Sarah, David, Steve and Jonah are back for an action-packed show today including the primary elections, Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, and the demise of al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri on Sunday. Will tensions over abortion issues cause bigger voter turnouts in the future? Plus: The Senate overwhelmingly voted to approve Sweden and Finland for acceptance into NATO on Wednesday with a lone dissent from Sen. Josh Hawley. Show Notes:-The Sweep: What We Learned-TMD: Another Blockbuster Primaries Tuesday-The Current: Killing Zawahiri: How the CIA Hunts Monsters-TMD: Tensions Flare in the Taiwan Strait

Fallout of Kansas Rejecting Abortion Amendment

David Axelrod, chief strategist for former President Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns and host of The Axe Files and co-host of Hacks on Tap podcasts, joins Steve to tackle the complex questions about the midterm primary elections this week. What’s up with the Democrat Party’s tactic of funding extremist Republican candidates? And what is the outlook for the upcoming general elections? Plus: Axelrod gives listeners the big picture of what’s happening in Kansas as well as what the abortion rights issue means to both sides of the political aisle. Show Notes:-The Axe Files with David Axelrod-TMD: Another Blockbuster Primaries Tuesday-The Dispatch: Peter Meijer Falls to Trump-Endorsed John Gibbs in Michigan-The Dispatch: Eric Schmitt Wins the Missouri GOP Senate Primary-The Sweep: What We Learned

David Axelrod Previews the Midterms, 2024

Sarah, Steve, Jonah, and David are back to discuss big pieces of legislation coming down the pipeline. Will the Inflation Reduction Act find footing in the House? The White House’s stretched definition of a recession is digging the administration into a deeper hole of messaging problems. Plus, Is President Biden gunning for another term in 2024, and are ordinary Democrats distancing themselves from his leadership? Show Notes:-The Dispatch: Who Decides What a Recession Is?-G-File: Merrick Garland’s Playing It Right-The Current: The CHIPS Act: Far From Perfect, but Still Very Good-The Dispatch: Dem Campaign Chiefs Tell Different Stories on GOP Primary Meddling

Economy Contracts, Manchin Makes a Deal

Mo Elleithee, founding executive director of Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service, joins Sarah to talk about the complexities of politics. Results from a new Battleground Poll are in, and it’s clear that most Americans believe that the state of our politics is “really bad.” What happened and what can we do to fix it? Also on the agenda: Alaska’s interesting nonpartisan primary system, and the Democratic National Committee’s recent decision to make states bid for early waivers. Show Notes:-Georgetown Institute of Politics & Public Service Battleground Civility Poll

Mo Elleithee Talks New Battleground Poll

Sarah and David are joined by The Morning Dispatch editors Declan Garvey and Esther Eaton to discuss the vivid testimonies during Thursday night’s January 6 committee hearing. Also on the agenda: In the wake of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Republicans are wary of giving Democrats a win with a contraception bill currently on the Senate floor, and a same-sex marriage bill faces an unclear way forward after Tuesday’s House vote. Show Notes:-TMD: The January 6 Committee Presses the Secret Service-TMD: Donald Trump’s Inaction on January 6-The Dispatch: A Timeline of What Trump Did—and Didn’t Do—on January 6

January 6 Panel Details Trump's Inaction

Images from the James Webb Space Telescope have taken the internet by storm, and Declan is here with two guests who worked on it for a fascinating conversation about its long journey into reality. Dr. John Mather, a Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the senior project scientist for the JWST, and Dr. Scott Acton, a physicist at Ball Aerospace and JWST’s Wavefront Sensing and Controls scientist, relay their exploits in achieving the most incredible and ambitious space images ever taken of thousands of galaxies, black holes, and dust clouds. And we have to ask: Are we alone in the universe, really? Show Notes:-First Images from the James Webb Space Telescope-Dr. John Mather-TMD: This Is Something That’s Going to ‘Change Our Understanding of the Universe’

