Kamala Harris is the American High Speed Rail candidate.Very expensive. Popular with liberal city dwellers. But ultimately a lot of hype that leads to very little.While she isn't necessarily a poor candidate in every context, she struggled twice on the national stage with median voters first within and then outside of her party. I’m not going to do a blow by blow of her campaign because this is a eulogy and eulogies are broad. So let’s start here:Kamala Harris is from California. Not a bygone version of California. Not Ronald Regan’s California. Not Roger Rabbit’s California. The California over the last two decades. One that saw the rise of San Francisco as a financial and cultural hub AND post-pandemic has become synonymous with progressive failure.That California. If you are a California politician the first decision you need to make when explaining yourself to the nation is: does California suck right now or not?If you say it sucks, then you explain how your beloved home state has fallen victim to the plight of the modern world. Blame capitalism, blame a lack of morals, decry the spread of drugs… if you want to get spicy, blame local or state government. Or you can decide California is great actually, blame the media for spreading a distorted image. Kamala Harris did neither. The only time she mentioned California was in her backstory. Oakland was a prop. But for Presidential candidates, your past is your governing philsophy. And I don’t mean the bullet points she’d recite, (did you know she prosecuted trans-national gangs?) I mean your leadership. Are you a head cracker? Are you a unifier? Are you a turnaround artist? Are you a technocrat? With Kamala, we got a little bit of everything. Which means we got nothing. And I’ll give credit to her campaign staff, who I didn’t think did a great job, because I don’t know that they had much to work with.Kamala Harris lacks dynamism and appeals to a limited audience. She is a highly-touted college quarterback who underperforms in the pros. Based on their initial promise they get a second shot on another team only to be terrible there too. Why do we think the third time is the charm?She emerged from her tenure as San Francisco Attorney General as a let’s-enforce-the-laws liberal and was lauded for it. By the time she became California AG she had liberal wins to notch including legalizing gay marriage. Her election to Senate from the one-party state while impressive for her resume is not indicative of someone with political skill or campaign savvy. Her early wins say more about her than anything that came after because California was on the ascendancy after that. The nation was begining to agree with positions California had taken in the last century: specifically on marijuana and LGBT freedoms. The tide rose and her boat with it. But to be clear: she’s a system product. An assembly line politico. Sleek and shiny but quite possibly purposeless.We saw this when she leaned into progressive messaging while running for president in 2020, it backfired. Some blamed this on her embracing "woke" politics or poor advisers, but the real issue was deeper: she's never had to dig deep and find a compelling version of herself before. She certainly didn’t find it in 2019.True authenticity emerges when voters believe in a politician's core identity—even if they disagree with their views. They sense an underlying worldview driving the candidate forward. Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump all possessed this quality. Harris notably lacked it, exemplifying a broader Democratic Party tendency to believe messaging alone can solve fundamental problems. No amount of messaging could separate Harris from her identity as a politician from America's most progressive state. And she can’t explain it as a stregth or distance herself from it as a weakness.She's not a poor speaker— just uninspiring. Unlike George W. Bush, who wasn't particularly dynamic but clearly stood for something, Harris never conveyed a sense of deep conviction.Without conviction, you can't win. You need to spark something in swing voters or motivate your likely supporters to actually turn out. Without that spark, you have nothing. This is all compounded by the fact that she was dealt a tough hand. This is the second visit the Campaign Undetarker has made to the Democratic Party this cycle. President Joe Biden drops out before the convention, admitting to America that they’d reject him and the job he’d done as president. And in the late summer, Kamala faced a tricky choice. How do you handle Joe? She decided not to. Okay, allow me one bit of back seat driving for the campaign. In my opinion, her only viable path forward would have been resigning the Vice Presidency. She could have done this gracefully—simply stating she wanted to pursue her own vision of government. Would it have left the Biden Administration scandalized? Yes. But that’s happening anyway. Why tie yourself to the mast of a sinking ship when you have a chance to win the presidency? This would have distinguished her from the administration without directly criticizing him. Now when she dodged she could always point to her sacrifice which would speak louder than any second guessing. The fact that this option wasn't seriously considered reveals how Democrats misread the situation. They treated her like an interchangeable part, failing to recognize that when crafting a multi-year national narrative, you can't take voters for granted. The audience isn’t dumb. Shape the story how you want, they’re not slow.You need to be alive. You need to be vital.Only bold moves could have saved her. Instead, we got a rehash of post-Obama Democratic presidential campaigns: celebrity endorsements, polished interviews, and rigid talking points. Not a speck of humanity in sight.When you're trailing by 30 points, you need to get aggressive. You need to try every strategy possible. If you're not willing to think creatively, what's the point?But this isn’t simply a eulogy. No, this is a prelude. In politics, what is dead may never die. I believe Kamala Harris is the next governor of California and I think she might be popular. California might be the only state that would realistically think of Kamala as a centrist. She will have the political clout to do otherwise unpopular things that will be quality of life improvements to the citizens. She could go back to the style that suits her the best: Kamala the Law and Order Liberal. To use a football analogy. Mac Jones was a good quarterback in college at Alabama but has been mediocre on two NFL teams. But what if he could go back to college? There is every reason to believe he’d be awesome.Same for Governor Harris. But if she decides to run for president again? I’ll be saying the same thing I said in 2019. The same thing I’m saying now. If she runs for president a third time, her ambitions will…REST IN PEACEChapters* (00:00:50) Introduction: Setting the Stage for 2025 Politics* (00:01:17) Kamala Harris's Presidential Eulogy* (00:13:23) PAX MAGA: Republican Dominance in the 2024 Election* (00:18:03) Biden’s Legacy and Party Dynamics* (00:26:03) Reflections on Election Predictions* (00:40:01) Closing Thoughts: The Path Ahead This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/subscribe

