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RealClearPolitics Podcast

Latest episodes

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Mar 1, 2025 • 45min

Fireworks at the White House

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, RCP Contributor Richard Porter and White House correspondent Phil Wegmann discuss today’s fiery Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelensky regarding the rare minerals deal and Russia's war against Ukraine. They also talk about today’s nationwide protest where consumers were asked to boycott big box and online stores. Also, the Supreme Court’s reacts to arguments over a reverse discrimination case brought by a an Ohio woman who claims she was passed over for a promotion and demoted in favor of gay coworkers. Next, John Feehery and Andrew Walworth discuss whether Speaker Mike Johnson will be able to shepherd a budget deal through Congress, and whether spending cuts advocated by DOGE will be reflected in the final budget. And finally, Carl Cannon interviews RCP contributor Sam Jeffries. Sam is a freelance writer who wrote a piece for RealClearBooks about September 5, the movie about the Palestinian terrorists who murdered Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games.
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Feb 28, 2025 • 45min

Bureaucracy Gone Wild

Tom Bevan, Phil Wegmann and Emily Jashinsky discuss the NSA sex chat story, the FBI "honeypot" story, and the IRS leaker story. They also talk about the backlash to Jake Tapper's new book about the cover up of Biden's mental fitness and the larger story of the media's lost credibility. Next, Tom interviews Matt Podgorski, pollster from M3 Strategies, about his new survey showing Brandon Johnson with a 6.6% approval rating. And lastly, Carl chats with Jonathan Rauch, a writer for The Atlantic, about the implications of Trump's second-term personnel choices.
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Feb 27, 2025 • 45min

The House Passes Trump's Budget Bill

Tom Bevan, Carl Cannon and Sean Trende discuss President Trump's first cabinet meeting and the House's dramatic passage of a budget last night. They also look at Byron Donalds' chances to become Governor of Florida, Gavin Newsom's new podcast, and Jeff Bezos' announcement about the Washington Post Opinion Page. Next, Carl Cannon interviews Richard Porter about his RCP column on J.B. Pritzker's budget address comparing Trump and MAGA to Nazi Germany. And lastly, Andrew Walworth chats with James Robbins from the Institute of World Politics about US relations with Russia, China, and the future of nuclear proliferation.
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Feb 26, 2025 • 45min

Trump, Russia And The UN Vote

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss French president Emmanuel Macron’s meeting with Donald Trump, and two UN votes where the U.S. denied Russia was to blame for the war in Ukraine. They also talk about Vivek Ramaswamy's bid for the Ohio governorship and former New York governor Andrew Cuomo pondering entering the Democratic mayoralty primary in New York City, which would pit him against the city’s current mayor, Eric Adams. Plus, they also chat about Rachel Maddow and the future of MSNBC as it joins other Comcast cable networks that are being spun off into a new company. And, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem says she has identified people behind leaks of ICE raids in the Los Angeles area. Then finally, Carl talks to historian and political scientist Liana Fix of the Council on Foreign Relations about the recent election results in Germany.
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Feb 25, 2025 • 45min

Elon Musk Asks Federal Employees: What Did You Do Over the Last Five Days?

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss an email message sent out by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency asking federal employees to account for their last week’s activities. They also talk about Donald Trump’s decision to replace both the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the US Navy. Plus, the fight between the Trump White House and the Associated Press over naming the “The Gulf of America,” and the decision by MSNBC to cancel Joy Reid’s nightly show, which has been on the air for five years. Then finally, Tom Bevan talks with RealClearPolitics national correspondent Susan Crabtree about her reporting on the decision to name radio and social media star Dan Bongino to a high position at the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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Feb 22, 2025 • 45min

Zelinsky VS Trump: Who Is In Charge of Negotiations To End The Ukraine War?

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss the state of negotiations over Ukraine’s mineral rights, as well as the larger effort by the Trump administration to end the fighting in Ukraine. They also talk about a new TikTok interview with historian Victor Davis Hansen, who argues that Trump represents a return to “normalcy,” not a radical departure from political norms and what may be the next targets for the Department of Government Efficiency: public broadcasting, which has been losing audience to cable, satellite and web video services for decades, and the US Post Office, which faces increasing competition from private delivery services. Then lastly, Tom Bevan talks with Kevin Warsh of the Hoover Institution about inflation and the Federal Reserve. Warsh served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve from 2006 until 2011, and is often named as a leading contender to replace Jerome Powell as Fed Chairman.
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Feb 21, 2025 • 45min

Mitch McConnell To Resign

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss today’s announcement by Senator Mitch McConell that he would not run again for his Senate Seat and a new article from the Washington Free Beacon that reports a 2 billion dollar earmark – found by DOGE – for a brand new organization with links to Democratic activist Stacy Abrams. They also talk about the new HHS guidelines that align the agency with a January executive order signed by President Donald Trump on defining the sexes, and CBS Anchor Gayle King, Congressman Eric Swalwell, and others blaming the Trump administration for the recent airline crashes. Plus, Trump’s use of monarchical images, including portraying himself wearing a crown, on social media. Also, Hamas releasing the remains of four Israeli hostages, including two children and their mother, who died while being held captive by the terrorist group. Then finally, Carl Cannon talks with investigative reporter Judith Miller about the prospects for Mideast peace in the wake of today’s hostage release.
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Feb 20, 2025 • 45min

Hannity Sits With Trump and Musk

Tom Bevan, Carl Cannon and Sean Trende discuss the Trump-Musk interview on Hannity, and whether DOGE is what Americans were promised. They also talk about the looming cuts at the Pentagon, and why Trump's approval rating is at an all-time high. Next, Tom Bevan interviews author Marc Dunkelman about his new book, "Why Nothing Works". Then finally, Carl Cannon chats with RCP Contributor Richard Porter about artificial intelligence.
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Feb 19, 2025 • 45min

Ukraine Talks Begin

Tom Bevan, Carl Cannon and Phil Wegmann discuss the beginning of the Trump Administration's peace talks with the Russians over the Ukraine War. They also talk about Elon Musk's announcement that the government can't account for $4.7 trillion in payments and whether the public cares about the argument that Musk is "invading their privacy". Next, Carl Cannon speaks with Tony Woodlief, Sr. Fellow at the State Policy Network, about the administrative state. And finally, Tom Bevan chats with RCP Sr. Elections Analyst Sean Trende about the 2026 map and the Democrats' chances of retaking the upper chamber.
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Feb 18, 2025 • 53min

President's Day Special: Best of RCP

Andrew Walworth hosts Boston Herald columnist and New England Law/Boston Professor Wendy Murphy about how the Biden administration’s approach to transgender issues may have actually killed any chance that the ERA could become law. Then, Carl Cannon talks with with Peter Berkowitz of the Hoover Institution about how the State Department could galvanize world opinion around "inalienable" rights and reclaim the human rights movement by reflecting American values. Next, Phil Wegmann talks to Rep. Jim Himes, a Connecticut Democrat, about how the Democratic Party can win back the support of middle-class voters. Himes is the ranking member of the House Intel Committee. And lastly, Tom Bevan speaks with Austin Berg of the Illinois Policy Institute about Mayor Brandon Johnson's tenure and the challenges facing the Windy City.

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