Podcast appearances and mentions of Rob Sand

Shadow Politics with Senator Michael D. Brown and Co-host Liberty Jones Unstoppable in Iowa: India May on Rural Power, Health Care, and Speaking Truth to Power Guest, India May, Political Candidate, Speaker, Advocate A Grassroots Conversation About Local Courage In this episode of Shadow Politics, hosts Michael D. Brown and Liberty Jones welcome India May, Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 58, covering Floyd, Chickasaw, and Bremer counties. Michael introduces her as a nurse, librarian, medical examiner investigator, mother, and community advocate who gained attention after publicly confronting Senator Joni Ernst about Medicare and Medicaid cuts. The episode focuses on local power, rural politics, health care, LGBTQ rights, campaign finance, voter access, and what it means for an ordinary citizen to step into public leadership. Discovering the Power of One Civilian Voice India says one of the biggest lessons she has learned over the past year is how much power civilians truly have. She points to her public criticism of Senator Joni Ernst, who later announced retirement, and her scrutiny of her opponent's unpaid property taxes, after which he paid them. India's point is that people do not have to wait until they hold office to make a difference. By speaking plainly, documenting facts, and refusing to be silent, ordinary citizens can pressure powerful figures and create real consequences. From Independent Voter to Democratic Candidate Liberty asks India about the difference between her expectations and the realities of running for office. India explains that she spent much of her voting life as an independent and is now running as a Democrat in red, rural Iowa. She says she has been pleasantly surprised by the number of people willing to step up, volunteer, knock doors, join parades, and publicly support a campaign that calls for change. She describes live music, community energy, and people applauding the campaign at local events as signs that many rural Iowans know something is wrong and want a different direction. A Campaign Rooted in Fair Voting When Liberty asks what policies are most important to India, she names voting reform as her top priority. India supports efforts discussed by Iowa gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand to make voting more fair and less dependent on party structures. She criticizes Iowa's ban on ranked-choice voting and says she is interested in open primaries, star voting, approval voting, and ballot measures. Her goal is to make Iowa's political system more responsive to voters rather than party machinery. Medicaid, Mental Health, and a Broken Health System Michael asks about India's well-known confrontation with Senator Ernst over Medicaid cuts and how those cuts affect Iowans. India says Iowa has already been ahead of the curve in damaged health care because Medicaid was privatized in 2016. She describes delayed care, denied care, unpaid reimbursements to hospitals, work requirements, and hospitals struggling to stay open. She also says Iowa ranks at the bottom for inpatient mental health care availability and faces severe health care deserts, rising cancer concerns, and limited oncology access across many counties. The “Big Beautiful Bill” and Political Timing India argues that federal cuts tied to the so-called “big beautiful bill” will be devastating and says the timing of implementation appears politically calculated. According to her, the cuts are delayed until November, creating an opening for Republicans to blame Democrats if the party balance changes after the election. Michael responds that this shows she has learned one of the central lessons of politics: policy and timing are often structured to shape public blame. Christianity, MAGA, and Moral Accountability The conversation turns to religion and politics when Michael, speaking as a Christian and father of an openly gay daughter, asks how Christians reconcile cruelty toward LGBTQ people, immigrants, and vulnerable groups. India, who says she was raised Methodist, contrasts the Methodist slogan “open hearts, open minds, open doors” with what she describes as MAGA cruelty. She says even the Old Testament emphasizes hospitality to strangers and kindness to those in need, and she argues that current right-wing politics often represents the opposite of what Christ or Christianity teaches. LGBTQ Rights, Book Bans, and Iowa's Culture War India discusses the legislative push in Iowa against LGBTQ protections, trans and nonbinary people, and public libraries. She says Republicans have enacted or pursued punishing policies against LGBTQ Iowans and banned local governments from passing protective ordinances. As a former librarian, she criticizes book bans and groups such as Moms for Liberty, saying the fear that books about gay families will “turn children gay” is baseless. She connects the fight over libraries and education to broader attempts to control speech, identity, and public understanding. Teen Pregnancy, Sex Education, and Child Safety The discussion also touches on sex education and child safety. India argues that teen pregnancy has declined not because of abstinence-only silence but because young people have more access to information and teach one another how to be safer. She emphasizes that adults abusing children, not LGBTQ people or books, are a real issue that should be confronted honestly. Michael adds that in his own experience, abuse often came from heterosexual authority figures, reinforcing the need for real education rather than fear-based censorship. Money, PACs, and a Grassroots Fundraising Fight India explains that her campaign has raised meaningful support and even outraised her opponent in some ways, though he has outspent her and benefits from PAC funding. She contrasts his expensive steak-dinner fundraising with her community-centered grilled cheese events, including a planned family-friendly fundraiser at the Floyd County Fairgrounds with games and raffle tickets. She stresses that every small donation matters and directs listeners to MayForIowa.com for campaign support. Rural Iowa, Brain Drain, and Keeping Young People Home Liberty asks how rural Iowa can keep young workers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and college graduates from leaving. India says the problem is real and often called “brain drain.” She argues that young people leave when communities attack LGBTQ people, underfund public schools, fail to protect workers, allow corporations to exploit communities, and make life less livable. Her answer is that Iowa must become a place where young people can be safe, respected, employed, and proud to build a life near their families. Challenging Her Opponent's Record India discusses her opponent, Charlie Thompson, saying he has served two terms in the Iowa legislature while also working as a lawyer and real estate developer. She criticizes him for not paying property taxes on several properties and for being involved in a stalled downtown development project in Charles City. She also criticizes legislation he supported, including a three-strikes-style bill that she says will increase incarceration despite Iowa not being a high-crime state, especially troubling in a state with poor mental health care access. Water Quality, Cancer, and the Cost of Silence A major policy issue India raises is Iowa's water quality. She says a study identified nitrates from agricultural runoff as a major contaminant and connects this to Iowa's rising cancer concerns. She criticizes the state for failing to educate the public after the study and says candidates must be willing to have hard conversations about unsafe water, preventable cancer risks, health care costs, child care costs, exploitative tax structures, and corporate influence. For India, voters may eventually wake up when these issues affect their health and wallets directly. Trump, MAGA, and Cracks in the Bubble Michael asks whether Trump's appeal is fading in Iowa, especially among farmers affected by tariffs and economic pressure. India says Trump signs came down quickly in Iowa and notes farmer bankruptcies as a serious concern. She believes some former MAGA supporters are beginning to question what they were told, including one former Trump supporter who wrote her name on the Republican primary ballot. Still, she says many voters remain trapped in algorithmic echo chambers, making truth-telling and local conversations essential. Iowa's Governor's Race and Statewide Politics India also discusses Iowa's governor's race, praising Rob Sand while criticizing Governor Kim Reynolds and the current Republican leadership. She says Reynolds is deeply unpopular and criticizes her use of taxpayer-funded private-jet travel while asking Iowans what public services they would sacrifice to reduce property taxes. India also discusses Republican candidate Zach Lahn, portraying him as a wealthy, Koch-connected figure who talks about water quality but carries far-right cultural positions. Her broader point is that Iowa politics is full of contradictions, money, and high stakes. An Authentic Candidate With an Unstoppable Message As the interview closes, Liberty asks what India would want young Iowans to remember. India's answer is to be unapologetically themselves, find out who they are, and speak truth to power relentlessly. Michael praises her authenticity, endorses her candidacy, and calls her the kind of candidate America needs. Liberty says she does not have the same power to endorse, but will buy a campaign shirt. The show closes with Michael dedicating Sia's “Unstoppable” to India May and encouraging listeners to support her campaign.

Shadow Politics with Senator Michael D. Brown and Co-host Liberty Jones Unstoppable in Iowa: India May on Rural Power, Health Care, and Speaking Truth to Power Guest, India May, Political Candidate, Speaker, Advocate A Grassroots Conversation About Local Courage In this episode of Shadow Politics, hosts Michael D. Brown and Liberty Jones welcome India May, Democratic candidate for Iowa House District 58, covering Floyd, Chickasaw, and Bremer counties. Michael introduces her as a nurse, librarian, medical examiner investigator, mother, and community advocate who gained attention after publicly confronting Senator Joni Ernst about Medicare and Medicaid cuts. The episode focuses on local power, rural politics, health care, LGBTQ rights, campaign finance, voter access, and what it means for an ordinary citizen to step into public leadership. Discovering the Power of One Civilian Voice India says one of the biggest lessons she has learned over the past year is how much power civilians truly have. She points to her public criticism of Senator Joni Ernst, who later announced retirement, and her scrutiny of her opponent's unpaid property taxes, after which he paid them. India's point is that people do not have to wait until they hold office to make a difference. By speaking plainly, documenting facts, and refusing to be silent, ordinary citizens can pressure powerful figures and create real consequences. From Independent Voter to Democratic Candidate Liberty asks India about the difference between her expectations and the realities of running for office. India explains that she spent much of her voting life as an independent and is now running as a Democrat in red, rural Iowa. She says she has been pleasantly surprised by the number of people willing to step up, volunteer, knock doors, join parades, and publicly support a campaign that calls for change. She describes live music, community energy, and people applauding the campaign at local events as signs that many rural Iowans know something is wrong and want a different direction. A Campaign Rooted in Fair Voting When Liberty asks what policies are most important to India, she names voting reform as her top priority. India supports efforts discussed by Iowa gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand to make voting more fair and less dependent on party structures. She criticizes Iowa's ban on ranked-choice voting and says she is interested in open primaries, star voting, approval voting, and ballot measures. Her goal is to make Iowa's political system more responsive to voters rather than party machinery. Medicaid, Mental Health, and a Broken Health System Michael asks about India's well-known confrontation with Senator Ernst over Medicaid cuts and how those cuts affect Iowans. India says Iowa has already been ahead of the curve in damaged health care because Medicaid was privatized in 2016. She describes delayed care, denied care, unpaid reimbursements to hospitals, work requirements, and hospitals struggling to stay open. She also says Iowa ranks at the bottom for inpatient mental health care availability and faces severe health care deserts, rising cancer concerns, and limited oncology access across many counties. The “Big Beautiful Bill” and Political Timing India argues that federal cuts tied to the so-called “big beautiful bill” will be devastating and says the timing of implementation appears politically calculated. According to her, the cuts are delayed until November, creating an opening for Republicans to blame Democrats if the party balance changes after the election. Michael responds that this shows she has learned one of the central lessons of politics: policy and timing are often structured to shape public blame. Christianity, MAGA, and Moral Accountability The conversation turns to religion and politics when Michael, speaking as a Christian and father of an openly gay daughter, asks how Christians reconcile cruelty toward LGBTQ people, immigrants, and vulnerable groups. India, who says she was raised Methodist, contrasts the Methodist slogan “open hearts, open minds, open doors” with what she describes as MAGA cruelty. She says even the Old Testament emphasizes hospitality to strangers and kindness to those in need, and she argues that current right-wing politics often represents the opposite of what Christ or Christianity teaches. LGBTQ Rights, Book Bans, and Iowa's Culture War India discusses the legislative push in Iowa against LGBTQ protections, trans and nonbinary people, and public libraries. She says Republicans have enacted or pursued punishing policies against LGBTQ Iowans and banned local governments from passing protective ordinances. As a former librarian, she criticizes book bans and groups such as Moms for Liberty, saying the fear that books about gay families will “turn children gay” is baseless. She connects the fight over libraries and education to broader attempts to control speech, identity, and public understanding. Teen Pregnancy, Sex Education, and Child Safety The discussion also touches on sex education and child safety. India argues that teen pregnancy has declined not because of abstinence-only silence but because young people have more access to information and teach one another how to be safer. She emphasizes that adults abusing children, not LGBTQ people or books, are a real issue that should be confronted honestly. Michael adds that in his own experience, abuse often came from heterosexual authority figures, reinforcing the need for real education rather than fear-based censorship. Money, PACs, and a Grassroots Fundraising Fight India explains that her campaign has raised meaningful support and even outraised her opponent in some ways, though he has outspent her and benefits from PAC funding. She contrasts his expensive steak-dinner fundraising with her community-centered grilled cheese events, including a planned family-friendly fundraiser at the Floyd County Fairgrounds with games and raffle tickets. She stresses that every small donation matters and directs listeners to MayForIowa.com for campaign support. Rural Iowa, Brain Drain, and Keeping Young People Home Liberty asks how rural Iowa can keep young workers, doctors, entrepreneurs, and college graduates from leaving. India says the problem is real and often called “brain drain.” She argues that young people leave when communities attack LGBTQ people, underfund public schools, fail to protect workers, allow corporations to exploit communities, and make life less livable. Her answer is that Iowa must become a place where young people can be safe, respected, employed, and proud to build a life near their families. Challenging Her Opponent's Record India discusses her opponent, Charlie Thompson, saying he has served two terms in the Iowa legislature while also working as a lawyer and real estate developer. She criticizes him for not paying property taxes on several properties and for being involved in a stalled downtown development project in Charles City. She also criticizes legislation he supported, including a three-strikes-style bill that she says will increase incarceration despite Iowa not being a high-crime state, especially troubling in a state with poor mental health care access. Water Quality, Cancer, and the Cost of Silence A major policy issue India raises is Iowa's water quality. She says a study identified nitrates from agricultural runoff as a major contaminant and connects this to Iowa's rising cancer concerns. She criticizes the state for failing to educate the public after the study and says candidates must be willing to have hard conversations about unsafe water, preventable cancer risks, health care costs, child care costs, exploitative tax structures, and corporate influence. For India, voters may eventually wake up when these issues affect their health and wallets directly. Trump, MAGA, and Cracks in the Bubble Michael asks whether Trump's appeal is fading in Iowa, especially among farmers affected by tariffs and economic pressure. India says Trump signs came down quickly in Iowa and notes farmer bankruptcies as a serious concern. She believes some former MAGA supporters are beginning to question what they were told, including one former Trump supporter who wrote her name on the Republican primary ballot. Still, she says many voters remain trapped in algorithmic echo chambers, making truth-telling and local conversations essential. Iowa's Governor's Race and Statewide Politics India also discusses Iowa's governor's race, praising Rob Sand while criticizing Governor Kim Reynolds and the current Republican leadership. She says Reynolds is deeply unpopular and criticizes her use of taxpayer-funded private-jet travel while asking Iowans what public services they would sacrifice to reduce property taxes. India also discusses Republican candidate Zach Lahn, portraying him as a wealthy, Koch-connected figure who talks about water quality but carries far-right cultural positions. Her broader point is that Iowa politics is full of contradictions, money, and high stakes. An Authentic Candidate With an Unstoppable Message As the interview closes, Liberty asks what India would want young Iowans to remember. India's answer is to be unapologetically themselves, find out who they are, and speak truth to power relentlessly. Michael praises her authenticity, endorses her candidacy, and calls her the kind of candidate America needs. Liberty says she does not have the same power to endorse, but will buy a campaign shirt. The show closes with Michael dedicating Sia's “Unstoppable” to India May and encouraging listeners to support her campaign.

Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson are back in the Hendrickson Library for a week-in-review episode — Chris flying without his Dr. Pepper Zero. Trivia wraps last week's Smoot-Hawley question and a new one goes out just in time for Independence Day: what president was born on July 4th?The episode opens on the Ian Roberts saga — the KCCI interview, the body cam arrest footage, and the stubborn contingent of Iowa liberals still defending him. From there, a quick take on the Iran ceasefire deal: $300 billion, sanctions relief, and a memorandum of understanding that raises more questions than it answers. Senator Joni Ernst wants to know where the money is coming from, and Chris and John share the concern.The back half turns to Iowa. Rob Sand's residency hit on Zach Lahn gets dissected — Chris sees it as an act of desperation that wastes the political capital Sand needs to actually define his candidacy. Sand's self-described "audit" of the Iowa Students First (ESA) program draws an equally pointed response: it's a partisan press conference, not an audit, and private school families across Iowa are paying attention.John closes with a piece he authored on the Electoral College and its importance to rural states — prompted by Virginia's governor signing on to the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. The episode ends with a preview of what will become a regular theme between now and November: vote yes on the constitutional amendment to make it harder to raise taxes in Iowa.0:12 Welcome & housekeeping1:44 Trivia: Smoot-Hawley answer & July 4th question4:36 Ian Roberts KCCI interview and arrest footage7:11 Liberals still defending Roberts9:17 Iran ceasefire deal12:46 DOGE: what happened to the savings?14:16 Sand's residency hit on Lahn18:10 Sand's ESA "audit"23:35 ESA, private schools, and taxpayer dollars25:31 ITR poll coming soon26:05 John's Electoral College article27:26 Virginia joins National Popular Vote Compact30:35 Jungle primaries and left-wing election changes33:28 Constitutional amendment — vote yes this fall

Welcome to In Reality, the podcast about truth, disinformation, and the media with Eric Schurenberg, longtime journalist and media executive, now founder of the Alliance for Trust in Media. When Eric interviewed Rob Sand last summer, his run for Iowa governor had more than a whiff of tilting at windmills. He remains the only Democrat to hold statewide elected office in a state that hasn't elected a Democrat to the governorship in more than 20 years and that Trump carried in 2024 by 13 points.  Sand's prospects have drastically improved. Nothing quixotic about it now. He has run a campaign that may be one of the most bi-partisan in the country, by accusing both parties as out of touch with Iowans. His Republican opponent, Zach Lahn, has vulnerabilities, including that he voted in Kansas until recently, allowing Sand's campaign to label him a carpetbagger.  Which is why we decided to encore last summer's interview. We'll hear how Sand plans to persuade Republicans to cross party lines and vote for him. We'll hear what personal qualities he thinks can bridge political divides and how, in his own life, he manages to avoid being trapped in the filter bubbles that make America's media ecosystem so toxic to civil discourse.  Imagine an election in which the deciding principle isn't 'let's choose the lesser of two evils', but rather, 'may the best man win'. What a concept.  Website - free episode transcriptswww.in-reality.fmAlliance for Trust in Mediaalliancefortrust.comProduced by Tom Platts at Sound Sapiensoundsapien.com

This episode dives deep into the impact the MAHA movement has been having on the midterm elections. Zach Lahn was the first statewide candidate endorsed by MAHA Action, the movement's largest political action committee. Donald Trump supported the other candidate, Rob Sand. Lahn won. That doesn't mean Trump's influence is on the wane. But it does mean MAHA issues are moving votes. Also in this episode: Did we get DOGE'd on New World screwworm fly?

Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson are back in the Hendrickson Library with a packed episode covering Iowa's fast-moving post-primary political landscape. Both gubernatorial candidates have now selected their running mates: Rob Sand tapped Dave Muhlbauer, a farmer from western Iowa, while Zach Lahn chose State Representative Derek Wulf of Black Hawk County, also a farmer. Chris and John break down the strategy behind each pick, why Wulf stands out as a particularly strong choice for Lahn, and what the selection of two agricultural running mates signals about where both campaigns think the race will be won.The conversation turns to the broader general election dynamics shaping up between Lahn and Sand. Chris and John assess how quickly the Republican Party has consolidated around Lahn, the head start Sand's campaign has built toward a general election operation, and how the scrutiny of a real general election contest may complicate Sand's carefully constructed moderate image. A Republican Party audio drop this week — featuring Sand openly calling for political retribution on judicial nominations — gives the Lahn campaign exactly the kind of contrast material it needs to make the "governor for all Iowans" sell a harder one for Sand.The second half of the episode takes up two policy-driven stories. First, the final report on Iowa's Universal Basic Income pilot — a project run through several central Iowa cities that distributed $500 monthly stipends to participants. The report's conclusions, citing reduced stress and improved "sense of mattering," prompt a pointed exchange about what government is actually for, who's paying, and why local governments have no business engineering social outcomes with taxpayer dollars. Chris and John connect this directly to Iowa's property tax problem and the fiscal absurdity of local governments playing philanthropist.Finally, a Des Moines Register story on the city of Des Moines reconsidering its tax incentive programs — including TIF and property tax abatements — gives Chris and John a chance to explore when these tools have merit and when they're simply political ribbon-cutting at taxpayer expense.0:13 Welcome & housekeeping2:24 Trivia: Laddie Boy & Smoot-Hawley5:01 Correction & running mate announcements5:52 Sand picks Muhlbauer, Lahn picks Derek Wulf8:22 Why Wulf is a strong pick for Lahn10:32 GOP consolidation & Lahn's general election ramp-up12:22 Sand's media advantage and the contrast campaign ahead13:37 Sand audio drop & turning him into a generic Democrat14:34 Andy Beshear visits Iowa — 2028 implications15:32 Iowa's UBI pilot: background and ITR's role18:15 Dissecting the report — who pays for "feeling mattered"?21:22 UBI, local government overreach, and property taxes25:59 Des Moines reconsiders TIF and tax incentives28:05 When incentives work — and when they're ribbon-cutting30:33 Free market vs. government-directed development33:28 Sign off

The general election battle has begun in Iowa. On this Politics Day episode of River to River, analysis from political scientists Karen Kedrowski of Iowa State University and Wayne Moyer of Grinnell College on Rob Sand's pick for a running mate, the growing fight for Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat, updates from the war in Iran and more.

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day's deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.This week, Rob Sand has a running mate, more ballot challenges featuring Libertarian candidates, and Iowa's executive branch switches IT services. That last story is more interesting than it sounds, trust us.This episode was hosted by Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. It features Gazette Deputy Bureau Chief Tom Barton and Gazette columnists Althea Cole and Todd Dorman.This episode was produced by Gazette Deputy Digital Content Manager Bailey Cichon.Read the articles featured in this episode:Western Iowa farmer picked as Democrat Rob Sand's running mate for Iowa governorName confusion leads to challenge of Iowa Libertarian candidateReynolds defends Iowa IT outsourcing plan, says jobs will stay in Iowa

Stream crashed so apologize for the abrupt endingWe have a hot episode for you as we discuss Trump's big L's in the last few days, including being sidelined by Bibi in Lebanon and Iran negotiations, as well as the recent obvious signs of his lowering popularity support. We also talk about the Iowa primary results, Rob Sand's rhetoric around the fiscal time bomb, and more! ==== LINKS ===== Website: www.mcallisterhours.com Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMcAllisterHours Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3kkuLRVsVJLi22RALUkNRh?si=6c663608a0744da1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mcallister-hours-podcast/id1509329541 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themcallisterhours/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mcallisterhours?fan_landing=true Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcallisterhours/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-739237 Support the stream: https://streamlabs.com/themcallisterhours

Rob Sand has started campaigning as the official Democratic nominee for Iowa governor. The courts will decide what to do with scholarship money at the University of Iowa left behind for Black students. And Iowa has ranked 10th in the nation for child well-being.

