInslee #InterstateBridgeReplacement #BrockmannHouse #WApolitics

Real Talkers are fired up over separatist talking points and Mark Carney's position on Donald Trump. Tyler W., Michael in Calgary, Geoff in Toronto, and Garth sound off in The Flamethrower presented by the DQs of Northwest Edmonton and Sherwood Park. FIRE UP YOUR FLAMETHROWER: talk@ryanjespersen.com WHEN YOU VISIT THE DQs IN PALISADES, NAMAO, NEWCASTLE, WESTMOUNT, or BASELINE ROAD, BE SURE TO TELL 'EM REAL TALK SENT YOU! REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR THE REAL TALK GOLF CLASSIC on JUNE 18 at THE RANCH: https://www.ryanjespersen.com/real-ta... FOLLOW US ON TIKTOK, X, INSTAGRAM, and LINKEDIN: @realtalkrj & @ryanjespersen JOIN US ON FACEBOOK: @ryanjespersen REAL TALK MERCH: https://ryanjespersen.com/merch RECEIVE EXCLUSIVE PERKS - BECOME A REAL TALK PATRON: patreon.com/ryanjespersen The views and opinions expressed in this show are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Relay Communications Group Inc. or any affiliates.

On this episode of The Federalist Radio Hour, author Carson Holloway, a professor of political science at the University of Nebraska Omaha, joins Federalist Elections Correspondent Matt Kittle to explain everything wrong with the Supreme Court's 1964 New York Times v. Sullivan decision and discuss how that judicial activism emboldened the partisan press to defame their political opponents.You can buy Holloway's book No Liberty to Libel: The Constitutional Case Against New York Times v. Sullivan here.The Federalist Foundation is a nonprofit, and we depend entirely on our listeners and readers — not corporations. If you value fearless, independent journalism, please consider a tax-deductible gift today at TheFederalist.com/donate. Your support keeps us going.

This week, hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot are digging into the Sound Opinions archives to share some rare tracks recorded in live sessions for past episodes. They'll share songs by Sleater Kinney, Courtney Barnett, Drive-By Truckers and more. The hosts will also review the new album from JPEGMAFIA.Join our Facebook Group: https://bit.ly/3sivr9TBecome a member on Patreon: https://bit.ly/3slWZvcSign up for our newsletter: https://bit.ly/4frcVZoMake a donation via PayPal: https://bit.ly/3dmt9lUSend us a Voice Memo: Desktop: bit.ly/2RyD5Ah Mobile: sayhi.chat/soundops Featured Songs:Courtney Barnett, "Scott Says (Live on Sound Opinions)," Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit, Mom + Pop Music, 2015JPEGMAFIA, "babygirl," Experimental Rap, AWAL, 2026JPEGMAFIA, "The Ghost of Emmett Till," Experimental Rap, AWAL, 2026Mudhoney, "1995 (Live on Sound Opinions)," My Brother the Cow, Reprise, 1995Hüsker Dü, "Diane," Metal Circus, SST, 1983Zola Jesus, "Hunger (Live on Sound Opinions)," Taiga, Mute, 2014Sleater-Kinney, "Get Up (Live on Sound Opinions)," The Hot Rock, Kill Rock Stars, 1999Torres, "Ferris Wheel (Live on Sound Opinions)," Sprinter, Partisan, 2015Hüsker Dü, "Pink Turns to Blue," Zen Arcade, SST, 1984Drive-By Truckers, "What It Means (Live on Sound Opinions)," American Band, ATO, 2016Against Me!, "True Trans Soul Rebel (Live on Sound Opinions)," Transgender Dysphoria Blues, Total Treble, 2014Diana Ross, "I'm Coming Out," Diana, Motown, 1980See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Independent investigative journalism, broadcasting, trouble-making and muckraking with Brad Friedman of BradBlog.com

'BradCast' 6/3/2026: Corrupt, Partisan SCOTUS Ends All Claim to Legitimacy with Mid-Election Alabama Ruling; Primary election results by Progressive Voices

Jeffrey Epstein's rise, protection, and long run of abuse cannot be honestly framed as a partisan scandal. He cultivated relationships across the political spectrum—courting Democrats and Republicans, donating to candidates, socializing with presidents and princes, embedding himself in elite universities, financial institutions, and think tanks. His 2008 non-prosecution agreement in Florida was negotiated under a Republican U.S. attorney, but later federal oversight failures, intelligence lapses, and regulatory blind spots spanned multiple administrations. He moved easily between Wall Street, academia, philanthropy, and politics, exploiting a culture in which wealth and access often buy insulation. The machinery that allowed him to operate—deferred prosecution deals, sealed records, lax oversight in federal detention, and elite deference—was not owned by one party. It was enabled by a system that too often prioritizes influence, reputation management, and institutional self-protection over transparency and accountability.Reducing Epstein to a left-versus-right talking point obscures the broader failure: a bipartisan ecosystem of power that tolerated, minimized, or ignored red flags because he was useful, connected, or financially valuable. Figures from both sides distanced themselves only after public exposure forced their hand. The revolving doors between government, finance, and academia, along with opaque plea negotiations and limited victim notification, reveal structural weaknesses that transcend party labels. When scrutiny becomes selective—weaponized against political opponents while allies receive softer treatment—it reinforces the very dynamics that allowed Epstein to thrive. Accountability, if it is to mean anything, must confront institutional incentives, prosecutorial discretion, and elite gatekeeping across administrations. The scandal endures not because it belongs to one ideology, but because it exposed a system in which power protected power.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comsource:Epstein was invited to gatherings with a dozen members of Congress years after his initial arrest, documents reveal | The IndependentBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