James Webb Takes Us Back in Time

Sarah, David, and Jonah reflect on the problem of inflation, which surged to 9.1 percent this week and look ahead to the presidential race in 2024. Will there be a showdown between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump to win the Republican nomination? Our hosts wrap up with a discussion of shifting coalitions within the political parties. Show Notes:-TMD: June’s Very Bad, No Good Inflation Report-New York Times: Most Democrats Don’t Want Biden in 2024, New Poll Shows-Axios: The great realignment-The Dispatch: How Joe Biden Set Himself Up for Failure-Pew Research Center: Religiously, nonwhite Democrats are more similar to Republicans than to white Democrats-First Images from the James Webb Space Telescope

Inflation Surges to 40-Year High

Robert O’Brien, former U.S. ambassador and national security advisor to President Donald Trump, joins Klon Kitchen for a discussion of international politics from a bird’s-eye view. They discuss his time working for the former president, and the job of national security advisor. Plus: How can the United States protect itself from Chinese economic espionage? China’s threat to Taiwan? And what is the future of the war in Ukraine? Show Notes:-Uphill: The Showdown Over the China Competition Bill-The Current: Ban TikTok Now-The Current: Getting Smart on Intelligence

Robert O'Brien Talks Global Threats

Sarah, Steve, Jonah, and David discuss two major events from the last week, including the chaos across the pond with the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s resignation on Thursday morning. Near Chicago, at least seven are dead and dozens injured after the July Fourth shooting at Highland Park, prompting questions about whether red flag laws really work. An update on Ukraine is also in order, as well as 2022 midterm implications for the House of Representatives and the Senate. Show Notes:-TMD: Boris Johnson to Resign-Stirewaltisms: Boris Johnson and the Survival of the Silliest-TMD: Tragedy in Highland Park-Harvard Center for American Political Studies/Harris poll on Roe v. Wade

The Tragedy in Highland Park

Tim Miller, writer-at-large at The Bulwark, joins Steve to talk about his new book: Why We Did It: A Travelogue from the Republican Road to Hell. Miller gives listeners a breakdown of the Washington, D.C. political culture and how it’s not what you might think. Plus: the book sparks a lively debate about the divides within the Republican Party, and whether there’s a way forward in the midst of the murk. Is there a place for center-right journalism to thrive? Show Notes:-Why We Did It: A Travelogue from the Republican Road to Hell

Goodbye Red Brick Road

Jonah and Chris Stirewalt join Sarah to talk about the political aftermath of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization as states begin to grapple legislatively with the post-Roe era. Will we reach a consensus on what life means in the womb? Our hosts also discuss the nature of Cassidy Hutchinson’s testimony during the surprise January 6 select committee hearing and the risks with the Democrats’ 2022 election strategy. Show Notes:-TMD: Surprise Witness Blows January 6 Investigation Right Open-The Dispatch: Donald Trump’s Fractured Inner Circle-The G-File: Democrats Have a Funny Way of Expressing Concern About ‘Our Democracy’

Grappling with a Post-Roe America

This is the audio version of the story documenting the creation and passage of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. The story is based on more than 21 hours of interviews with more than two dozen people involved, including lawmakers, staff, and human rights advocates. Show Notes:-PDF: How the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Became Law-Introduction and Part 1-Parts 2 and 3-Parts 4 and 5-Parts 6 and 7-Parts 8 and 9

How the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Became Law

Sarah, Steve, and Jonah dive into a delightful political potpourri, tackling everything from the Biden administration’s possible gas tax holiday to immigration and the Georgia congressional runoffs. They also discuss the House Select Committee’s January 6 hearing on Tuesday, which produced some interesting testimonies. Show Notes:-TMD: “Biden’s Mixed Messages on Oil”-Karl Rove in the Wall Street Journal: “Biden Got the Energy Market He Wanted”-Capitolism: “Fueling Uncertainty”-TMD: “How Trump and His Aides Pressured State Officials”

Biden Pushes for Gas Tax Holiday

Remember when filling up your gas tank didn’t cost the same amount as your weekly grocery bill? Leslie Beyer, CEO of the Energy Workforce & Technology Council, and Skanda Amarnath, the Executive Director at Employ America, join Declan to discuss the oil and gas supply issues America faces. The Biden administration’s current approach to the sector doesn’t inspire much confidence prices will come down any time soon, but there are levers policymakers could pull to ease the pain at the pump. Show Notes:-Capitolism: “Fueling Uncertainty”-Employ America Research Report