Kevin Ryan, a regular contributor known for his sharp political insights, delves into the year’s significant events. He discusses Alec Baldwin's controversial manslaughter case and its implications for Hollywood. The transformation of podcasting in political discourse, especially in relation to figures like Donald Trump, is explored. Ryan also reflects on societal shifts in attitudes toward cultural phenomena and the evolving landscape of hip-hop. The conversation culminates in heartfelt musings on fatherhood and the joy of connection with listeners.

Evan Scrimshaw, a Canadian politics expert, discusses Justin Trudeau's political vulnerabilities as his approval dwindles amidst a potential leadership shake-up. Musa al-Gharbi, author of "We Have Never Been Woke," analyzes U.S. electoral trends and the ramifications of a looming government shutdown. They delve into the Republican Party's internal strife, the significance of diverse voting patterns for 2024, and the unsettling influence of media narratives shaped by figures like Trump and Musk. The conversation reveals interconnected political landscapes in the U.S. and Canada.

Bill Scher, a political commentator for the Washington Monthly, shares his insights on the shifting political landscape ahead of the 2028 presidential election. He argues that Kamala Harris may not have broad appeal beyond her Democratic base and suggests her best option might be a gubernatorial run in California. The discussion highlights the enduring popularity of Trump, the internal conflicts within the GOP, and speculates on potential Democratic contenders. Scher emphasizes the importance of authenticity and effective communication in shaping voter perceptions.