Partisan divides threaten America's 250th anniversary celebrations, a catastrophic Blue Origin rocket blowup deals major blows to the Bezos-owned company and NASA, and a fresh wave of controversy besets Maine Democrat Senate hopeful Graham Platner. Reporting by Megan Basham. Plus, we speak with Leroy Chiao and Jon Fetherston. Get the facts first with Morning Wire. Thumbnail Image Credit: Kevin M. Sackett - - - Ep. 2816 - - - Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 - - - Today's Sponsors: Lean - Get started with 20% off and free rush shipping so you can add LEAN to your healthy diet and exercise plan. Visit https://takelean.com and enter WIRE at checkout. Zocdoc - Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to https://Zocdoc.com/WIRE to find and instantly book a doctor you love today. - - - Privacy Policy: https://www.dailywire.com/privacy morning wire,morning wire podcast,the morning wire podcast,Georgia Howe,John Bickley,daily wire podcast,podcast,news podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New poll has James Talarico (D) leading Ken Paxton (R) by 3 points — 47% to 44% — in the Texas Senate race. But Kalshi (where people bet real money) currently favors Paxton by around 60%. The reason, Texas remains solidly red, and betting markets have no incentive to flatter anyone.  JD Rucker fills in for Wendy!  

Michael Henderson, associate professor at Louisiana State University, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss Henderson's paper, “Blowback or Buy-In: Public Opinion in Response to Charter School Penetration,” which was presented at “School Choice: Impacts on Participants, Non-Participants, Educators, and Entrepreneurs,” a conference hosted by the Harvard Kennedy School's Program on Education Policy and Governance on May 7 and 8, 2026.

Martina McBride has pulled out of the America 250 celebration set for the Washington Mall. She claims it’s because of politics. I wish I could tell you that I’m surprised by McBride’s cowardice, but I’m not. When it comes to modern-day entertainers, courage is hard to come by. But I am troubled by her lack of patriotism. Martina McBride had a chance to be a part of a diverse soundtrack to celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday. Instead, she chose to be a partisan rather than a patriot. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cutting Through the Chaos with Wallace Garneau – Gerrymandering becomes more than a mapmaking dispute as Americans lose faith in elections, courts, and democratic rules. Partisan redistricting exposes a deeper legitimacy crisis, where each side sees defeat as existential and the nation drifts toward tribal politics, mistrust, and a cold civil war that threatens the republic itself today...

Hour 4: The Ultimate Sacrifice and the Death of CompromiseRyan Wrecker brought the Memorial Day broadcast to a powerful close, weaving together the solemn meaning of the holiday, the breakdown of modern political unity, and a legendary musical tribute.13th: The Ultimate Sacrifice: Wrecker opened the hour by re-centering the audience on the true purpose of Memorial Day. He challenged the commercialized barbecue culture, reminding listeners to pause and honor the Gold Star families and the fallen service members who paid the ultimate price for American freedom.14th: The Book of Compromise: Turning to current events, the monologue connected the holiday to the unfolding U.S.–Iran peace deal framework. Wrecker debated the brutal realities of wartime diplomacy, questioning whether Trump's weekend negotiations represented a pragmatic step to avoid further American casualties or a dangerous concession to an adversary.15th: Interview with Aaron Perlut: Author Aaron Perlut joined the show to discuss his book, The Death of Compromise. Perlut and Wrecker detailed how hyper-partisanship and an all-or-nothing political culture have destroyed the nation's ability to find common ground, rendering the type of consensus needed for both domestic governance and major foreign policy agreements nearly impossible.16th: A Legendary Musical Tribute: The show concluded on a deeply patriotic and emotional note. Wrecker closed out the broadcast by playing Ray Charles' iconic rendition of "America the Beautiful," offering it as a final, soaring tribute to the memory of the nation's fallen heroes.

