Democrats on the Move: The 2026 Senate Map Gets Tougher While Presidential Hopefuls Embrace “Alternative Media”

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss key players to watch, including Pete Buttigieg, Rahm Emanual, Gavin Newsom and Tim Walz, as well as Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) who announced her decision not to run again in 2026. Also, how Democrats, including former first lady Michelle Obama, are embracing podcasting to reach new audiences. Then, they talk about Russian president Vladimir Putin’s positive statements about a possible armistice in Ukraine, and Trump’s threat of a 200 percent tariff on imported European alcoholic beverages. Next, Carl interviews Andy Rotherham, co-founder and senior partner at Bellwether and member of the Virginia Board of Education, on Randi Weingarten, the teachers’ union, and layoffs at the Department of Education. And finally, Andrew Walworth interviews Real Clear Investigations journalist James Varney about his RCP article "A New Beltway Mystery: Follow the Biden EPA Money" which outlines how $27 billion in green grants were funneled to nonprofits in a process that new EPA administrator Lee Zeldin calls “a deeply entrenched pattern of political favoritism” aimed at Democratic-aligned groups.