This week on Purple Political Breakdown, Radell Lewis starts with the Meet the Press clip where President Trump claims he never guaranteed no new wars, and uses it to set the night's thread: every guardrail we built only works if somebody enforces it.Nuanced News runs that thread through four stories. The Iran and Israel escalation, and a ceasefire that is not really a ceasefire while missiles fly and warships and drones share the same strait. Bill Pulte handed acting Director of National Intelligence over eighteen agencies despite no intelligence background, through a Federal Vacancies Reform Act loophole that turns Senate confirmation into a workaround. A federal judge in Rhode Island striking down the asylum freeze in a 135-page opinion while the Senate moves roughly 70 billion dollars in enforcement. And the White House media offenders page, plus a list naming individual journalists and creators, as a First Amendment story that should worry you no matter your party.Research on a Dime is an elections roundup: the California governor primary (Becerra advances while Hilton and Steyer fight for second, with a wealth tax proxy war on the November ballot), the Los Angeles mayor runoff (Bass advances, then Nithya Raman advances against Spencer Pratt), the Graham Platner controversies in Maine, Iowa (Zach Lahn beats Trump-backed Randy Feenstra, so vote Rob Sand), and the Alabama congressional map. Breakdown in the Public takes on the affordability squeeze and the single-villain stories both parties keep selling. We close with good news: a pancreatic cancer breakthrough called daraxonrasib, sodium batteries as a low-cost rival to lithium, and a nonprofit wiping out medical debt for about 97,000 Connecticut residents.Listen now and find the show on the Alive Podcast Network and at purplepoliticalbreakdown.com.[Paste the Apple Podcasts episode link here before publishing.]Standard Resource Links and Recommendations (verbatim block)Standard Resource Links & RecommendationsThe following organizations and platforms represent valuable resources for balanced political discourse and democratic participation: PODCAST NETWORKCheck Out the Podcast Website: https://www.purplepoliticalbreakdown.comALIVE Podcast Network: Check out the ALIVE Network where you can catch a lot of great podcasts like my own, led by amazing Black voices.Link: https://alivepodcastnetwork.com/ CONVERSATION PLATFORMSHeadOn: A platform for contentious yet productive conversations. It's a place for hosted and unguided conversations where you can grow a following and enhance your conversations with AI features.Link: https://app.headon.ai/Living Room Conversations: Building bridges through meaningful dialogue across political divides.Link: https://livingroomconversations.org/ UNITY MOVEMENTSUs United: A movement for unity that challenges Americans to step out of their bubbles and connect across differences. Take the Unity Pledge, join monthly "30 For US" conversation calls, wear purple (the color of unity), and participate in National Unity Day every second Saturday in December. Their programs include the Sheriff Unity Network and Unity Seats at sports events, proving that shared values are stronger than our differences.Link: https://www.us-united.org/ BALANCED NEWS & INFORMATIONOtherWeb: An AI-based platform that filters news without paywalls, clickbait, or junk, helping you access diverse, unbiased content.Link: https://otherweb.com/ VOTING REFORM & DEMOCRACYEqual Vote Coalition & STAR Voting: Advocating for voting methods that ensure every vote counts equally, eliminating wasted votes and strategic voting.Link: https://www.equal.vote/starFuture is Now Coalition (FiNC): A grassroots movement working to restore democracy through transparency, accountability, and innovative technology while empowering citizens and transforming American political discourse.Link: https://futureis.org/ POLITICAL ENGAGEMENTIndependent Center: Resources for independent political thinking and civic engagement.Link: https://www.independentcenter.org/ GET DAILY NEWSText 844-406-INFO (844-406-4636) with code "purple" to receive quick, unbiased, factual news delivered to your phone every morning via Informed (https://informed.now)Check Out the Unfuck America Tour & National Ground Game: https://www.nationalgroundgame.com/Check Out the CIVICS App to Know More About Your Politicians: https://www.civicpolitics.comSubscribe to the Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/purplepoliticalbreakdown ALL LINKShttps://linktr.ee/purplepoliticalbreakdownThe Purple Political Breakdown is committed to fostering productive political dialogue that transcends partisan divides. We believe in the power of conversation, balanced information, and democratic participation to build a stronger society. Our mission: "Political solutions without political bias."Subscribe, rate, and share if you believe in purple politics, where we find common ground in the middle! Also if you want to be apart of the community and the conversation make sure to Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/ptPAsZtHC9

Lots of news shaking things up today...figuratively & literally. One of the two candidates running to be Iowa's next Governor has made his decision on a running mate. ROB SAND announced today that he's chosen DAVE MUHLBAUER, a 5th generation cattle farmer & current Crawford Co. Supervisor, to be his Lt. Governor if he wins. Now that JOE MITCHELL is the official GOP candidate for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District he's live in-studio with SIMON to lay out his plan between now and November's election day and beyond. Also, there was an ACTUAL earthquake off the coast of Key West Florida today & felt by Floridians as far north as Tampa Bay! All this and more this hour!

0000019e-a77d-d1ab-abfe-ff7fa2640000https://www.wvik.org/podcast/good-morning-from-wvik-news/2026-06-08/iowa-state-auditor-rob-sand-campaigns-with-kentucky-gov-andy-basheer-in-first-rally-since-winning-democratic-primary-for-governorJoseph Leahy Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand campaigns with Kentucky Gov. Andy Basheer in

You know it's a bad situation when the State Auditor says he can't make head nor tail of the mess in Madison County. His office has released their *twice qualified* audits from 2023 & 2024 and boy, oh boy, do they have a problem there! Auditor ROB SAND tells SIMON all about the laundry list of problems his office has uncovered.

The Iowa primary is in the books, and Chris Hagenow and John Hendrickson are back in the Hendrickson Library to break it all down. The headliner on the Republican side was the governor's race, where Zach Lahn edged out Congressman Randy Feenstra 38% to 37.2% — a razor-thin margin that nonetheless produced a clear nominee. Chris and John unpack what drove Lahn's late momentum, why Feenstra came up short despite his early advantages in money and name recognition, and what the rapid consolidation of Republican support behind Lahn says about where the party is headed.On the Senate side, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson dispatched Jim Carlin nearly 3-to-1 and enters the general as a formidable candidate. Democrats nominated Josh Turek over Zach Walz in a race that revealed the Schumer establishment's continued grip on the party machinery — and Chris and John assess whether Turek's positioning as a centrist will hold up under general election scrutiny. A handful of hotly contested legislative primaries also drew attention, including the upset loss of Rep. Jane Bloomingdale, the strong win by taxpayer champion Mike Bussell, and the survival of two incumbent senators despite well-funded challenges.Looking ahead to November, Chris and John preview what shapes up as a genuinely competitive fall cycle — a challenging environment for Republicans given the historical headwinds of a second presidential midterm, but one where Iowa's Republican registration advantage and strong candidates at the top of the ticket keep the outcome far from predetermined. The Lahn vs. Rob Sand governor's race figures to be a substantive, issues-driven campaign, and both hosts are eager to see the two square off in debates. Water quality, foreign land ownership, and school choice are among the issues likely to take center stage.Before closing, Chris flags a critically important ballot measure Iowa voters will decide this fall: a proposed constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds supermajority of the legislature to raise taxes. This is a major ITR priority. With states like Illinois and Colorado moving in the opposite direction — raising income taxes and eyeing progressive tax structures — Iowa has an opportunity to lock in a foundational taxpayer protection. Chris and John will have much more to say on this in the weeks and months ahead.

Rob Sand, Democratic nominee for governor and current state auditor discusses key issues and the general election campaign ahead.

Senator Jon Ossoff, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, talks with Jen Psaki about the importance of his Senate race in Georgia to the Democrats' goal of retaking the majority, and shares his heated reaction to the news that Donald Trump is appointing Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to replace Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. Jim Messina, former campaign manager for President Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign, and Addisu Demissie,Democratic Party political strategist, talk with Jen Psaki about key themes in Tuesday night's primary elections in New Jersey, South Dakota, Iowa, New Mexico, Montana and California. Rob Sand, Iowa auditor of the state and Democratic candidate for governor, talks with Jen Psaki about the issues voters are telling him matter to them the most in this election. To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chris Cillizza and Matt are back to unpack the results of the latest round of primary elections (in California, Iowa, New Jersey, and more!). On today's pod, they discuss:— Iowa: Josh Turek (Paralympian with an incredible backstory) wins big — and now has a real shot at flipping a Senate seat!— Rob Sand emerges as Democrats' strongest Iowa gubernatorial candidate in decades — Anti-incumbent wave: Sitting congressmen lose or underperform in Iowa, Texas, and South Dakota— California Governor primary: Steve Hilton (R) leads early, but Xavier Becerra will likely win in the top-two system— LA Mayor race: Incumbent Karen Bass heads to runoff against reality TV star Spencer Pratt — a clear protest vote against establishment failure on homelessness and crime— Trump's power tested: Senate Republicans kill the controversial “slush fund” deal and push back on other boundary-testing moves— Media shakeup: Barry Weiss at CBS, Scott Pelley's exit, and what it means for legacy news— And MUCH more!Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewisFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A– Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians.Buy Matt's books: FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937Copyright © 2026, BBL & BWL, LLC

