343: Happy New Year 2026 From The Gang

James and Al kick off the year by welcoming entertainment maven George Stevens Jr., financial wizard Roger Altman, and esteemed journalist Jill Abramson to reflect on the 1st year of Trump’s 2nd term and game out the year ahead.  They share their thoughts on the transformative impact of A.I., Trump’s declining popularity, the evolution of the entertainment industry in the streaming era, the power of the free press to hold the powerful accountable, the state of the economy, and what to expect in 2026, before taking your questions. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from! 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 Get More From This Week’s Guests:  Professor Jill Abramson: Twitter | NYT | Northeastern University | Author   Roger Altman: Evercore | The Hamilton Project  George Stevens Jr.: Oscars.org | IMDB | George Stevens Academy  Please Support Our Recent Sponsors In Our Past Episode Show Notes

James and Al hype the growing exodus from Trump, tear into the DOJ’s handling of the Epstein files, and lament the decline of journalism as represented by Bari Weiss at CBS.  Then, they welcome their wives, PBS superstar Judy Woodruff and famed political consultant Mary Matalin, to discuss the upcoming 250th anniversary of the USA, the need to live up to our founding principles, and the mood of people across the country.  Together, they answer your questions, celebrate the importance of family, and wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from! 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 Get More From This Week’s Guests:  Mary Matalin: Website | Author   Judy Woodruff: Twitter | | America At A Crossroads | PBS | Instagram Please Support Our Recent Sponsors In Our Past Episode Show Notes

James and Al discuss Susie Wiles’ exposé of Trump’s administration in Vanity Fair, share their takes on her description of the people in it, MAGA’s growing schism, Rob Reiner’s legacy, and Trump’s reaction to his murder.  Then, they welcome Dr. James Densley of the Violence Prevention Project in the aftermath of mass shootings at Brown University and Bondi Beach to explain the growing gun violence epidemic, what motivates the people who carry out these heinous acts, the danger of rising anti-semitism, and the policies and leadership we need to put a stop to the killing. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from! 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 Get More From This Week’s Guest:  Dr. James Densley: Website | Metro State University | Hamline University | The Violence Prevention Project | Author Please Support Our Sponsors: Webroot: Protect yourself and your family from cybercrime this holiday season with 60% off Webroot Total Protection at webroot.com/WARROOM Quince: Upgrade your holiday fashion and get 365-day returns and free shipping on high-quality, stylish, and affordable clothing you’ll wear for years to come when you go to quince.com/warroom

James and Al celebrate the generational win in the Miami mayoral race, explain Trump’s rapid decline in popularity, and sound the alarm over corporate and foreign influence in entertainment and the broader economy.  Then they welcome polling legend John Della Volpe to discuss his findings from the Harvard Youth Poll, which shows that young people are increasingly disillusioned with politics, losing faith in capitalism, and fear for their futures in the age of AI.  Critically, they emphasize the need to re-engage these voters, give them hope, and get them to the polls. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from! 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 Get More From This Week’s Guest:  John Della Volpe: Twitter | Harvard Institute of Politics | Website | Social Sphere | Substack | Author of “Fight” Please Support Our Sponsors: Miracle Made: Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to TryMiracle.com/warroom and use the code WARROOM to claim your FREE 3-PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF. Superpower: This holiday, give your loved ones the only gift that keeps on giving — health. Go to Superpower.com/gift to get a free $49 gift box with your gifted membership. Zbiotics: Go to https://zbiotics.com/PWR and use PWR at checkout for 15% off any first-time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. Webroot: Protect yourself and your family from cybercrime this holiday season with 75% off Webroot Total Protection at webroot.com/WARROOM

James Carville & Al Hunt Are joined this week by Congressman Jason Crow and discuss military leadership of Pete Hegseth, accountability, and the current state of morale within the armed forces. He emphasizes the importance of candidate quality in political recruitment and critiques the current administration's approach to international relations and corruption. Crow's insights reflect his experiences as a veteran and a member of Congress, highlighting the challenges faced by the military and the political landscape. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from!  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 Please Support Our Sponsors: MIRACLE MADE: TryMiracle.com/WARROOM - TRY MIRACLE MADE SHEETS TODAY. YOU’LL  SAVE OVER 40%, AND WHEN YOU USE PROMO CODE WARROOM, YOU’LL GET AN EXTRA 20% OFF PLUS A FREE 3-PIECE TOWEL SET NAKED WINES: NAKEDWINES.COM/WARROOM - CLICK ‘ENTER VOUCHER’ AND PUT IN MY CODE WARROOM FOR BOTH THE CODE AND PASSWORD FOR $100 OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER.  WEBROOT: WEBROOT.COM/WARROOM  FOR 75% OFF FOR A LIMITED TIME Green Chef GREENCHEF.COM/50WARROOM  - USE CODE 50WARROOM TO GET 50% OFF YOUR FIRST MONTH, THEN 20% OFF FOR TWO MONTHS WITH FREE SHIPPING

