RealClearPolitics Podcast

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.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss President Donald Trump’s social media post pardoning ex-Colorado election office Tina Peters, who was convicted on state charges of election interference and sentenced to a nine-year prison term. Trump’s pardon raises questions of the limits on presidential pardons, which are largely understood to apply only to federal crimes, not to convictions by individual states, as is in the Peters case. Also, the Indiana Senate yesterday rejected a Trump-backed redistricting map, and other states are seeming to back off from efforts to gerrymander districts for partisan gain before the 2026 midterms. Then, they discuss new videos, photos and files obtained by CBS News showing what alleged Minnesota Somali scammers did with the proceeds of COVID related fraud against the federal government. Also, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was grilled yesterday during a House hearing, in which Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Mississippi) referred to the ambush of two National Guardsman in Washington, DC as an "unfortunate accident". Then, they talk about Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s announcement that the city would proceed with a corporate head tax on employees working within the city, despite objections from fellow Democrats. And finally, the guys share 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, and Carl Cannon discuss the interception of an oil tanker by the U.S. Navy yesterday off the coast of Venezuela, today’s Senate vote on healthcare subsidies, and where Congress will go next on funding Obamacare. Then, Jonathan Butcher, author of the new book The Polarization Myth, joins the guys to discuss research Butcher says reveals that Americans are less divided on certain key social issues than is portrayed by the media. And then, they talk about today’s introduction of the “Trump Gold Card,” a new U.S. visa that foreigners can purchase for $1 million and is predicted to raise billions for the U.S. treasury. Also, controversy surrounds the new Barrack Obama Presidential Library, scheduled to open in six months in Chicago on land that was formerly part of the historic Jackson Park. 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 a new article in the Atlantic magazine commenting on President Donald Trump’s age and acuity, and a New York Times profile of Kamala Harris that speculates on her political future. Then, they talk about President Donald Trump’s 97-minute-long speech in Pennsylvania yesterday addressing “affordability,” and Elon Musk’s remarks on the Katie Miller podcast yesterday about whether he considered DOGE a success, and whether he would do it again. And lastly, they discuss the results of yesterday’s mayoral run-off election in Miami, where a Democrat won for the first time in more than 30 years. Also, Charlie Kirk’s new book, released yesterday, is already a huge hit, and the Indianapolis Colts have brought back 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to start in their face-off this weekend against the Seattle Seahawks. 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 President Donald Trump’s trip to Pennsylvania today to address “affordability,” and his announcement yesterday of $12 billion in aid to U.S. farmers. Then, RCP Senior Elections Analyst Sean Trende joins the guys to discuss the state of the redistricting battles in states across the country, yesterday’s Supreme Court arguments on executive power, and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) who announced last night that she will run for Senate in Texas. Then finally, they discuss Australia’s decision to ban social media for children under the age of 16, and Democratic presidential hopeful Rahm Emanuel’s advocacy of similar measures in the United States. 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 Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s address to the Reagan Defense Forum on Saturday where he called President Donald Trump the “true heir” to Reagan and attacked “neo-Reaganites” who in his words, “sought global military hegemony under the auspices of peace through strength.” Also, Marjorie Taylor Greene appeared on 60 Minutes to discuss: why she split with President Trump, and the threats to her and her family after Trump labelled her a “traitor". Then, they discuss a lengthy New York Times critique of immigration policy under President Joe Biden, and what its publication may say about the Democratic Party's policy on immigration going forward. Also, they chat about a new piece in The Epoch Times which describes how an immigrant family's daughter’s college education affected her assimilation experience. And they discuss this morning’s announcement by Former House Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX) that he is dropping out of the Texas Senate race, and what that may mean for Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) who has scheduled a press appearance this afternoon to discuss her political future. Plus, after granting a presidential pardon to Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), President Trump criticizes the congressman for deciding to run again for his office as a Democrat. 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 today’s FIFA event at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, where President Donald Trump received the first ever FIFA Peace Prize. Also, Trump has renamed the U.S. Peace Institute after himself, and used it as the venue for yesterday’s signing of a peace accord between The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. Then, RCP White House correspondent Phil Wegmann joins Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon to discuss the arrest of the alleged Jan. 6, 2021 pipe-bombing suspect, and what the arrest means for FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino. Also a look at new economic numbers on inflation released this morning, and their implications for next week’s Federal Reserve vote on interest rates, scheduled for December 10th. Then finally, they discuss yesterday’s Supreme Court’s decision on redistricting in Texas. The Court blocked a lower court decision that found the new boundaries were likely unconstitutional because they were drawn based on race, allowing Texas to adopt the congressional map designed by the GOP in the upcoming 2026 midterms. Also, "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, and Carl Cannon discuss the announcement that only one house has been rebuilt since wildfires devastated the Pacific Palisades in Southern California, as Los Angeles city officials continue to block reconstruction efforts. Also, which party will pay the political price if there is no compromise on continuing Obamacare subsidies before the end of the year? Then, Reagan Institute Policy Director Rachel Hoff joins Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon to discuss a new poll from the Institute on American attitudes toward foreign policy issues, including support for NATO and Ukraine and views on the role of artificial intelligence in the U.S. military. And then, Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss Turning Point USA’s public reaction to Candace Owens, who has spread conspiracy theories about the assassination of Charlie Cook, and Charlie Kirk Show producer Blake Neff’s invitation to Owens to appear on a special program dedicated to answering her accusations. Also, a new poll from the Media Research Center shows that only 24 percent of respondents correctly described Kirk’s alleged assassin as holding left-wing views.. 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 takeaways from yesterday’s special election in Tennessee’s seventh congressional district, where Republican Matt Van Epps beat Democrat Aftyn Behn by nine points. Also, President Donald Trump calls affordability a Democratic hoax during yesterday’s televised cabinet meeting. Then, OutKick columnist Mary Katherine Hamm joins the guys 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. Also, a 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.