Chuck Todd walks through a primary night that was, in his words, a really good night for Democrats — and one that may have just answered whether 2026 is shaping up as a genuine blue wave. The night's biggest single story came out of Iowa, where Zach Lahn pulled off a stunning upset of Randy Feenstra in what Chuck characterizes as a "MAHA vs. MAGA" race — Trump endorsed the establishment Feenstra and lost, which Chuck predicts will drive the president absolutely nuts. Iowa Democrats also got a substantial ticket boost when Josh Turek blew out Zach Wahls in the Senate primary, and combined with the surprisingly strong gubernatorial candidacy of Rob Sand, Iowa is now the cleanest test case in the country for whether the political wind has truly shifted — a right-leaning state where the politics are visibly in flux. Chuck flags that Lahn can probably be painted as too far right in a general, that having "congressman" as your first name has become a real disadvantage in 2026, and that the night was an unambiguous positive for Democrats nationally. He also walks through results elsewhere: New Jersey's seventh district will see Tom Keane (still mysteriously MIA from his own campaign) face Rebecca Bennett; South Dakota's gubernatorial race is headed to its first-ever runoff after four candidates each cleared 20%, and Deb Haaland is on track to become the first Native American woman governor in U.S. history. The conversation then turns to California, where Chuck warns it will be days before we have full primary results but where turnout is already on pace to exceed 2022. He cautions viewers about the inevitable early "red mirage" from the mail-vote curve, predicts Hilton has enough of a lead over Steyer that he likely survives, and argues Xavier Becerra would much rather face Hilton than Steyer in a general — though a potential scandal is looming over Becerra that could reshape the whole race. Chuck argues a Becerra-Hilton race would be a conventional Democrat-versus-Republican contest, that Steyer has spent $500 million across his last two campaigns and still has a low ceiling because he's created a genuine sense of voter exhaustion, and that the single most fascinating race in the state right now is CA-06 and Kevin Kiley. The Los Angeles mayoral picture is clarifying too: Karen Bass and Spencer Pratt appear set to advance, which Todd argues is exactly what Bass wanted — it will be far easier to turn Pratt into a Trump acolyte in a general election than to face the formidable Nithya Raman. He notes that Matt Mahan became known as "big tech's candidate" in ways that genuinely hurt him, and closes with one to watch in Montana, where independent Seth Bodner is quietly hoping the Democratic candidate eventually bows out so he can consolidate the anti-incumbent vote into a real challenge. Then, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings — the former Orlando police chief turned local executive who is now running for governor of Florida — joins the Chuck Toddcast for a candid conversation about the challenges of being a Democrat in modern Florida and the lessons his unusual career path (accountant, then cop, then mayor) brings to executive leadership. Demings reveals that Governor Ron DeSantis personally threatened to remove him from office over his opposition to ICE operations in Orange County, and uses that experience as the entry point to a broader discussion about what's gone wrong with American law enforcement. He argues you cannot solve police shortages by lowering recruiting standards — exactly what he says ICE did when it ramped up so quickly that screening and training went out the window, with the predictable consequence that ICE has now begun poaching trained officers from state and local departments. Demings makes the case that we have to get criminals off the streets but it has to be done lawfully, that state law enforcement should not be doing immigration work, and that being elected sheriff as a partisan position creates real tensions because the actual responsibilities of the job aren't partisan at all. He pushes back on the idea that he's running to be a "performance politician" and frames his candidacy as wanting to bring competent local-government experience to a state level that he says is suffering from leaders chasing viral moments rather than delivering services. The conversation turns to the structural challenges facing Florida and the deeper question of why Democrats can't win statewide in a state that's growing more diverse by the year. Demings argues Florida's underpaid state legislators simply don't attract quality talent, that many longtime Florida Democrats have left the party out of pure frustration, and that the party's central task is to restore basic public belief in government's capacity to function. He's willing to give DeSantis credit for diversifying and growing Florida's economy, but argues the state needs to find efficiencies rather than continually burdening local governments with expenses it should be covering itself — and points to slashed state mental health funding as a direct driver of the violent crime he sees in his community. Demings is sharp on Florida's climate exposure, arguing the state is building in places it absolutely should not be building, and that hurricane-hardened construction standards need a major overhaul, He flags the NAACP's call for athletes to avoid schools in remapping states as the kind of extreme response that extreme government actions inevitably provoke, and warns that the politics of division are starting to genuinely threaten Florida's tourism economy — meaning the state's longtime economic engine may finally be running into the consequences of the culture wars its leaders have spent the past decade fueling. Finally, Chuck presents his ToddCast Top 5 list of instances that Republicans have rebuked Donald Trump in his second term, and 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. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Tuesday was a REALLY good night for Democrats nationally 01:30 Tom Keane still MIA, will face Rebecca Bennett in NJ-07 04:00 Iowa results made Democratic ticket substantially stronger 04:30 Josh Turek blew out Zach Wahls in Iowa 05:30 Biggest upset of the night was Zach Lahn beating Randy Feenstra 08:15 Lahn vs. Feenstra was a MAHA vs. MAGA race 08:45 Iowa is a right leaning state, but the state’s politics are in flux 09:45 Having a first name of “congressman” is a major disadvantage 11:30 Rob Sand is a very strong Democratic candidate for governor in Iowa 13:15 It’s possible Lahn can be painted as too far to the right 14:15 Iowa will be the test of whether 2026 is a blue wave election 15:30 Iowa was a huge positive development for team blue 16:45 Trump endorsing Feenstra then losing will drive Trump nuts 19:00 South Dakota governor’s race headed to runoff for first time 20:45 Four candidates in SD gubernatorial race received 20% of vote 23:00 Voters keep rewarding political bomb throwers 24:00 Trump endorsed the least Trump-like candidate, voters chose the Trumpy one 25:00 Deb Haaland on track to be the first Native American woman governor 25:30 It will be days before we know the full results of California primaries 27:30 California turnout will exceed turnout in 2022 28:30 Early on there will be a red mirage in California due to early vote 31:00 Hilton has enough of a lead over Steyer that he likely hangs on 32:15 Becerra would rather run against Hilton than Steyer 32:45 Steyer has created a sense of exhaustion 33:45 A Becerra v Hilton race would be a conventional D vs. R race 34:15 Potential scandal looms over Becerra 35:45 Most fascinating race is CA-06 and Kevin Kiley 38:15 It looks like Karen Bass & Spencer Pratt will move on in LA mayoral 40:30 It will be easier for Bass to turn Pratt into a Trump acolyte than face Raman 41:45 Steyer has a low ceiling, and has spent $500M in last two campaigns 43:30 Matt Mahan became known as “big tech’s candidate” and that hurt him 46:00 Independent Seth Bodner hoping Democratic candidate bows out in Montana 54:30 Jerry Demings joins the Chuck ToddCast 55:30 How did you go from accountant to police to mayor? 56:45 Accounting background helped with managing the city budget 58:00 How has Orlando changed since the time you were a police officer in the 80s? 59:30 Working on police reform both locally and nationally 1:00:45 Should the focus for police be better recruiting or better training? 1:01:30 Lowering recruiting standards can’t be the answer to police shortages 1:02:15 ICE was forced to ramp up so fast they didn’t screen or train recruits properly 1:03:45 We have to get criminals off the street, but it has be done lawfully 1:04:30 What were the unintended consequences of ICE’s questionable recruitment? 1:05:45 ICE began poaching state and local police officers 1:07:45 Should county sheriff be an elected position? 1:09:00 Political considerations do enter the equation when you’re elected 1:10:30 Size of jurisdiction does matter when it comes to appointed vs. elected 1:11:30 Sheriff is elected as a partisan position, but the responsibilities aren’t partisan 1:12:30 Why did you want to run for governor? 1:15:00 Want to take experience at local level government to a larger level 1:15:45 Ron DeSantis threatened to remove him over opposition to ICE 1:18:30 How would you work with the Republican dominated legislature? 1:20:30 Republicans have a large voter registration advantage in Florida 1:21:45 Not interested in being a performance politician 1:23:00 Why have Democrats been unable to elect a governor in Florida? 1:23:30 Florida’s legislators are underpaid, don’t attract quality talent 1:25:15 Many Florida Democrats left the party due to their frustration 1:27:00 Democrats need to restore belief in government 1:28:30 What has Ron DeSantis done right? Diversified & grown the economy 1:30:45 Does Florida need more tax revenue and how do you acquire it? 1:32:30 Government should always look to find inefficiencies & fix them 1:33:30 The state keeps burdening local governments with expenses 1:35:00 State has slashed funding for mental health, leading to violent crime 1:38:00 There is a lot of fraudulent claims made in Florida, state bad at investigating 1:39:00 State law enforcement shouldn’t be doing immigration enforcement 1:39:45 Florida is building in places they shouldn’t be, not factoring climate change 1:40:45 Florida should be hardening their building and infrastructure 1:42:00 Should Florida ban manufactured housing? 1:43:15 Florida needs housing construction standards that make sense 1:44:30 NAACP calling on athletes to not attend schools in remapping states 1:45:30 Extreme actions by the government elicit extreme responses 1:47:30 Tourism in Florida is being threatened by politics 1:49:45 Politics is dividing people by racial lines 1:51:45 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Jerry Demings 1:53:45 DeSantis trying to ram through property tax cut before November 1:55:45 Trump replacing Tulsi Gabbard with Bill Pulte for DNI 1:56:45 Republicans immediately starting pushing back on Pulte as nominee 1:58:15 No need for NDI. CIA has won the intel agency turf battle 1:59:00 Bill Pulte makes Tulsi Gabbard look qualified for DNI role 2:01:15 ToddCast Top 5 instances Republicans successfully rebuked Trump 2:01:30 #5 The Epstein files 2:03:00 #4 Trump’s threat to take over Greenland 2:04:00 #3 Fed chair Jay Powell 2:05:15 #2 Matt Gaetz nomination for AG 2:07:15 #1 Death of Trump’s anti-weaponization slush fund 2:13:00 Ask Chuck 2:13:15 Thoughts on potential reforms, how realistic are they? 2:20:30 Why do you call Democrats the party that’s held to a higher standard? 2:24:15 Do you see Wes Moore as a top Democratic contender in ‘28? 2:29:15 Is Mike Johnson’s speakership at risk? Would he be the minority leader? 2:31:30 Can Keir Starmer survive as PM? Will Nigel Farage be PM? 2:36:30 Do you think a more virtual governance model rather than in-person would work? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd walks through a primary night that was, in his words, a really good night for Democrats — and one that may have just answered whether 2026 is shaping up as a genuine blue wave. The night's biggest single story came out of Iowa, where Zach Lahn pulled off a stunning upset of Randy Feenstra in what Chuck characterizes as a "MAHA vs. MAGA" race — Trump endorsed the establishment Feenstra and lost, which Chuck predicts will drive the president absolutely nuts. Iowa Democrats also got a substantial ticket boost when Josh Turek blew out Zach Wahls in the Senate primary, and combined with the surprisingly strong gubernatorial candidacy of Rob Sand, Iowa is now the cleanest test case in the country for whether the political wind has truly shifted — a right-leaning state where the politics are visibly in flux. Chuck flags that Lahn can probably be painted as too far right in a general, that having "congressman" as your first name has become a real disadvantage in 2026, and that the night was an unambiguous positive for Democrats nationally. He also walks through results elsewhere: New Jersey's seventh district will see Tom Keane (still mysteriously MIA from his own campaign) face Rebecca Bennett; South Dakota's gubernatorial race is headed to its first-ever runoff after four candidates each cleared 20%, and Deb Haaland is on track to become the first Native American woman governor in U.S. history. The conversation then turns to California, where Chuck warns it will be days before we have full primary results but where turnout is already on pace to exceed 2022. He cautions viewers about the inevitable early "red mirage" from the mail-vote curve, predicts Hilton has enough of a lead over Steyer that he likely survives, and argues Xavier Becerra would much rather face Hilton than Steyer in a general — though a potential scandal is looming over Becerra that could reshape the whole race. Chuck argues a Becerra-Hilton race would be a conventional Democrat-versus-Republican contest, that Steyer has spent $500 million across his last two campaigns and still has a low ceiling because he's created a genuine sense of voter exhaustion, and that the single most fascinating race in the state right now is CA-06 and Kevin Kiley. The Los Angeles mayoral picture is clarifying too: Karen Bass and Spencer Pratt appear set to advance, which Todd argues is exactly what Bass wanted — it will be far easier to turn Pratt into a Trump acolyte in a general election than to face the formidable Nithya Raman. He notes that Matt Mahan became known as "big tech's candidate" in ways that genuinely hurt him, and closes with one to watch in Montana, where independent Seth Bodner is quietly hoping the Democratic candidate eventually bows out so he can consolidate the anti-incumbent vote into a real challenge. Finally, Chuck presents his ToddCast Top 5 list of instances that Republicans have rebuked Donald Trump in his second term, and 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. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:00 Tuesday was a REALLY good night for Democrats nationally 01:30 Tom Keane still MIA, will face Rebecca Bennett in NJ-07 04:00 Iowa results made Democratic ticket substantially stronger 04:30 Josh Turek blew out Zach Wahls in Iowa 05:30 Biggest upset of the night was Zach Lahn beating Randy Feenstra 08:15 Lahn vs. Feenstra was a MAHA vs. MAGA race 08:45 Iowa is a right leaning state, but the state’s politics are in flux 09:45 Having a first name of “congressman” is a major disadvantage 11:30 Rob Sand is a very strong Democratic candidate for governor in Iowa 13:15 It’s possible Lahn can be painted as too far to the right 14:15 Iowa will be the test of whether 2026 is a blue wave election 15:30 Iowa was a huge positive development for team blue 16:45 Trump endorsing Feenstra then losing will drive Trump nuts 19:00 South Dakota governor’s race headed to runoff for first time 20:45 Four candidates in SD gubernatorial race received 20% of vote 23:00 Voters keep rewarding political bomb throwers 24:00 Trump endorsed the least Trump-like candidate, voters chose the Trumpy one 25:00 Deb Haaland on track to be the first Native American woman governor 25:30 It will be days before we know the full results of California primaries 27:30 California turnout will exceed turnout in 2022 28:30 Early on there will be a red mirage in California due to early vote 31:00 Hilton has enough of a lead over Steyer that he likely hangs on 32:15 Becerra would rather run against Hilton than Steyer 32:45 Steyer has created a sense of exhaustion 33:45 A Becerra v Hilton race would be a conventional D vs. R race 34:15 Potential scandal looms over Becerra 35:45 Most fascinating race is CA-06 and Kevin Kiley 38:15 It looks like Karen Bass & Spencer Pratt will move on in LA mayoral 40:30 It will be easier for Bass to turn Pratt into a Trump acolyte than face Raman 41:45 Steyer has a low ceiling, and has spent $500M in last two campaigns 43:30 Matt Mahan became known as “big tech’s candidate” and that hurt him 46:00 Independent Seth Bodner hoping Democratic candidate bows out in Montana 54:15 Trump replacing Tulsi Gabbard with Bill Pulte for DNI 55:15 Republicans immediately starting pushing back on Pulte as nominee 56:45 No need for NDI. CIA has won the intel agency turf battle 57:30 Bill Pulte makes Tulsi Gabbard look qualified for DNI role 59:45 ToddCast Top 5 instances Republicans successfully rebuked Trump 1:00:00 #5 The Epstein files 1:01:30 #4 Trump’s threat to take over Greenland 1:02:30 #3 Fed chair Jay Powell 1:03:45 #2 Matt Gaetz nomination for AG 1:05:45 #1 Death of Trump’s anti-weaponization slush fund 1:11:30 Ask Chuck 1:11:45 Thoughts on potential reforms, how realistic are they? 1:19:00 Why do you call Democrats the party that’s held to a higher standard? 1:22:45 Do you see Wes Moore as a top Democratic contender in ‘28? 1:27:45 Is Mike Johnson’s speakership at risk? Would he be the minority leader? 1:30:00 Can Keir Starmer survive as PM? Will Nigel Farage be PM? 1:35:00 Do you think a more virtual governance model rather than in-person would work?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with Ken Paxton's runoff blowout over John Cornyn — a result that confirms Texas Republicans remain the base of what eventually grew into MAGA nationally, that the insurgent wing of the GOP consistently wins in the state, and that Paxton is somehow simultaneously the least electable nominee Republicans could have picked and still electable enough to make this a real fight. He argues Texas is slowly moving toward swing state status the way Georgia did over the past decade — the ingredients are there for a Democrat to finally break through, the question is whether James Talarico can move his 45% number higher and prove he's the political athlete this moment requires. The downstream consequences for Republicans are brutal: the GOP will have to drop a $500 million anvil on Talarico that can't be deployed in other races, and Democrats' path to a Senate majority just got measurably wider. But the more fascinating story Chuck unpacks is Pope Leo's stunning new document on AI, automated weapons, and concentrated power — a text Chuck argues is essentially an indictment of American military dominance dressed in the language of moral theology. The Pope explicitly compares AI-driven targeting systems to slavery, arguing both reduce human beings to data points and dehumanize their victims, and apologizes for the church's historic slowness on slavery while warning Catholics that they cannot afford the same slowness on artificial intelligence. He declares the centuries-old "just war" framework outdated, argues that no algorithm can ever make war morally acceptable, and pushes back forcefully on the entire concept of nuclear deterrence — drawing a direct line back to Pope Leo XIII's 1891 intervention on industrial capitalism. He argues the document, while never naming the United States, is speaking directly to American politicians: it's framed as a call for a moral framework around AI that can live above the political discourse, an explicit argument that technological capital must be regulated, and a warning that AI is not morally neutral no matter how much Silicon Valley wishes it were. The larger message is unmistakable — the Pope, who Chuck notes is now arguably the most formidable global moral voice that even secular Americans look to for clarity, has just put concentrated technological power on notice in a way no head of state has been willing to. Then, Virginia Kase Solomon — president of Common Cause, one of the country's oldest and most respected pro-democracy organizations — joins the Chuck Toddcast to deliver a clear-eyed assessment of just how broken American self-government has become, and what it might actually take to fix it. Kase Solomon argues that Trump's corruption has gone so far beyond anything in modern history that it makes Watergate look quaint by comparison — she points to Trump stealing roughly $1.8 billion from American taxpayers as a single staggering example — but warns that the most dangerous development isn't the corruption itself, it's that young voters are growing up normalized to it, with no living memory of an administration where this kind of behavior carried consequences. She makes a striking comparison to Hungary, where it took genuinely staggering levels of corruption before Orbán could be toppled, and where the opposition only succeeded once it tied that corruption directly to degrading quality of life for ordinary people — a lesson she says American Democrats badly need to learn. They note that there are real bipartisan calls to address money in politics, that a congressional stock trading ban enjoys overwhelming public support, that Amy Klobuchar's Disclose Act keeps getting reintroduced and ignored, and that forced disclosure of large-dollar donors alone would significantly reduce political giving — but the country is on a runaway train, with big tech money flowing to whoever holds power and Trump openly running the country like a corporation. The conversation broadens into Kase Solomon's structural diagnosis of why American democracy isn't working. She argues that the way the founders designed the country no longer functions in the modern era — but that the founders also gave us the tools to fix what's broken if we choose to use them. Congress is too small to genuinely represent the public, the Senate is horribly malapportioned, the Supreme Court has offered no real solution to the gerrymandering crisis, and we've completely lost the "statesmen" in Congress who once voted their conscience because there's no longer any incentive to compromise or work across the aisle. She is deeply concerned about the regulatory vacuum around AI — deepfakes have terrifying implications for elections and civil litigation is currently the only meaningful path to push back — and she warns that the election of judges has corrupted the rule of law in ways America needs a movement to address. Despite all of this, she is genuinely hopeful: Common Cause is litigating against the corruption, organizing a million conversations between activists and ordinary Americans, and operating from the conviction that the public isn't stupid and still loves this country. Her closing argument is the most American one possible: the United States has always emerged from its darkest periods better than it went in — but only because people refused to accept the broken system as permanent, and that work has to start now. Finally, Chuck reveals his ToddCast Top 5 list of Democrats who could be vaulted into 2028 contender status for the presidency if they perform well in the midterms. He highlights two midwestern gubernatorial candidates, two upstart senate bids and one name that stands above the rest… Jon Ossoff of Georgia. 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. Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/chuck for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! Timeline: (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements) 00:00 Chuck Todd’s introduction 03:30 Ken Paxton trounces John Cornyn in runoff election 05:00 Texas Republicans are the base for what grew into MAGA nationally 07:15 The insurgent wing of the GOP consistently wins in Texas 09:00 Paxton is the least electable nominee, but he’s still electable 10:30 Is 45% Talarico’s ceiling, or can he move that number higher? 11:30 Texas is slowly moving towards swing state status like Georgia did 13:00 Ingredients are there for a Democrat to finally break through in TX 15:30 Senate Republicans won’t be happy having to serve with Paxton 16:00 Texas is more winnable than other races for GOP, will have to spend in TX 16:30 Republicans will have to spend big to drop the anvil on Talarico 17:30 We’ll find out how talented of a political athlete Talarico is 19:30 This will be the magnet race that national reporters will focus on 21:30 Race will cost the GOP $500m that can’t be deployed elsewhere 23:15 Democrats now have a better chance of winning the senate 24:00 The Pope speaks to more than Catholics, seculars look to him for moral clarity 25:00 The Pope is formidable influencer in America 26:15 The Pope speaks out about AI, concentrated power & the “just war” theory 26:45 He compared automated weapons to slavery 28:00 The Pope spoke out similarly in 1891 during the Industrial Revolution 29:00 The Pope’s document says AI is not morally neutral 30:15 Document argues that technological capital needs to be regulated 30:45 The church has had a “just war” framework for hundreds of years 31:15 Pope Leo says “just war” framework is outdated 32:15 Document argues no algorithm can make war morally acceptable 33:15 Document argues against the concept of nuclear deterrence 33:45 Pope apologizes for church’s role in slavery 34:30 Document says AI systems reduce human beings into targeting data 35:00 Pope argues the dehumanization of AI targeting is similar to slavery 36:00 While not saying it directly, the document is speaking about the United States 37:00 The document is an indictment of American military dominance 38:30 Document does have a carve-out for self defence 40:15 The document was speaking directly to American politicians 41:30 A call for a moral framework for AI can live above the political discourse 42:30 Pope argues church was too slow on slavery, can’t be slow on AI 49:00 Virginia Kase Solomon (Common Cause) joins the Chuck ToddCast 50:30 Common Cause works to hold the government accountable to the people 51:30 Corporate lobbies have disproportionate power compared to people 52:15 Many people threw their hands up after Citizen’s United 53:30 States are working to change campaign finance rules 55:15 States can ban companies in their state from making political donations 57:00 Rules changes but money always seems to find a way around them 59:00 Parties stopped becoming the epicenter of political donations 1:00:30 There are bipartisan calls to do something about money in politics 1:02:00 More GOP support for reform at the state level than national level 1:02:45 We’re on a runaway train for money in politics 1:03:30 Big tech money goes to whoever is in power 1:04:00 The country is being run like a corporation 1:04:45 Jamie Raskin has started an anti-corruption task force 1:05:15 A congressional stock trading ban has massive public support 1:06:15 Trump is obviously corrupt, but people fear him too much to act 1:07:30 Forced disclosure of large dollar donors would reduce donations 1:08:30 Amy Klobuchar has put forward the Disclose Act in almost every congress 1:11:00 The Trump administration’s corruption is beyond egregious 1:11:45 Trump stealing $1.8 billion from taxpayers, makes Watergate look quaint 1:13:15 Young voters have grown up being normalized to this corruption 1:13:45 There will be a backlash to the corruption at some point 1:14:45 America’s long term global standing has been severely damaged 1:15:30 Common Cause is involved in litigation trying to prevent the corruption 1:17:30 Striving to have a million conversations between organizers & normal people 1:18:45 People are struggling and feeling fatigued 1:20:30 It took staggering levels of corruption in Hungary before Orban was toppled 1:21:30 Opposition in Hungary tied corruption to degrading quality of life 1:23:30 A fairness criteria was implemented in the California redistricting 1:24:30 CA and VA put redistricting before the voters, but still a race to the bottom 1:25:00 The Supreme Court hasn’t offered any solution to gerrymandering problem 1:26:00 Congress is too small to effectively represent the public 1:26:45 The senate is horribly malapportioned 1:28:30 The way the founders designed the country doesn’t work anymore 1:29:00 The founders gave us the tools to fix the democracy 1:31:15 There’s no incentive to work in a bipartisan manner or compromise 1:32:45 We’ve lost the “statesmen” in congress who vote their conscience 1:33:30 Politics has become a zero sum game 1:34:45 Politics has always been dirty, but we’ve hit an all-time low 1:36:00 Government seems completely unequipped to regulate AI 1:38:45 Deepfakes impact on elections are very concerning 1:40:00 Civil litigation is the only current path to push back on AI 1:41:30 Status of “sunshine laws” in the country? Could they be rolled back? 1:43:45 Need a movement against the election of the judiciary 1:46:45 The reason for optimism… is that people aren’t stupid and love the country 1:47:30 Our country has always emerged better after dark times 1:49:30 Chuck’s thoughts on interview with Virginia Kase Solomon 1:50:30 ToddCast Top 5 2028 contenders depending on their 2026 performance 1:54:00 #5 Amy Acton 1:56:15 #4 Rob Sand 1:57:45 #3 Graham Platner 2:01:15 #2 James Talarico 2:03:45 #1 Jon Ossoff 2:07:15 Ask Chuck 2:07:30 Why are people rounding up Trump’s 1.776B slush fund to $1.8b? 2:09:30 Supporting candidates you oppose just for judicial confirmations? 2:16:30 New Parallel AI model that prioritizes original writing and journalism? 2:20:15 How are candidates allowed to deploy financial resources during campaigns? 2:24:30 Pattern of Dems fixing the economy and GOP making it worse?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We celebrate 250 years of RHC with Zach Lahn's sex toy company, a Pokémon professor, and college-aged Rob Sand. Thanks for supporting us for all these centuries! Call us at (319) 849-8733! Go here for full episode notes: https://www.patreon.com/posts/159051397 https://rockhardcauc.us