Al Hunt and James Carville discuss the incompetence of the Trump administration. They are joined by Tom Edsall to talk about the rise of Christian nationalism and far right extremists in the Republican Party, including the role of anti-Semitism in current political discourse.    James & Al then answer listener questions like exploring the impact of economic policies on voters, the dynamics within the Republican Party, and the importance of anger in mobilizing political action among Democrats.   Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from! More from James and Al Get text updates from Politics War Room and Politicon. Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube. 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 @jamescarvilleand his new TikTok @realjamescarville

James and Al welcome Clinton consigliere Sidney Blumenthal to discuss the Epstein file release, what we might find, and how it will influence the future of our politics and upcoming elections.  They also look at the current state of Trump’s influence on the Republican Party, whether there will be a rebellion, and if he can hold his coalition together.  Then, they review his recent hosting of MBS and what his administration plans when it comes to foreign relations. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from! 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 Get More From This Week’s Guest:  Sidney Blumenthal: Just Security | Wilson Center | The Guardian | Court Of History | Author Please Support Our Sponsor: Quince: Upgrade your holiday fashion and get 365-day returns and free shipping on high-quality, stylish, and affordable clothing you’ll wear for years to come when you go to quince.com/warroom

James and Al celebrate the reopening of the government and applaud those willing to cross the line, while still criticizing the administration's failure to achieve a better outcome for the American people.  Then, Politics War Room welcomes Brigadier General Ty Seidule (Ret.) to discuss our military heroes, the renaming of our bases to reflect those loyal to our country rather than those who fought under the Confederacy, and how we can live up to our national values after the Trump era comes to an end.  They also skewer the tenure of Pete Hegseth, honor our veterans, and remember those who lost their lives in the course of their service. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from! 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 Get More From This Week’s Guest:  Brigadier General Ty Seidule (Ret.): Twitter | West Point | Website | Hamilton College | New America | Author Please Support Our Sponsors: Zbiotics: Go to https://zbiotics.com/PWR and use PWR at checkout for 15% off any first-time orders of ZBiotics probiotics. Miracle Made: Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to TryMiracle.com/warroom and use the code WARROOM to claim your FREE 3-PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF.

After a big win, James and Al explain why the Democrats outperformed in the off-season elections, focusing on the declining affordability of life under Trump, his anti-democratic actions, and the desire for change in the electorate.  Then, they look at the implications for the upcoming national elections, the growing headwinds to MAGA and Republican rule, and the potential to increase the share of the Hispanic vote.  They also examine the impact of statewide court decisions, the effects of redistricting following California’s Proposition 50, and the state of international relations, with a focus on Israel. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from! 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 Get More From This Week’s Guest:  Jim Gerstein: GBAO Strategies  Please Support Our Sponsors: Naked Wines: To get 6 bottles of wine for $39.99, head to nakedwines.com/warroom and use code WARROOM for both the code and password.  Green Chef: Get 50% off your 1st month, then 20% off for 2 months with free shipping when you use code 50WARROOM at greenchef.com/50warroom

James and Al break down the imminent elections in NJ, VA, the state Supreme Courts, and on Prop 50 in CA, with a deep dive into the effects of gerrymandering and what it means for the parties.  Then, they welcome economics wizard Yves Instel to discuss the theft from the Louvre, hear the story of his flight from Paris to the USA during WW2, and reflect on art and culture.  They are also joined by WaPo’s Max Boot to understand the Trump administration’s warmongering with Venezuela, the evolution of the drug war, whether Maduro is genuinely a threat to our country, and conservatism’s evolution. Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] 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 Get More From This Week’s Guests:  Max Boot: Twitter | Threads | Website | WaPo | CFR | Author  Yves Istel: French American Foundation | European Institute