JD Vance Really Sucks. War Powers Act on Iran Finally Advances. Senator Redneck Will Be Governor Redneck. Zelensky Promises More Strikes in Russia—GOOD. Knicks Miracle Comeback.  Congressman Tom Massie lost in Kentucky last night — sort of. Trump and the MAGA machine spent tens of millions to take out the GOP Congressman who crossed him, and in the process made Massie a household name with a ready-made presidential-grade platform: no war in Iran, no tariffs, no Trump, and no stopping the release of the Epstein files. Paul Rieckhoff opens Episode 528 with a no-BS solo briefing on what last night's primaries really mean, why JD Vance is lying about Ukraine, why January 6 rioters may now go from prisons to pardons to payouts, why James Murdoch buying Vox Media's podcast network should put every independent voice on alert, and why the NY Knicks comeback and leadership is bigger than basketball.  Then Paul sits down with Dr. Karen Matthews (https://www.matthewsforcongress.com/) — Navy veteran, radiologist, small business owner, and independent candidate in California's 23rd district. CA-23 isn't Gavin Newsom's California. It's Reagan's California: working class, libertarian-leaning, a third independent, with one of the best VAs in the country and a slice of Fort Irwin inside its lines. Matthews lays out why the incumbent doesn't show up, why the Democrats have given up, and why California's open primary on June 2nd may be the single biggest day for the independent movement in years. This is what the angry middle sounds like when it stops complaining and starts running. It'll leave you inspired.  -WATCH full video of this episode here. -Join IVA and stand up to Trump's Forever Wars. -Learn more about Paul's work to elect a new generation of independent leaders with Independent Veterans of America. -Learn more about American Veterans for Ukraine here. -Remember Independent is an Attitude. -Learn more about The Headstrong Project for Veterans, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), and Department of Veterans Affairs resources in your area. Seeking support is not a sign of weakness. It's a show of strength. If you or a loved one are in immediate crisis, dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. Connect with Independent Americans: Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms Read more at Substack Support ad-free episodes at Patreon  Connect: Instagram  • X/Twitter • BlueSky • Facebook  Follow on social: @PaulRieckhoff on X, Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky -Join the movement. Hook into our exclusive Patreon community of Independent Americans. Get extra content, connect with guests, meet other Independent Americans, attend events, get merch discounts, and support this show that speaks truth to power.  -And get cool IA and Righteous hats, t-shirts and other merch now in time for the new year.  Independent Americans is powered by veteran-owned and led Righteous Media.  And now part of the BLEAV network!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Husain Haqqani and Bill Roggio observe that Washington is currently distracted by domestic politics and upcoming midterms, pushing the Iran war to secondary headlines. Global leadership has eroded due to partisan squabbling over issues like high gas prices. (2/16)1970S CASTRO

What happens when a Democrat speechwriter for the AFL-CIO and an unaffiliated conservative election denier sit down and discover they agree on more than they disagree? Ashe welcomes Tricia Calvaresi, the last Democrat to challenge Lauren Boebert, for a conversation that earns its question mark. From Colorado's NGO corruption machine to the broken mental health system, the globalist central planning apparatus to the civil war inside the Democratic Party, this one goes everywhere. Ashe closes with an exclusive update from her visit with Tina Peters in prison, including what Tina wants first when she walks out. It's a steak. Obviously.

Don and Tom tackle the strange psychology of politics and investing, exploring how Republicans and Democrats consistently perceive the economy and markets differently depending on who occupies the White House. Drawing on research from Spencer Jakab, the University of Michigan, and Dimensional Fund Advisors, they argue that long-term market performance has historically shown little correlation to presidential party affiliation, despite investors' emotional reactions. The episode also features a thoughtful listener discussion about pensions in public safety careers, including the hidden risks of not paying into Social Security and the limitations of pensions as wealth-building tools. Additional listener questions cover Vanguard target-date fund combinations and the drawbacks of holding a costly variable annuity inside an IRA. The show wraps with commentary on pay-to-play podcast awards, Don's surprisingly modest Amazon book ranking triumph, and updates on his upcoming Civil War novel The Line Uncrossed which has been pre-released for podcast listeners in an exclusive ebook bonus package at donmcdonald.com0:05 Politics, perception, and the “presidential puzzle”2:26 Partisan views on the economy and stock market3:51 Why presidents have limited long-term market impact6:03 Emotions, investing, and politically themed ETFs8:18 Why asset allocation matters more than politics8:51 Performance of the MAGA ETF vs. expectations10:51 Listener question: pensions, Social Security, and public safety careers15:11 The importance of supplemental retirement savings alongside pensions16:38 Why pensions provide income but not generational wealth19:45 Listener question: mixing Vanguard Target Date 2035 and 2040 funds21:48 Debate over “rebalancing” target-date funds22:57 Listener question: variable annuity inside an IRA at Edward Jones24:28 Why variable annuities can be expensive and inefficient25:11 Fake podcast awards and pay-to-play recognition schemes27:07 “Financial Physics” Amazon ranking discussion28:32 Don's upcoming novel The Line Uncrossed and Civil War inspirationQuestions? Comments? Click!

"The Asymmetry of Redistricting Rulings." GUEST: Richard Epstein Professor Richard Epstein critiques the Supreme Court for banning race-based redistricting while permitting political gerrymandering, arguing that frequent, partisan reapportionments are a "disaster" for democracy.

For the first time since the U.S. went to war with Iran, Defense Secretary Hegseth faced sharp questions on Wednesday from Congress. During the hearing, the Pentagon revealed that the war so far has cost $25 billion. The fighting is on hold, but the military maintains its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Nick Schifrin reports. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Professor Luke Foster laments the decline of persuasive speech in the United States Congress, contrasting modern partisan anger with the powerful 18th-century parliamentary debates that shaped governance through high-level education and genuine legislative policy authority. (8)1947 DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT, LONG BEACH