3 Martini Lunch

The discussion kicks off with a deep dive into Dick Cheney's complex legacy, exploring his influential career and decisions during pivotal moments in U.S. history. The hosts also share personal anecdotes, including a memorable dinner with the Cheneys. They critique Eric Holder's controversial remarks aimed at the Supreme Court and examine the implications of gerrymandering leading up to future elections. Additionally, a shocking voicemail left for Senator Sheehy highlights the escalating toxicity in political discourse, prompting a call for restraint and decency.

The hosts dive into Jack Ciattarelli's biting campaign ad that highlights Democrat Mikie Sherrill's struggle with priorities in the New Jersey governor's race. They also discuss a troubling poll revealing that a significant majority of college students view socialism favorably, questioning the underlying reasons. Lastly, the discussion turns to Nancy Mace, who faces backlash for a dramatic airport incident as she campaigns for governor, prompting speculation about her appeal to voters amid personal controversies.

This week, hosts delve into Trump's controversial call for the U.S. to resume nuclear testing, exploring the implications of such a move. They debate whether eliminating the filibuster could accelerate the GOP agenda, weighing the potential long-term consequences. Additionally, the discussion turns to the Heritage Foundation's defense of Tucker Carlson amid criticism for his ties to extremist figures. The hosts tackle the balance between political pragmatism and the dangers of normalizing extremist views.

In a surprising twist, GOP poll numbers are on the rise, with independents showing newfound support despite the shutdown chaos. The duo dives into the Virginia governor's race, where candidates display stark differences, highlighting Winsome Sears' unexplained absence from effective messaging. Meanwhile, Bill Kristol's endorsement of a leftist candidate has sparked debate about the shifting loyalties among some conservatives, questioning whether it's a loss of principle or a strategic move for acceptance.

Democrats face backlash for using political leverage that could hurt Americans during a shutdown. The discussion shifts to China's alarming blend of AI and genetic engineering, aiming for a future with genetically superior soldiers. Insights from Bill Drexel reveal an ethical nightmare brewing under Xi Jinping's leadership. Finally, a humorous critique of Jon Stewart's outrageous comparison of Zohran Mamdani to baseball legend Jackie Robinson highlights the shifting dynamics within the Democratic Party.

Unions are turning up the heat on Democrats, demanding support for a GOP bill to end the government shutdown. Four pilots' unions are leading the charge—will more senators switch sides? Meanwhile, the fight against California's gerrymandering initiative is fizzling out as key donors retreat. The podcast also dives into the chaotic campaign of Graham Platner, whose manager quit after three days amid scandalous revelations about tattoos and past comments. Buckle up for political antics and unexpected plot twists!

Greg is back! Join Jim and Greg for the Monday 3 Martini Lunch as they break down Argentina’s strong midterm results for President Javier Milei, Zohran Mamdani’s disturbing comments on 9/11, and Gavin Newsom pretending to be mulling over a 2028 presidential bid.First, they cheer the impressive election results in Argentina, which give President Milei a stronger hand in the legislature and more time for his free-market reforms to show results. Jim also points out why this is a win for the U.S., especially Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent.Next, they shudder as New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani says suggests Muslims in the city have been treated poorly, including his aunt who allegedly stopped riding the the subway after 9/11 because she didn't feel safe wearing her hijab. Multiple reports cast serious doubt on the veracity of his story but Jim says Mamdani's comments seek to shift the narrative on who the real perpetrators and real victims were on 9/11. Will New York voters care?Finally, they chuckle as California Gov. Gavin Newsom claims he’ll “think about” running for president in 2028 after the 2026 midterms. His every move suggests he decided to run a long time ago, but Jim says he has one big problem.Please visit our great sponsors:Cancel unwanted subscriptions and reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money at https://RocketMoney.com/MARTINI Build your fall sanctuary of comfort with Boll and Branch. Save 20% plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at https://BollAndBranch.com/THREEMARTINI —offer ends soon, exclusions apply.

Craig Collins remains in for Greg Corombos, and he and Jim wrap up the week by looking at the lighter side of the likely national repercussions if, as expected, Zohran Mamdani is elected as mayor of New York City, examine an unjustifiable pardon from President Trump, and close out by questioning the choices of an allegedly “woke” update to the musical Damn Yankees. First, Craig and Jim start off with the inverse of yesterday’s bad Martini, looking at polling numbers that indicate Mamdani is exceptionally unpopular outside of New York City, even among independents and Democrats. “The results are grim for Mamdani. Among self-identified Democrats and Independents alike and among voters at large, his numbers are actually considerably worse than those of Newsom, Ocasio-Cortez, and Harris.” And let’s face it, it’s not easy to be less popular than Kamala Harris these days. Next, President Trump has made an unpardonable pardon of Changpeng Zhao, the convicted founder of the crypto exchange Binance,. There aren’t a lot of large financial institutions that are willing to do work with al-Qaeda, ISIS, Hamas, ransomware hackers, and kiddie-porn enthusiasts, all simultaneously; these are the kinds of guys who usually end up portrayed as the villains in Jason Statham movies. Finally, in more discussion of musical theater than you ever expected on this podcast, Craig and Jim examine a new revival of the musical Damn Yankees that adds a new racial component to the story, making the main character, Joe Boyd, take the deal because of memories of his father, “a minor league baseball player who was kept out of the major leagues because he was black.” Jim notes this undermines the musical’s original theme that our family and loved ones are more important than the temptations fame and fortune, while Craig observes that the devilish seductive harlot being played by a white actress now adds an uncomfortable implication to Boyd’s temptation. Please visit our great sponsors:Get 20% off your first purchase of classic menswear. Visit https://MizzenAndMain.com with promo code 3ML20—shop online or visit a Mizzen and Main store in select states.Open a new qualified IRA or cash account with Noble Gold and get a free 10-ounce Silver Flag Bar plus a Silver American Eagle Proof Coin—visit https://NobleGoldInvestments.com/3MLSupport your health with Dose Daily.  Save 25% on your first month when you subscribe at https://DoseDaily.co/3ML or enter code 3ML at checkout.