The Iowa Primary is coming up on June 2nd. Josiah has been a low information voter this year, so Justin Comer from Rock Hard Caucus is here to tell him who to vote for.Follow Justin on Bluesky @justinkcomer.rockhardcauc.usCheck out Rock Hard Caucus: rockhardcauc.usBecome a Fruitless Patron here: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=11922141Check out Fruitless on YouTubeFind more of Josiah's work: https://linktr.ee/josiahwsuttonFollow Josiah on Twitter @josiahwsuttonMusic & Audio creditsFeel - NoCopyrightMusicBass - NoCopyrightMusicYesterday – bloom."Josh Turek - Underdog," Josh Turek on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCD3vVVAa7U"I'm Running for U.S. Senate," Zach Wahls for Iowa on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLlwK00ol_I"Ashley Hinson for Congress - WATCH IT," Ashley Hinson on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNSd0px_96Q"Sen. Joni Ernst defends Medicaid cuts, says 'well, we all are going to die'," Associated Press on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVxh7-_fkvg"2014, Joni Ernst - Squeal - political ad - closed captioned," Captioning for Everyone on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc8uLuHsNw0"Sarah Trone Garriott 2024," Sarah Trone Garriott on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hon2AI7E8CE"Bohannan: Doing What's Right," Bohannan for Congress on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzZSYtSCJew"President Biden: I'm staying in the race!," C-SPAN on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk10PQ_h2io"Feenstra Formally Launches Campaign for Governor of Iowa," Feenstra for Governor on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLmqUgPTHuA"Good vs. Evil," Adam Steen for Governor on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAc6-rAYrvY"Zach Lahn - Defend our Land," Zach Lahn for Governor on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-DBn5FBN4o"Stealing is Bad - Rob Sand for Iowa," Rob Sand on YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUiHlQRxPDcRob Sand's legalization ad on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reel/4850102835216495In My Dreams - bloom. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The city of Des Moines is expecting a budget shortfall after Governor Kim Reynolds signed a property tax bill into law. Democratic candidate for governor Rob Sand says he would address PBMs. And who are the Republicans running to represent Iowa's Second Congressional District?

