RealClearPolitics Podcast

Andrew Walworth, Carl Cannon and RCP White House correspondent Phil Wegmann discuss President Trump’s options to respond to unrest in Iran and the latest on ICE, including the shooting in Portland, Oregon yesterday that left two persons wounded. Then, Senior Elections Analyst Sean Trende joins the guys to discuss Trump’s tariff policies in light of today’s Supreme Court decision not to address their legality. Also, an update on the battle over congressional redistricting and its possible effect on the midterm elections. Next, they discuss California Governor Gavin Newsom’s final “state of the state” address. And finally, the guys give up their “You Cannot Be Serious” stories for the week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Carl Cannon and RCP contributor Richard Porter discuss political reaction to the shooting of a driver by ICE agents in Minneapolis yesterday and the conflicting narratives that emerged immediately following the event. Also, U.S. Navy ships seize two more oil tankers linked to Venezuela. Then, they talk about President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will take steps to keep large institutional investors from buying single-family homes, claiming this will help make housing more affordable. The White House also floated the idea of allowing Americans to use their retirement and education funds to buy homes. And, they discuss the Department of Agriculture’s revised dietary guidelines which change the government’s “food pyramid” to emphasize protein and reduce the consumption of processed foods. Plus, they chat about the White House presenting its most recent plans for the East Wing renovation project today at a public meeting of the National Capital Planning Commission. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss the “Marco Moment,” as the internet is flooded with memes featuring Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose profile has been raised by U.S. actions in Venezuela and renewed talk of a U.S takeover of Greenland. The they discuss President Trump‘s contention that he will be impeached if the Democrats win the House in this year’s midterms. Also, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a retired navy captain and astronaut, faces off with Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth. Then the team discusses the one-year anniversary of the California wildfires and the political implications of the reconstruction effort for California Governor Gavin Newsom as he seeks the Democratic presidential nomination.  Also, President Trump cuts off $10 billion in childcare and other programs to five states controlled by Democrats, sparking a reaction from Democratic governors.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Carl Cannon and RCP White House correspondent Phil Wegmann discuss the fifth anniversary of January 6th, and President Trump’s meeting today with House Republicans to discuss the 2026 congressional agenda. Then, Alexander B. Gray, CEO of American Global Strategies and deputy assistant for the national security council in the first Trump administration, joins them to discuss Venezuela opposition leader Maria Machado and the political future of Venezuela and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller’s statement yesterday that Greenland should “be part of” the United States. Finally, the team discusses yesterday’s announcement that the the board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CBP) has voted to shutter the organization, after Congress cut its federal funding.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, Carl Cannon and RCP White House correspondent Phil Wegmann discuss what comes next in Venezuela, Cuba and other Latin American countries after this weekend’s raid by U.S. forces that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro. Maduro and his wife are in New York City today where they pleaded “not guilty” to federal drug trafficking charges. Then, they discuss New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s New Year’s Day inaugural address where he promised to “replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.” Also, today’s revelation of earlier statements made by a key Mamdani housing advisor, Cea Weaver, who has been named to head the “Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants.” And then, they talk about today’s announcement by Democratic Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz that he will not seek a third term this November, and whether Senator Amy Klobachar (D-MN) will run for governor of the state. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special year end wrap up, Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss the most important political stories of 2025, and their choices for political winners and losers of the year. Next, they discuss the year’s most important stories and trends in foreign policy and economics. And finally, they talk about the most significant stories and personalities in sports and culture for 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss Sunday's meeting in Florida between President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, and today’s meeting between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Then, they discuss a report that has gone viral by Youtuber Nick Shirley on government corruption and empty childcare centers in Minnesota run by Somali immigrants, and why the mainstream media has missed the story. And, they talk about FBI Director Kash Patel’s announcement that the FBI will move out of the J. Edgar Hoover Building and relocate to offices once occupied by the Agency for International Development. Plus, in his 1st Christmas Day address, Pope Leo XIV discussed Gaza, immigration and the need for peace talks to end conflicts around the world. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special “Best of 2025” edition of RCP, Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss Chicago politics with Austin Berg, Director of the Chicago Policy Center. (ORIGINAL AIRDATE: NOV 18, 2025.) Then, Mary Katherine Hamm of Outkick joins Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon to discuss the political future of Minnesota governor Tim Walz in the wake of a New York Times report that more than one billion dollars of taxpayer money has been stolen in Minnesota, in three separate plots that are currently under investigation by federal authorities. (ORIGINAL AIRDATE: DEC 3, 2025) And then, Mary Katherine Hamm of Outkick joins Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon to look at the 2028 Republican presidential field, and new polls that show Donald Trump Jr. in second place for the GOP nomination. After that they discuss "Notes on Being a Man", a new book from podcaster Scott Galloway about the state of masculinity in America. And finally, they look at football coach Lane Kiffin’s controversial move from the University of Mississippi to Louisiana State University. (ORIGINAL AIRDATE: DEC 3, 2025) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss new GDP numbers that show the economy grew at 4.3 percent in the third quarter of 2025, exceeding expectations. Also, President Donald Trump announced plans yesterday to build a new class of battleship as part of what he calls “The Golden Fleet.” And Hunter Biden reemerged yesterday, criticizing his father’s administration in a five-and-a-half hour long podcast where he revealed he is $15M in debt and claims there is “no generational wealth” in the Biden family. Then, James S.Robbins, Dean of Academics at the Institute of World Politics in Washington DC, joins the guys to discuss U.S. policy toward Venezuela, the naming of a new special envoy to Greenland, and the State Department’s decision to reassign 30 ambassadors in order to align foreign policy with the President’s directions. And they discuss CBS Editor in Chief Bari Weiss and her decision to pull a 60 Minutes report on the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants to a prison in El Salvador, saying it lacked context. Despite her last minute action, the story aired in Canada and is now available online. Also, today is Festivus, and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has released his annual list of grievances concerning government waste in 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and RCP White House Correspondent Phil Wegmann discuss Turning Point USA’s America Fest which wrapped up on Sunday, Vice President JD Vance’s comments this morning regarding Nick Fuentes, and whether Vance can hold together the Republican coalition. Also singer/songwriter Nicki Manaj addressed the Turning Point USA audience on the importance of free speech, while Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) told ABC News on Sunday that he does not believe Vance stands for the traditional Republican values of free trade, lower taxes and limited government. Next, they discuss Larry Kudlow’s remarks that the US economy could experience five percent growth rate in 2026, and whether such an improvement in the country’s economic fortunes could help the GOP retain control of the House in the midterms. And, they discuss the political fortunes of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who announced her withdrawal from the New York governors race after President Trump did not endorse her. Also, CBS Editor in Chief Bari Weiss this weekend pulled a segment from 60 Minutes at the last minute, saying it lacked context. The reporter on the story, Sharyn Alfonsi has protested – saying that the segment was screened five times internally. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.