I’m diving deeper into DeButts. Yes friends, there’s been a crack in the DeButts case. To recap, on December 3rd, Anna Navarro tweeted that Hunter DeButts, the brother-in-law of Woodrow Wilson, was pardoned. This is not true. There is no historical record of a Hunter DeButts connected to Woodrow Wilson, and Wilson certainly did not pardon him. Navarro later admitted this was incorrect, blaming a ChatGPT search result. However, nobody could recreate the exact hallucination she posted, and the citation icons in her screenshot resembled an outdated ChatGPT interface.Curious, I discussed this with Andrew Mayne, my co-host on The Attention Mechanism, a podcast about AI. I also asked listeners to try replicating Navarro’s prompt in ChatGPT. Shortly after, I received an email from a listener named Bret, who provided screenshots showing that while he got the same initial answers Navarro referenced—Bill Clinton pardoning Roger Clinton and Donald Trump pardoning Charles Kushner—Hunter DeButts was nowhere to be found.Brett’s search led to a site called living.alot.com, which featured a listicle titled “Five Presidents and Governors Who Have Pardoned Family Members.” Interestingly, this article was last edited on the same day Navarro tweeted. My next move was to contact the article’s supposed author, Ron Winkler. However, the author photo appeared unmistakably AI-generated, suggesting the entire article was likely created by a generative AI model.Investigating further, I found that living.alot.com is owned by Inuvo.com, an ad-tech company specializing in AI-driven marketing solutions. This suggested that the hallucination might not have come from ChatGPT itself but from living.alot.com, an AI-generated listicle site, possibly due to SEO optimization targeting AI-driven search engines. If ChatGPT search pulled from this listicle, it would explain the strange result Navarro saw.Speculating further, it seems plausible that Inuvo.com, focused on generating ad revenue, might have tweaked its content after seeing traffic driven by the controversy to avoid being de-ranked or blacklisted by search algorithms. Bret’s recreation of almost the exact same search result strengthens this theory.If anyone at OpenAI working on ChatGPT Search is reading, I recommend a hard look at de-ranking or blacklisting the alot.com suite of sites. The credibility of search-powered AI depends on filtering out such low-quality content. In the end, the mystery of Hunter DeButts appears to be a hallucination generated by an ad-tech company leveraging AI-driven SEO tactics. Navarro’s strange ChatGPT result wasn’t directly ChatGPT’s fault—it was fed a falsehood generated by a content-churning AI. And with that, the Hunter DeButts saga is solved. All’s well that ends well.Chapters & Time Codes* (00:00:00) Introduction: Media, Politics & New Ventures* (00:01:20) Unmasking the Hunter DeButts Hoax* (00:15:01) Political Shifts: Murkowski and Ocasio-Cortez* (00:17:27) Government Shutdown Negotiations* (00:20:26) Chris Cillizza This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/subscribe

Ryan McBeth, a Middle Eastern politics expert, dives into the complexities of the Syrian conflict, examining the fallout from the Al-Assad regime's potential collapse and its implications for regional stability. The conversation also touches on the shifting dynamics involving Hezbollah and the Kurds, as well as the uncertain role Turkey may play under Erdogan's leadership. Moreover, they delve into the dangers of AI misinformation, exemplified by a fabricated narrative surrounding Hunter DeButts, highlighting the challenges of navigating digital information today.

Ettingermentum, a keen political analyst, deconstructs the Democratic Party's reliance on a single narrative and the fallout from the Harris campaign's missteps. Alice Miranda Ollstein from Politico dives deep into the future of the pro-choice movement, discussing how recent elections have reshaped strategies and challenges for advocacy groups. Together, they unravel the intricacies of coalition building and messaging, revealing the importance of adapting to a divided political landscape.