May 12, 2026; 8 pm: Tonight, as the president leaves for China, Sen. Chris Murphy on Trump's costly war and souring economy. Then, today's intervention with Kash Patel. And as Democrats look to take back Congress, Iowa governor candidate Rob Sand on what it takes to win in Trump country. Want more of Chris? Download and follow his podcast, “Why Is This Happening? The Chris Hayes podcast” wherever you get your podcasts.To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chuck Todd opens with Trump getting visibly defensive with reporters over a brutal new inflation report — and argues the bad economy is in worse shape directly because of Trump's policies, with the president himself having zero answers for the data. He notes that AI investment is essentially the only thing propping up the economy, and that we are at least weeks away from the end of the Iran war. He warns we're only at the beginning of the inflation problem and that Democrats can simply point to Trump's broken promises of lower costs and no wars — they don't even need to make a "for" case, just a sustained "against" case — but cautions that despite all of this, Democrats still have a serious brand problem that no economic data alone will fix. He argues the failed Virginia redistricting effort exposed the deeper issue: Democrats talk like the resistance but are viewed as institutionalists, while Republicans still behave like raw partisans, and the rise of independent voters represents a fundamental protest against both available parties — something that should worry Democrats more than Republicans because the GOP has already shown a willingness to blow up the system. He makes a sweeping argument that until the last decade, Democrats were a reform-focused party, but the Trump era has pushed them into becoming defenders of institutions at exactly the moment when public trust in institutions had collapsed. He closes with observations from the Musk-Altman trial, which he says has been revealing about the personalities actually building AI — with OpenAI employees testifying to Altman's lying and the internal chaos, and so much tech ego on display that the public, already feeling burned by big tech, is only going to grow more skeptical. This episode of the Chuck Toddcast features a deep dive into the AI governance crisis with two of the leading experts in the field. First, Miriam Vogel — president and CEO of EqualAI — joins the show to explain her organization's mission of establishing meaningful AI guardrails at a moment when American consumers are deeply skeptical of big tech and less than 1% of companies have anything resembling strong AI governance policies. Vogel argues that good governance means corporate leadership must take direct responsibility for AI deployment, walks through her five best practices for responsible AI adoption, and pushes back on the idea that federal preemption should override state-level regulation — noting that companies are pushing hard against state regulation precisely because they know most of the actual rules will be written in court cases over the next few years. She warns that we're seeing tremendous investment in AI without commensurate ROI so far, that gender and regional gaps in AI adoption are already emerging, and that the public urgently needs to be empowered with real knowledge about AI's upsides as well as its risks. Vogel asks the question that should keep every executive up at night: are we actually ready for AI to make decisions without humans in the loop? And she argues that transparency — letting employees and consumers see how AI errors play out — will be absolutely essential to safe deployment. Then former Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger joins to discuss what global AI governance should look like between superpowers, and whether the arms race framing between the U.S. and China is actually helpful or harmful. Neuberger argues AI is fundamentally different from nuclear regulation because it's being developed by the private sector rather than by governments, and questions whether it was a mistake to let the private sector spearhead this technology in the first place. Drawing on her cybersecurity background, she walks through how governments learned to combat ransomware: extending existing rules for fiat currencies to cover cryptocurrencies (which had helped criminals evade detection), disincentivizing ransom payments, and helping companies recover without paying — a template she argues could apply to AI regulation. Neuberger says AI drug development should be an international win-win rather than a zero-sum arms race, but acknowledges the national security applications make competition unavoidable, with advantages now measured in months rather than years and dangerously inadequate military-to-military communication between the U.S. and China. They debate whether an "FDA for AI models" might be necessary, that existing regulations can be updated to cover AI without requiring new legislation, and that AI will ultimately transform defensive cybersecurity by allowing companies to double-check their infrastructure at scale. Her bottom line: laws always trail technology, but governments have key roles to play in identifying cyber risks, helping companies patch their infrastructure, and ensuring America's defenders aren't left behind as Chinese models close the six-month gap. Finally Chuck reveals his bonus TWO ToddCast Top 5 lists, the top 5 2028 Democratic hopefuls who have run for president before, and the top who haven’t. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Try ShipStation free for 60 days with full access to all features, No credit card needed! Go to https://ShipStation.com and use code TODDCAST for 60 days for free! Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! 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 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:30 Trump gets defensive with reporters over bad inflation report 03:00 Economy is in worse shape directly because of Trump’s policies 03:45 Trump has zero answers for the bad state of the economy 04:45 Dow still hasn’t gotten back over 50k since Bondi’s viral moment 05:45 AI investment is the only thing propping up the economy 06:30 We are weeks away from the end of the Iran war… at minimum 07:45 Despite the bad economy, Democrats still have a brand problem 08:30 We are only at the beginning of the inflation problem 09:15 Dems can point to Trump breaking promise of lower costs & no wars 10:00 Dems don’t even have to make a “for” case, just an “against” case 11:00 Another variable is what the political maps look like by the midterms 12:15 The issue for the Dems is what the party stands for… what’s its identity? 13:00 Dems ‘28 hopefuls need to, and will jump in early 13:45 Dems failed redistricting in VA exposed a problem with the party 15:45 Dems talk like resistance but are viewed as institutionalists 16:30 GOP still behaves more like raw partisans 17:15 South Carolina would have risked disaster by carving up Clyburn’s seat 18:45 Backlash to SCOTUS gutting Voting Rights Act could juice Dem turnout 19:45 Why do both parties seem against reforming the system overall? 21:15 Politics has become completely nationalized and it’s a problem 21:45 Until the last decade, the Democrats were a reform focused party 23:00 The Trump era has pushed Dems into becoming defenders of institutions 23:45 Biden ran on preservation when trust in institutions had collapsed 25:15 The rise of independent voters shows protest for the two available parties 26:30 Rise of independents should worry Dems more than Republicans 27:45 Real reforms to the system would help rebuild trust with the public 29:30 Dems risk becoming custodians of a system people don’t trust 31:45 Dems took their eye off the ball, haven’t acted as reformers 33:30 The Musk/Altman trial has been revealing of the personalities building AI 34:00 OpenAI’s employees testified to Altman lying and chaos internally 35:15 So much tech ego on display at the trial 36:00 The public already feels burned by big tech 43:30 Chuck Todd’s introduction 46:15 Miriam Vogel joins the Chuck ToddCast 46:30 Equal AI’s mission is to establish AI guardrails 47:45 American consumers are extremely skeptical of big tech 48:30 Tech companies need to address users’ concerns & questions 50:30 Less than 1% of companies have strong AI governance policies 52:00 Some companies are working hard towards AI best practices 53:00 State vs. federal regulation for tech companies & AI 53:45 Why are companies pushing back against state level regulation? 55:45 Most of AI regulation will come down to the courts 57:30 We need more certainty of expectations from AI companies 59:45 AI is a disruptor, we can’t pretend it won’t be everywhere 1:01:00 Are we ready for AI to make decisions without humans in the loop? 1:01:45 Good governance means leadership must take responsibility for AI 1:02:45 If agentic AI without a human was outlawed, how would companies respond? 1:04:00 We’re seeing tremendous investment without the ROI so far 1:05:00 AI will scale at an exponential rate 1:05:45 We’re seeing gender and regional gaps in AI adoption 1:06:30 The public needs to be empowered with knowledge of AI’s upside 1:07:45 The five best practices for AI adoption 1:09:30 Employees and consumers will see how AI errors play out 1:10:45 Transparency will be key to safe AI deployment 1:12:15 Anne Neuberger joins the Chuck ToddCast 1:12:45 What should AI global governance look like between superpowers? 1:14:00 AI is different than nuclear regulation because it’s developed privately 1:14:45 Was it a mistake to let the private sector spearhead AI development? 1:16:00 Cybersecurity concerns and risks 1:17:15 Cryptocurrency helped criminals evade detection & enforcement 1:18:00 Every ransom payment encourages more cyber attacks & ransomware 1:19:15 Cyber threat intel was shared across governments 1:20:15 Governments extended rules for fiat currencies to cryptocurrencies 1:21:00 Governments had to disincentivize ransom payments 1:22:00 Goal was to help companies recover without paying a ransom 1:22:45 Both companies & government should share burden of security 1:24:15 AI is being framed as an arms race between U.S. and China 1:25:00 AI drug development should be an international win-win 1:26:00 The arms race framing applies to national security applications 1:27:45 The speed of innovation is so fast, a race feels unwinnable 1:29:00 Advantages in AI race will be measured in months, not years 1:29:45 There’s no good military to military comms between U.S. & China 1:32:00 Does government have any chance to effectively regulate AI? 1:32:45 It took a major cyberattack for government to figure out cybersecurity 1:33:30 Government took existing regulations and updated them for digital age 1:35:30 Existing regulations can also be updated to regulate AI without legislation 1:36:30 Should there be an FDA for AI models? 1:37:45 There needs to be a balance between innovation and regulation 1:38:45 Laws trail tech. Need to find regulation that protects the public 1:40:15 AI will transform defensive cybersecurity 1:41:00 AI can double check defensive cyber infrastructure at scale 1:42:45 We need to prepare our defenders, China’s models are 6 months behind 1:43:45 Companies will need help to patch and update their infrastructure 1:44:45 The government has a very key role to play in AI cybersecurity 1:45:45 Government has to clearly identify where the cyber risks are 1:47:30 Thought the AI conversation was important, didn’t want it behind a paywall1:48:30 The most difficult part of AI regulation will be the carrot & stick approach1:49:30 TWO ToddCast Top 5 lists today1:52:15 Winning Democratic presidential candidates are usually first time candidates1:56:15 Top 5 2028 Democratic candidates who have never run for president1:56:30 2026 results will dictate who will eventually have best prospects in 20281:59:30 #5 2026 TBD, could be Rob Sand, Mallory McMorrow…Colbert?2:00:00 #4 Josh Shapiro2:01:00 #3 Gavin Newsom2:02:15 #2 Wes Moore2:03:15 #1 AOC 2:05:15 Top 5 2028 Dem candidates who HAVE run for president2:05:30 #5 Amy Klobuchar2:06:30 #4 Cory Booker2:08:00 #3 Pete Buttigieg2:09:30 #2 Bernie Sanders2:10:30 #1 Kamala Harris2:12:00 Ask Chuck2:12:15 Modern equivalent of the “good government” groups of the 20th century?2:17:00 When should Dems make strategic adjustments vs compromising values?2:20:00 Is a socially conservative, fiscally liberal platform viable?2:22:30 Could co-op’s be a viable solution to modern economic challenges?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chuck Todd opens with Trump getting visibly defensive with reporters over a brutal new inflation report — and argues the bad economy is in worse shape directly because of Trump's policies, with the president himself having zero answers for the data. He notes that AI investment is essentially the only thing propping up the economy, and that we are at least weeks away from the end of the Iran war. He warns we're only at the beginning of the inflation problem and that Democrats can simply point to Trump's broken promises of lower costs and no wars — they don't even need to make a "for" case, just a sustained "against" case — but cautions that despite all of this, Democrats still have a serious brand problem that no economic data alone will fix. He argues the failed Virginia redistricting effort exposed the deeper issue: Democrats talk like the resistance but are viewed as institutionalists, while Republicans still behave like raw partisans, and the rise of independent voters represents a fundamental protest against both available parties — something that should worry Democrats more than Republicans because the GOP has already shown a willingness to blow up the system. He makes a sweeping argument that until the last decade, Democrats were a reform-focused party, but the Trump era has pushed them into becoming defenders of institutions at exactly the moment when public trust in institutions had collapsed. He closes with observations from the Musk-Altman trial, which he says has been revealing about the personalities actually building AI — with OpenAI employees testifying to Altman's lying and the internal chaos, and so much tech ego on display that the public, already feeling burned by big tech, is only going to grow more skeptical. Finally Chuck reveals his bonus TWO ToddCast Top 5 lists, the top 5 2028 Democratic hopefuls who have run for president before, and the top who haven’t. He also answers listeners’ questions in the “Ask Chuck” segment. Try ShipStation free for 60 days with full access to all features, No credit card needed! Go to https://ShipStation.com and use code TODDCAST for 60 days for free! Thank you Wildgrain for sponsoring. Visit http://wildgrain.com/TODDCAST and use the code "TODDCAST" at checkout to receive $30 off your first box PLUS free Croissants for life! 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 Chuck Todd’s introduction 01:30 Trump gets defensive with reporters over bad inflation report 03:00 Economy is in worse shape directly because of Trump’s policies 03:45 Trump has zero answers for the bad state of the economy 04:45 Dow still hasn’t gotten back over 50k since Bondi’s viral moment 05:45 AI investment is the only thing propping up the economy 06:30 We are weeks away from the end of the Iran war… at minimum 07:45 Despite the bad economy, Democrats still have a brand problem 08:30 We are only at the beginning of the inflation problem 09:15 Dems can point to Trump breaking promise of lower costs & no wars 10:00 Dems don’t even have to make a “for” case, just an “against” case 11:00 Another variable is what the political maps look like by the midterms 12:15 The issue for the Dems is what the party stands for… what’s its identity? 13:00 Dems ‘28 hopefuls need to, and will jump in early 13:45 Dems failed redistricting in VA exposed a problem with the party 15:45 Dems talk like resistance but are viewed as institutionalists 16:30 GOP still behaves more like raw partisans 17:15 South Carolina would have risked disaster by carving up Clyburn’s seat 18:45 Backlash to SCOTUS gutting Voting Rights Act could juice Dem turnout 19:45 Why do both parties seem against reforming the system overall? 21:15 Politics has become completely nationalized and it’s a problem 21:45 Until the last decade, the Democrats were a reform focused party 23:00 The Trump era has pushed Dems into becoming defenders of institutions 23:45 Biden ran on preservation when trust in institutions had collapsed 25:15 The rise of independent voters shows protest for the two available parties 26:30 Rise of independents should worry Dems more than Republicans 27:45 Real reforms to the system would help rebuild trust with the public 29:30 Dems risk becoming custodians of a system people don’t trust 31:45 Dems took their eye off the ball, haven’t acted as reformers 35:30 The Musk/Altman trial has been revealing of the personalities building AI 36:00 OpenAI’s employees testified to Altman lying and chaos internally 37:15 So much tech ego on display at the trial 38:00 The public already feels burned by big tech 40:00 TWO ToddCast Top 5 lists today42:45 Winning Democratic presidential candidates are usually first time candidates46:45 Top 5 2028 Democratic candidates who have never run for president47:00 2026 results will dictate who will eventually have best prospects in 202850:00 #5 2026 TBD, could be Rob Sand, Mallory McMorrow…Colbert?50:30 #4 Josh Shapiro51:30 #3 Gavin Newsom52:45 #2 Wes Moore53:45 #1 AOC 55:45 Top 5 2028 Dem candidates who HAVE run for president56:00 #5 Amy Klobuchar57:00 #4 Cory Booker58:30 #3 Pete Buttigieg1:00:00 #2 Bernie Sanders1:01:00 #1 Kamala Harris1:02:30 Ask Chuck1:02:45 Modern equivalent of the “good government” groups of the 20th century?1:07:30 When should Dems make strategic adjustments vs compromising values?1:10:30 Is a socially conservative, fiscally liberal platform viable?1:13:00 Could co-op’s be a viable solution to modern economic challenges?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lincoln Project’s Rick Wilson joins us to discuss Trump’s golden calf. Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand joins us to talk about his run for governor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rob Sand (Democratic Nominee for The Governor of Iowa) talks with Brooks about growing in Iowa at the same time only about 30 miles apart. Rob talks about catching chickens when he was 14, working at the McDonalds in Decorah, IA, and becoming an overseas male model almost on accident. It's a great conversation. Rob rocks. You can look more into Rob and donate to his campaign here: https://robsand.com/ You can get Rob's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Winning-Ticket-Uncovering-Americas-Biggest/dp/1640123717 You can catch Brooks on tour here: brookswheelan.com/dates