How Gas Prices Got So High

It’s been another week of interesting primary elections, and Sarah, David, Jonah, and Andrew discuss what we learned from Texas and South Carolina. Then our hosts dive into the details of the framework for a possible Senate gun bill and whether the House will learn to settle for compromise, not perfection. Finally, what are the key takeaways from the January 6 House Select Committee so far? Show Notes:-The Sweep: The Value of a Trump Endorsement-The Dispatch: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the January 6 Committee-The Sweep: The Politics of the January 6 Hearings-Uphill: The Way Forward for the Senate’s Gun Violence Bill-The Dispatch: Can We Make Red Flag Laws Work?

Takeaways From Elections in South Carolina and Texas

Thiru Vignarajah, former deputy attorney general of Maryland, joins Sarah to talk about all things Baltimore: violent crime, reforming police practices, and the Baltimore City state’s attorney race. Plus: What might help bring down gun violence in major cities? Show Notes:-Justiceforbaltimore.com-French Press: Against Gun Idolatry-The Dispatch: Can We Make Red Flag Laws Work?

Crimes of the Present

The House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol held its first hearing Thursday night. Sarah, Steve, Jonah, and David discuss its fact-based and substantive approach to investigating what happened at the Capitol riots, and whether the Republican Party will hold former President Donald Trump accountable. Then our panel turns to the question of political violence in America: Is our political rhetoric out of control? Our hosts then cover how the California primaries are off to an interesting start with progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin’s recall on Tuesday. Show Notes:-The Dispatch: “Primetime Hearing Focuses on the Plan Behind January 6”-TMD: “January 6 Revisited”-Uphill: “January 6 Through the Images and Words of Those Who Lived It”-The Dispatch: “What Chesa Boudin’s Recall Says About Criminal Justice Reform”-The Atlantic: “How San Francisco Became a Failed City”

January 6 Committee Makes Its Case

Chuck Todd, host of NBC’s Meet the Press, joins Steve to discuss the public’s eroding trust in politicians and the political system. An alarming Pew Research poll turns the conversation to how context and nuance have been lost in political journalism and campaign coverage. Steve and Todd also cover the Trump divide within the Republican Party, what the January 6 Committee might tell us this week, and, of course, whether the Green Bay Packers will make the Super Bowl next season. Show Notes:-Pew Research: “Americans’ Views of Government”-The Sweep: “Why Issues Don’t Change Votes”

Chuck Todd Previews Midterms, January 6 Hearings

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine started almost 100 days ago. Our hosts are here to discuss the latest from the war and America’s role. Sarah, Steve, Jonah, and David then turn to the gun debate at home: Will mass shootings in recent weeks produce different political results than past tragedies? Finally they preview next week’s January 6 hearings on Capitol Hill. Show Notes:-French Press: “The Tide Is Turning Toward Russia”-The Dispatch: “​​A Marshall Plan for Ukraine?”-TMD: “100 Days of War in Ukraine”-New York Times: “Voters Say They Want Gun Control. Their Votes Say Something Different.”-New York Times: “A Timeline of Failed Attempts to Address U.S. Gun Violence”-RAND: “​​How Gun Policies Affect Mass Shootings”-RAND: “Facts About the Effects of Gun Policies Are Elusive but Important”-The Reload: “NRA Revenue Dropped $47 Million in 2021, Down $130 Million From Just 3 Years Prior”-San Diego Zoo Condor Cam

100 Days of War in Ukraine

Edward B. Foley, professor and director of the election law program at Ohio State, and Nick Troiano, executive director of Unite America, join Sarah for a conversation about reforming primaries. What does primary reform look like? Their conversation covers political science, history, and math. That’s right math. Can math save democracy? Show Notes:-Requiring Majority Winners for Congressional Elections-Foley in the Washington Post: “How our system of primary elections could destroy democracy”-The Sweep: “A Focus on the Problem with Primaries”-Unite America: “America Has a Primary Problem”

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