2025 Year End Wrap Up

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.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss the decision by the Democratic National Committee to not release the long-awaited autopsy report on the 2024 election, and Judge Hanna C. Dugan of Wisconsin is convicted of obstructing federal immigration agents and helping a Mexican immigrant avoid capture outside her courtroom. Then, Presidential historian Tevi Troy joins the guys to remember the life and contribution of writer and editor Norman Podhoretz, the influential neoconservative who died this week at the age of 95. Then, they look at a new survey by the Manhattan Institute which looks at the change and continuity of attitudes within the Republican Party. Next, they discuss President Donald Trump’s announcement of plans to celebrate “Freedom 250” next year, including a state fair on the national mall, a UFC match on the grounds of the White House, and “The Patriot Games,” a sporting event which features the best two high school athletes from all 50 states and US territories. Then 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, Tom Bevan, Carl Cannon and RCP White House correspondent Phil Wegmann discuss last night’s address to the nation by President Donald Trump and the promise of a “warriors’ dividend” of $1,776 to most American service members. Also, insight into White House reaction to this week’s Vanity Fair article and photos of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and other senior administration officials. Then, they discuss the addition of descriptive plaques to the presidential portraits on the “Presidential Walk of Fame” that President Trump installed in September. Also, a new poll claims that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) would best Vice President JD Vance in a head-to-head contest for the presidency. Then lastly, they talk about a new article in the online publication The Compact by Jacob Savage about what he calls “The Lost Generation” of white male millennials whose professional careers were set back by DEI in the early 2000s. 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 preview tonight’s address to the nation by President Donald Trump and discuss the politics surrounding the fact that Congress will likely end the year without extending subsidies to the ACA. Then, Democratic strategist Maria Cardona joins the guys to discuss the state of the Democratic Party, strategies to win Congress in 2026, and the presidency in 2028. And finally, they discuss President Trump’s $10 billion libel suit against the BBC and Mediaite’s list of the most influential people in the news media in 2025, which includes Megyn Kelly who they ranked as number three. 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 White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles interview with Vanity Fair published today, where she said the President has an “alcoholic personality” and spoke critically of some top Trump Administration figures. They also talk about a Washington Post article based on Rasmusen pollster Mark Mitchell’s meeting with President Donald Trump which outlines the stressed relationship between President Trump and his MAGA base. Next, lawyer and frequent RCP contributor Richard Porter joins the guys to discuss Mayor Brandon Johnson’s leadership in Chicago and Illinois governor JB Pritzker’s chances to win the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination. Then, they discuss Vice President JD Vance’s visit today to Pennsylvania, where he addressed affordability. And finally, they talk about the conviction by Chinese authorities of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai for sedition, and whether the US and Britain can take steps to free him. 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 three violent incidents from the weekend: the antisemitic massacre at Bondi Beach in Australia that left 15 dead and 40 wounded, the shooting at Brown University where the assailant is still at large, and the attack on U.S. troops in Syria that left two US soldiers and an interpreter dead. Then, they discuss CBS News Editor Bari Weiss’ town hall event with Erika Kirk and the announcement that Kirk plans to meet privately with Candace Owens. Next, they talk about the fight over control of Warner Bros/Disney between Netflix and Paramount, and what it may mean for the future of CNN. Then finally, they discuss the release by House Democrats of new photos and images from the estate of Jeffrey Epstein, including pictures of Donald Trump. And tragically, director and political activist Rob Reiner and his wife were murdered this weekend, Reiner’s son is in custody, and President Donald Trump reacted with a social media post. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.