We discuss the recent shooting outside of the White House Correspondents Dinner, why it shows a pattern of government incompetence, Afroman's recent interest in running for president, Rob Sand on "stealing your money", and more! ==== LINKS ===== Website: www.mcallisterhours.com Main Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheMcAllisterHours Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3kkuLRVsVJLi22RALUkNRh?si=6c663608a0744da1 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mcallister-hours-podcast/id1509329541 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themcallisterhours/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mcallisterhours?fan_landing=true Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcallisterhours/ Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-739237 Support the stream: https://streamlabs.com/themcallisterhours

In this episode of Barnyard Language, Caite and Arlene sit down with Rob Sand to talk about family, leadership, and what it really means to “grow” something meaningful.Rob shares about raising his two sons, building a strong marriage, and his work in public service. He also gives insight into his run for governor, including his goal of hosting town halls in every county to bring people together across political lines.The conversation touches on political reform, why he believes independent voters deserve a stronger voice, and what motivated him to run after changes limited the auditor's ability to investigate taxpayer spending.We're glad you're joining us for another episode of Barnyard Language. If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend (or two) and be sure to rate and review us wherever you're listening! If you want to help us keep buying coffee and paying our editor, you can make a monthly pledge on Patreon to help us stay on the air.You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as BarnyardLanguage, and if you'd like to connect with other farming families, you can join our private Barnyard Language Facebook group. We're always in search of future guests for the podcast. If you or someone you know would like to chat with us, get in touch.If you have a something you'd like to Cuss & Discuss, you can submit it here: speakpipe.com/barnyardlanguage or email us at barnyardlanguage@gmail.com.

So many things happening today, so many things to talk about!!! Do we finally have a plan for Property Taxes in Iowa? Will marijuana become legal if Rob Sand becomes Iowa's next Governor? Will Congress ever release the names and details of legislators under investigation by the Congressional Ethics Committee? All this and MORE....

Republicans bury themselves with the most disastrous vote of Trump's term. Brian interviews Raphael Warnock about Trump's attacks against the Pope, Elizabeth Warren about Senate Republicans blocking the War Powers Resolution, and Iowa gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand about the race being moved into toss-up territorySupport Rob Sand: www.robsand.comShop merch: https://briantylercohen.com/shopYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/briantylercohenTwitter: https://twitter.com/briantylercohenFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/briantylercohenInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/briantylercohenPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/briantylercohenNewsletter: https://www.briantylercohen.com/sign-upWritten by Brian Tyler CohenProduced by Sam GraberRecorded in Los Angeles, CASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We spent almost the entire episode reading Rob Sand's platform. Sorry! Call us at (319) 849-8733! Go here for full episode notes: https://www.patreon.com/posts/154797998 https://rockhardcauc.us

Democratic candidate for governor Rob Sand is proposing term and age limits, and cognitive tests for state officials. A bill to regulate prediction markets in the state is moving ahead. And a second top official at Iowa's public employees' retirement system has been put on leave while an investigation into possible misconduct is conducted.

This week, drama and policy drops in the gubernatorial campaign, Iowa U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in the Quad Cities, a Western Iowa tie to the Epstein files, and a terrific feature story on two Iowa women's very different ties to the Iran War. And if that all isn't enough, make sure you stick around until the end of the episode to hear about our next On Iowa Politics Podcast interview guest.On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day's deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy and produced by Gazette Social Video Producer Bailey Cichon. It features Lee Des Moines Bureau Chief Maya Marchel Hoff, Gazette Deputy Bureau Chief Tom Barton, Sarah Watson of the Quad City Times, Jared McNett of the Sioux City Journal and Gazette columnists Althea Cole and Todd Dorman.Read articles mentioned in this episode:2:37 Eddie Andrews calls on Adam Steen to drop campaign for Iowa governorhttps://www.thegazette.com/news/elections/state/eddie-andrews-calls-on-adam-steen-to-drop-campaign-for-iowa-governor/article_92586fcd-3a60-4341-b73b-a012fcfeb65c.html6:44 Iowa gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand floats age and term limits, changes to primarieshttps://qctimes.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/article_4f5f5c28-ccc0-40a8-b980-9980b769d00c.html14:24 Running against Sand is no day at the beach for GOPhttps://www.thegazette.com/opinion/columnists/running-against-sand-is-no-day-at-the-beach-for-gop/article_eb13b3b0-4566-4492-8546-0b9d21a47820.html21:18 Grassley, in Eldridge, says leaders should 'under-promise and over-deliver' on Iran warhttps://qctimes.com/news/local/government-politics/article_0249db78-5f97-42b2-a937-85c004a45738.html26:58 Epstein files reveal new details of Ted Waitt's past relationship with Ghislaine Maxwellhttps://siouxcityjournal.com/news/state-regional/article_f2c47a31-5b71-45dc-aa81-781096aad19a.html33:24 Two Iowa women highlight stakes in Iranhttps://www.thegazette.com/news/national/two-iowa-women-highlight-stakes-in-iran/article_02401d9a-97fb-41cc-8852-c6de9afca983.html38:17 Stay tuned for our next On Iowa Politics podcast interview episode featuring ...