Craig Collins remains in for Greg Corombos, and he notices a big mafia story arrives, just in time to honor his Italian heritage. Craig and Jim applaud some new Trump administration decisions on Ukraine, lament the fact that Zohran Mamdani looks like a shoo in to be the next mayor of New York City, and marvel at a big sports gambling scandal that led to the arrest of an NBA player and coach. First, Craig and Jim note that while it’s been a long time coming, the Trump administration is hitting Russian oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil with new sanctions, cutting off the Russian firms from American banking systems and financial institutions, essentially barring them from operating in U.S. dollars. Trump is finally getting wise to the fact that all of his seemingly good conversations with Vladimir Putin never seem to results in Putin’s policies. Next, President Trump doesn’t see any way that anyone can beat Zohran Mamdani in the New York City mayor’s race, and there’s not a lot of evidence to counter the president’s conclusion. In a year where a lot has gone right for the GOP, a major frustration is that no argument about Mamdani’s extremism on everything from economics to policing to geopolitics has seemed to get traction. Finally, the Portland Trail Blazers face a tough lineup of opponents this year – the Warriors, the Lakers, and the FBI. The Bureau announced that it had arrested Blazers coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier as  part of a pair of wide-ranging investigations related to illegal sports betting and rigged poker games backed by the Mafia. Jim and Craig acknowledge that while sports gambling is wildly popular, particularly among young men, the temptations and dangers of widespread legal sports gambling were predictable.Get 20% off your first purchase of classic menswear. Visit https://MizzenAndMain.com with promo code 3ML20—shop online or visit a Mizzen and Main store in select states.Open a new qualified IRA or cash account with Noble Gold and get a free 10-ounce Silver Flag Bar plus a Silver American Eagle Proof Coin—visit https://NobleGoldInvestments.com/3MLKeep celebrating World Mental Health Day by starting your journey with BetterHelp—get 10% off your first month at https://BetterHelp.com/3MLSupport your health with Dose Daily.  Save 25% on your first month when you subscribe at https://DoseDaily.co/3ML or enter code 3ML at checkout.

(00:00:00) Intro (00:01:52) GOOD: There are much bigger factors in the outcome of a midterm election cycle beyond fundraising, but... this is a pret (00:06:42) BAD: No, the president of the United States cannot order the U.S. Department of Justice to compensate him $230 million (00:11:04) CRAZY/HILARIOUS: Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner says he accidentally got a Nazi tattoo Craig Collins fills in for Greg Corombos today. Here are your martinis of the day!GOOD: There are much bigger factors in the outcome of a midterm election cycle beyond fundraising, but... this is a pretty big advantage for the GOP.The Republican National Committee heads into the year before the midterm election with a significantly bigger bank balance than the Democratic National Committee, a reflection of the GOP’s dominance in Washington and the minority party’s ongoing struggles.The gap is a warning sign for Democrats as some of their donors remain skeptical of the party’s direction and of whether there is a viable plan to win again.At one point earlier this year, the DNC reached out to big donors to host a San Francisco-area fundraiser headlined by former Vice President Kamala Harris. Most of the donors rejected the request, according to several people familiar with the conversations.Upon receiving the invitation, one replied with a profanity-laced rejection. Others said they didn’t want to give to the party until it produced substantive plans to win elections. Those who declined told the national party they had commitments and couldn’t make it work.The DNC ultimately found a donor who hosted the event, but it raised less than organizers had hoped.The latest fundraising totals released this week show the Democrats’ weakness. The RNC had receipts of $10.7 million in the most recent month and $86 million in cash reserves as it started October, compared with $10.3 million and about $12 million for the DNC, respectively.BAD: No, the president of the United States cannot order the U.S. Department of Justice to compensate him $230 million for past court cases that were dismissed.CRAZY/HILARIOUS: Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner says he accidentally got a Nazi tattoo. Uh-huh.Get 20% off your first purchase of classic menswear. Visit https://MizzenAndMain.com with promo code 3ML20—shop online or visit a Mizzen and Main store in select states.Open a new qualified IRA or cash account with Noble Gold and get a free 10-ounce Silver Flag Bar plus a Silver American Eagle Proof Coin—visit https://NobleGoldInvestments.com/3MLKeep celebrating World Mental Health Day by starting your journey with BetterHelp—get 10% off your first month at https://BetterHelp.com/3MLSupport your health with Dose Daily.  Save 25% on your first month when you subscribe at https://DoseDaily.co/3ML or enter code 3ML at checkout.