Hunter Biden brought all of this on himself.Joe Biden has damaged his legacy.All of this can and should get worse for both of them.Two Things I Don’t Want to Hear in Response to This Argument:* TrumpDonald Trump is his own conversation. Not everything related to any Democratic politician needs to be held in contrast to him. It’s lazy at best and corrosive at worst.* AddictionI don’t often play this card, but I am the son of an alcoholic and was raised by a problem gambler. Both went to 12-step programs for their issues. Addiction is a multi-faceted problem that deserves sophisticated empathy, but it is NOT an enchantment shielding you from the consequences of your actions. Quite the opposite: the 12-step program is designed to rebuild your sense of responsibility by repairing the damage you caused while afflicted.The pardon not only reveals the 46th president as a craven cardboard cutout of a decent man, but it also expands the bounds of presidential pardons in a uniquely selfish direction under the sickening guise of loyalty to family.But no one should be surprised if you’ve followed this story from the beginning. It is one unforced error after the next. One hapless mistake after another defended by unhinged self-indulgence. Let’s walk the timeline that led us to the most recent crimes:* Hunter Biden’s LaptopHunter leaves a laptop at a computer repair shop and forgets it. The shop owner realizes who owns it and turns it over to the FBI. After nothing is done and Joe Biden’s campaign makes statements the shop owner knows to be false, the laptop is leaked to the press.* Joe Biden’s ResponseHis campaign denies fault, deflects blame, and hides behind Hunter’s addiction.* 51 intelligence experts sign a letter calling it Russian disinformation.* Biden repeats this during a debate.* Twitter and Facebook are pressured to suppress links to coverage.The laptop is later proven real.* Tax InvestigationIn 2020, Hunter announces he is being investigated for tax fraud (ongoing since 2018).In 2023, a plea deal is reached. Hunter agrees to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and enters a pretrial diversion program for a felony firearm offense (illegal possession of a gun while using drugs). The deal is expected to avoid jail time.* IRS WhistleblowersTwo IRS whistleblowers testify before Congress, alleging misconduct and interference in the Hunter Biden investigation. They claim their efforts to pursue charges were stymied by higher-ups in the Justice Department.* The Plea Deal CollapsesDuring a court hearing, U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika raises concerns about the plea deal's scope, particularly its immunity from future charges. Hunter pleads not guilty.* Specifically, the deal reportedly included an agreement not to prosecute Hunter for any federal crimes going forward:"The United States agrees not to criminally prosecute Biden, outside of the terms of this Agreement, for any federal crimes encompassed."* Hunter’s MemoirThe gun charge stems from Hunter’s own admissions in his memoir, Beautiful Things, where he describes active crack cocaine addiction during the period he purchased the firearm.* Quote: “I used my superpower—finding crack anytime, anywhere.”* Despite knowing his addiction, he lied on ATF Form 4473 when purchasing the gun.Hunter sabotaged his own sweetheart plea deal by overreaching for immunity. He was the star witness for his own prosecution because he had to write a book about his new found sobriety.But if Joe just commuted Hunter’s sentencing for these crimes, it wouldn’t be as big of a deal. Sure he’d be a hypocrite but what’s the real world damage? Hunter didn’t spend a month in prison? He avoided probation?But that’s not what Joe did. He did something far greater and no one should forget it.Joe Biden granted his son a blanket pardon for any and all crimes committed from 2014 to 2024—an unprecedented eleven years.This goes beyond Hunter’s tax crimes and gun charge, extending into the period when Hunter joined the board of Burisma—the focal point of influence-peddling allegations against the Biden family.For context:* Ford’s pardon of Nixon aimed to move the country past Watergate.* Biden’s pardon serves his own family and raises fresh suspicions about influence peddling.The White House’s defense: the incoming Justice Department might weaponize its authority to target the Biden family on exaggerated charges.I would say for the forever power hunger Joe, that same logic fueled Trump’s resurgence from a pariah to a potential two-term president. Maybe they should have let it happen.Instead, this pardon undermines Biden’s credibility, damages the perception of the presidency, and sets a dangerous precedent for self-serving executive overreach.So let’s get to the “But Trump…” of it all. Trump issued two pardons that are similar to this one.* Kodak BlackTrump pardoned the rapper after serving a year of a 46-month sentence for lying on a federal gun form.* Charles KushnerConvicted and served time for a 2005 charge. Pardoned to clear his record.Both of them spent time in prison for their offenses. Either got blanket pardons that extended beyond what Dick Nixon received.TheTrump pardons may be gross but don’t set new precedent. They don’t personally benefit the president.Biden’s pardon of Hunter does.Hunter never paid a price. Joe Biden’s legacy should. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/subscribe

Tom LoBianco, a political analyst and contributor to 24/7, and Michael Cohen, author on modern political campaigns, dissect the shifting tides in American politics post-election. They explore the surprising trend of ticket splitting and its implications for the GOP's future. The duo analyzes how Trump's era has reshaped political alliances and candidate strategies, especially for figures like DeSantis. They also discuss the legal challenges facing Trump and their effects on fiscal debates, revealing how campaign messaging may have faltered under Democratic focus on Trump.

Kimberly Leonard, a Politico reporter focused on Florida politics, joins to discuss Matt Gaetz's surprising withdrawal from the attorney general race. They explore the political ramifications of Gaetz's decision amid serious misconduct allegations. The conversation highlights the ripple effects on Florida's political landscape, including power struggles between key Republican figures and challenges facing Florida Democrats. Leonard's insights shed light on the strategic maneuvering and evolving loyalties within the state's political scene.