The filing deadline for candidates running in races all across Iowa was last week. Unfortunately, drama unfolded in the race for Governor, specifically between 2 of the 5 Republican candidates. SIMON talks to one of them, ADAM STEEN, about the elephant in the room. Adam gives an update on what's happened since - including an EXCLUSIVE announcement - as well as what he's hearing from voters on the campaign trail, his focus on presumed Democratic candidate, Rob Sand and his commitment to debate in the future. AdamSteen.com

We have now surpassed 30 days since the start of OPERATION EPIC FURY. SIMON discusses today's press conference by General DAN 'RAISIN' CAINE and Secretary of War, PETE HEGSETH, who made a surprise visit to members of Special Forces in the Middle East over the weekend. Later, SIMON talks to gubernatorial candidate ADAM STEEN about last week's filing drama - including an EXCLUSIVE announcement - how the campaign is going, his focus on Rob Sand and a possible debate in the near future. AdamSteen.com

For the Good of the Public brings you news and weekly conversations at the intersection of faith and civic life. Monday through Thursday, The Morning Five starts your day off with scripture and prayer, as we also catch up on the news together. Throughout the year, we air limited series on Fridays to dive deeper into conversations with civic leaders, thinkers, and public servants reimagining public life for the good of the public. Today's host was Michael Wear, Founder, President and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life.  Thanks for listening to The Morning Five! Please subscribe to and rate The Morning Five on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about the work of the Center for Christianity and Public Life at www.ccpubliclife.org. Today's scripture: Psalm 56:1-11 (ESV) News sources:  https://apnews.com/article/robert-mueller-fbi-director-trump-russia-investigation-7aca939dc25d4652815376f73e0f9aaf  https://www.wsj.com/economy/truckers-are-the-first-victims-of-the-diesel-price-shock-52ff802d?mod=hp_lead_pos1  https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/03/21/iran-us-war-israel-nuclear-executions/ https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/21/iowa-democrats-rob-sand-midterms-hunting-00837624  Join the conversation and follow us at: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@michaelwear⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, @ccpubliclife Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@MichaelRWear⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, @ccpubliclife and check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@tsfnetwork⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by: King Sis #politics #faith #prayer #scripture #RobSand #Iowa #Iran #War #Gas #Prices #Truckers #RobertMueller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After the filing deadline, Auditor Rob Sand is the sole Democrat still in the race for governor. On this Politics Day, Caufield of Drake University and Jim McCormick of Iowa State analyze the gubernatorial race, rifts in the MAGA movement over the war in Iran and a legal challenge to Iowa's food stamp rules.

Iowa's 2026 governor's race is already drawing national attention — and this week it got expensive. Randy Feenstra launched a seven-figure statewide TV ad tying Rob Sand to the open borders left and positioning himself as the candidate who will "stand tall" on immigration. Chris Hagenow and ITR Foundation Policy Director John Hendrickson break down what the ad signals about the Republican primary, why immigration has become a centerpiece issue, and what it means for Sand as he tries to stake out a centrist lane in a state that keeps moving right.Rob Sand made waves this week with a social media reel blasting Iowa's budget continuation bill (SF 2461) — accusing Republicans of lacking accountability, calling out Education Savings Account vendor Odyssey, and strongly implying that if elected governor he should have the authority to force a government shutdown over budget disputes. Chris and John unpack the reel line by line: is Sand calling for shutdown power, or is this just a fundraising play? And what does his continued focus on ESA "accountability" tell us about his general election strategy — and its risks?Iowa just became the first state in the nation to receive a federal education waiver under the Trump administration's "Returning Education to the States" initiative — unlocking a $9.5 million block grant that gives Iowa parents and local schools dramatically more flexibility over how federal education dollars are spent. ITR Foundation's John Hendrickson, who wrote the definitive piece on this development, explains what the waiver actually does, why education belongs at the state level under the 10th Amendment, and why Iowa's track record on school choice — from ESAs to open enrollment to charter schools — makes it the ideal proving ground for this new model.ITR Tax Day Luncheon — April 1, 2026 at the Hilton Des Moines Downtown. Governor Kim Reynolds will be the featured speaker. Tickets and details at ITRFoundation.org. If you enjoy ITR Live, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the show — it helps us get the message out on the issues that matter most to Iowa taxpayers.0:00 - Welcome & Intro0:56 - Tax Day Luncheon Announcement (April 1 | Gov. Reynolds)1:41 - Trivia: The Only Man to Be Both Chief Justice and President5:27 - Feenstra Launches 7-Figure Ad in Iowa Governor's Race7:08 - Immigration as a Campaign Issue: Where Does Rob Sand Stand?12:12 - Rob Sand's Budget Reel: Shutdown Threat or Political Theater?15:11 - ESA Accountability Debate: Public Schools vs. Private Choice21:39 - Iowa Becomes First State to Win Federal Education Waiver28:26 - Why Education Belongs at the State Level (10th Amendment)31:38 - Outro & Where to Find ITR

SIMON talks to State Auditor ROB SAND who want to be Iowa's next Governor.

On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast that aims to recreate the kinds of conversations that happen when you get political reporters from across Iowa together after the day's deadlines have been met. Tackling anything from local to state to national, On Iowa Politics is your weekly dose of analysis and insight into the issues affecting Iowa.This week on the On Iowa Politics podcast, we dig deep into recently published state campaign fundraising reports, everybody's property tax flags have now been planted, and we hear from our columnists on the Cedar Rapids Schools budget situation.This episode was hosted by the Gazette Des Moines Bureau Chief Erin Murphy. It features Gazette Deputy Bureau Chief Tom Barton, Lee Des Moines Bureau Chief Maya Marchel Hoff, Sarah Watson of the Quad City Times, Jared McNett of the Sioux City Journal and Gazette columnists Althea Cole and Todd Dorman.Read the articles mentioned in this episode: Opinion: Past decisions play role in CR schools' current problems: https://www.thegazette.com/staff-columnists/past-decisions-play-role-in-cr-schools-current-problems/Opinion: Much is at stake in Cedar Rapids school closure debate: https://www.thegazette.com/staff-columnists/much-is-at-stake-in-school-closure-debate/Rob Sand raised $9.5M last year in his campaign for Iowa governor: https://www.thegazette.com/campaigns-elections/rob-sand-raised-9-5m-last-year-without-help-from-family-in-his-campaign-for-iowa-governor/Eminent domain restrictions on pipeline projects pass Iowa House: https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/eminent-domain-restrictions-on-pipeline-projects-pass-iowa-house/Iowa House Republicans add third property tax plan to GOP debate: https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/third-gop-property-tax-proposal-emerges-as-iowa-lawmakers-debate-how-to-cut-tax-bills/

In this episode of the Nine Finger Chronicles podcast, host Dan Johnson welcomes Rob Sand, a political candidate and avid hunter, for a unique conversation that blends hunting stories with insights into Iowa's political landscape. The discussion kicks off with a light-hearted banter about hunting gear, particularly the merits of 125 grain broadheads, before transitioning into deeper topics such as the challenges of hunting in urban areas and the importance of conservation efforts in Iowa. Rob shares his experiences with the urban hunting program, detailing the strategies he employs to secure hunting permissions and the thrill of hunting big bucks in suburban settings. As the conversation unfolds, Rob delves into the political aspects of conservation, discussing a significant initiative that aims to allocate tax dollars for public land and water quality improvements in Iowa. He emphasizes the need for bipartisan support and accountability in government, highlighting the disconnect between public opinion and political action. The episode wraps up with Rob's vision for a more inclusive and effective governance that prioritizes the needs of Iowans, particularly in relation to outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship. Takeaways: "I think we should have more choices." "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." "We want better recreation, outdoor recreation opportunities." "It's about bringing people together." "The only thing we really have to look at is beach safety." "I want to take my kids camping, but I need to know the water is safe." "We should be making real efforts to improve water quality." "If you knock on doors, some people say no, but others say yes." "I had never put that much work into one deer before." "I think that's a big explainer for where we are right now." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Nine Finger Chronicles podcast, host Dan Johnson welcomes Rob Sand, a political candidate and avid hunter, for a unique conversation that blends hunting stories with insights into Iowa's political landscape. The discussion kicks off with a light-hearted banter about hunting gear, particularly the merits of 125 grain broadheads, before transitioning into deeper topics such as the challenges of hunting in urban areas and the importance of conservation efforts in Iowa. Rob shares his experiences with the urban hunting program, detailing the strategies he employs to secure hunting permissions and the thrill of hunting big bucks in suburban settings. As the conversation unfolds, Rob delves into the political aspects of conservation, discussing a significant initiative that aims to allocate tax dollars for public land and water quality improvements in Iowa. He emphasizes the need for bipartisan support and accountability in government, highlighting the disconnect between public opinion and political action. The episode wraps up with Rob's vision for a more inclusive and effective governance that prioritizes the needs of Iowans, particularly in relation to outdoor recreation and environmental stewardship. Takeaways: "I think we should have more choices." "Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." "We want better recreation, outdoor recreation opportunities." "It's about bringing people together." "The only thing we really have to look at is beach safety." "I want to take my kids camping, but I need to know the water is safe." "We should be making real efforts to improve water quality." "If you knock on doors, some people say no, but others say yes." "I had never put that much work into one deer before." "I think that's a big explainer for where we are right now." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iowa's attorney general says Roblox is harming children and is suing the gaming company. Republican leaders in the Iowa legislature talk about eminent domain. And Democratic candidate for governor Rob Sand is using his Christian faith to connect with voters.

The House and Senate Armed Services Committees launch an investigation into Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth after a report that he ordered a second strike on a boat in the Caribbean while survivors were clinging to the wreckage. Was his order a war crime? Jon, Lovett, and Tommy discuss and then jump into the rest of the news, including the White House's reaction to the shooting of two National Guard members in D.C., Trump's pardon of a former Hondoran president convicted of helping drug traffickers bring hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States, and a special election in Tennessee where the Democrat has a fighting chance to flip a Trump +22 district. Then, Rob Sand, Democratic candidate for governor of Iowa, joins to talk about his race—and how Iowa farmers are reacting to the Trump trade war. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Joe's Premium Subscription: www.standardgrain.comGrain Markets and Other Stuff Links-Apple PodcastsSpotifyTikTokYouTubeFutures and options trading involves risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.

Democrats land bombshell good news in court in California. Brian interviews Tommy Vietor about RFK's disastrous Senate hearing, and Graham Platner, Abdul El Sayed and Rob Sand about their runs in Maine, Michigan, and Iowa.Support Graham Platner: https://act.link/gi-pl3btcSupport Abdul el Sayed: https://abdulforsenate.com/Support Rob Sand: https://robsand.com/Shop merch: https://briantylercohen.com/shopYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/briantylercohenTwitter: https://twitter.com/briantylercohenFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/briantylercohenInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/briantylercohenPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/briantylercohenNewsletter: https://www.briantylercohen.com/sign-upWritten by Brian Tyler CohenProduced by Sam GraberRecorded in Los Angeles, CASee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

James and Al dissect the lawlessness of the Trump administration and welcome former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.  They discuss the role that government plays in law enforcement, explain the differences between Republicans and Democrats, lay out where he disagrees, and explain his approach to politics and governance.  Then, they are joined by IA gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand to explain the exciting surge in how Democrats are polling, how he plans on revitalizing the party's appeal in the mid-west, and the importance of responsiveness and transparency in politics. Email your questions to James and Al at politicswarroom@gmail.com or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you're from! Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube @PoliticsWarRoomOfficial  More from James and Al: Get text updates from Politics War Room and Politicon. Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube @PoliticsWarRoomOfficial James Carville & Al Hunt have launched the Politics War Room Substack Get updates and some great behind-the-scenes content from the documentary CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID by following James on X @jamescarville and his new TikTok @realjamescarville Check Out Andrew Zucker's New Politicon Podcast: The Golden Age Check Out Kimberly Atkins Stohr's New Politicon Podcast: Justice By Design Get More From This Week's Guests:  Rahm Emanuel: Twitter | FaceBook | BlueSky | Mayor Rahm Archive Rob Sand: Twitter | Campaign Website | Auditor.Iowa.gov | FaceBook