RealClearPolitics Podcast

Broadcasting at the Reagan National Economic Forum in front of a live audience at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library - Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss the future of technology and populism with Joe Lonsdale, Founder & Managing Partner of 8VC. Then, they speak with Rep. Jodey Arrington, Chairman of House Budget Committee on how he shepherded the big beautiful bill to passage in House. Next, they interview Rep. Beth Van Duyne, 24th District of Texas and they talk about China and dysfunction in Washington DC. Then winding it up, they speak to David Trulio, President & CEO of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute, on findings from a new RNEF poll on public attitudes about economy, etc.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss the US Court of International Trade’s ruling saying that Trump overstepped his authority when he used the Emergency Economic Powers Act to justify his tariff policy. And they talk about a Boston-based judge extended her block of the Trump Administration’s efforts to stop Harvard from enrolling foreign students. Then they discuss President Trump’s use of the pardon, including his recent pardon of Paul Walczak, a nursing home executive who was convicted of stealing $11 million in payroll taxes and whose mother contributed more than $1 million to the Trump campaign. Plus, they mull over NPR filing a suit against the Trump Administration, claiming efforts to defund the network abridge the company’s right to free speech. Next, Carl Cannon talks to National Journal White House correspondent George E. Condon about President Trump’s practice of inviting foreign leaders to the Oval Office for sometimes fiery exchanges before the press. And finally, Andrew Walworth talks with Guy Ciarocchi, contributor to RealClear Pennsylvania and a Senior Fellow at the Commonwealth Foundation, about the recent approval by President Trump of the merger between Nippon and US Steel, and Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro’s strategy for winning the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2028.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Emily Jashinsky, Washington correspondent for the Unherd website, discuss Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s announcement that the CDC will no longer recommend Covid 19 shots for healthy children and pregnant women. Also, is the bromance between Elon Musk and President Trump breaking up over Trump’s budget bill? They also talk about what Artificial Intelligence may mean for white collar workers in the information economy and whether AI will be a major issue in the 2028 elections. Next, RCP National Correspondent Susan Crabtree discusses with Tom her latest RCP article on how one California high school’s decision to invite an expert on BDSM to speak to students met with parental resistance. The incident may prove a test case for The Trump Administration’s policy of “ending radical indoctrination” in K-12 schools across the country. And finally, Andrew talks with Jeffrey Gedmin, president and CEO of the Middle East Broadcast Networks, about his legal battle to keep the service going as the Trump Administration seeks to defund MBN, along with the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe and other federally funded overseas broadcasters.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss President Trump’s increasing frustration with Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine War, and Britain’s King Charles III’s address to the Canadian Parliament, where he said, “Freedom and democracy are under threat.” Then, they talk about the FBI’s decision to reopen cases including cocaine found in the White House during the Biden administration and the leak of the Supreme Court decision of the Dobbs case, which led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. Also, they talk about Miranda Devine’s new column in the New York Post calling for an investigation into the FBI agents responsible for covering up the Hunter Biden laptop story. Plus, they discuss today’s GAO letter instructing federal agencies to stop doing business with Harvard University, and Trump’s desire to redirect $3 billion in funding away from Harvard and toward vocational training programs. And finally, Tom Bevan talks to John Hart, CEO of Open The Books, an organization that promotes transparency in public spending, about the future of the Department of Government Efficiency and the difficulty of cutting government programs.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss last night’s private dinner for top investors in the Trump family’s $TRUMP crypto coin. Also, today a judge halted the Trump administration’s move to strip Harvard of its ability to enroll international students. They also talk about what has changed in the five years since the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis by police, which happened on May 25, 2020. Plus, this week’s “You Can’t Be Serious” segment. Next, Carl talks to Harvard Law Professor Emeritus Alan Dershowitz about his new book "The Preventative State", which deals with balancing the increasing capacity of new technology to predict and prevent crime and the preservation of civil liberty. And finally, Andrew talks to RCP contributor and author John J. Waters on how Americans should mark Memorial Day, and Trump’s now aborted plan to change the name of Veterans Day to “Victory Day for World War I,” a move that was opposed by many veterans’ groups.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss last night’s assassination of a Jewish couple who worked at the Israeli Embassy in Washington DC. And they talk about Trump’s budget bill which now moves to the Senate, after passing in the House by a single vote. Then they discuss Elon Musk’s decision to spend less time and money on politics and more on running his companies. Plus, they wonder what role Hunter and Jill Biden played in running the Biden White House. Next, Carl Cannon talks to Republican elections attorney Cleta Mitchell about issues that could affect the 2026 midterm elections. And winding it up, Tom Bevan talks to RCP Contributor Richard Porter about Trump's Big, Beautiful Budget Bill.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss today’s Oval Office meeting between President Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. They also discuss Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio’s second day of Senate hearings on U.S. foreign policy. Then, they talk about Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s decision to veto a bill that would have set up a state commission on slavery reparations. Plus, the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division opened an investigation into Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson after public statements about his hiring practices. Next, Tom talks to RCP White House reporter Phil Wegmann about the status of the budget bill and the behind-the-scenes negotiations within the Republican House caucus. And finally, Carl talks to Democratic strategist Dan Strother about the current state of the Democratic Party and the impact of recent revelations concerning Joe Biden’s health and acuity during his presidency.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss the reactions from Donald Trump and Hakeem Jeffries to the announcement this weekend that former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Also, Rep. LaMonica McIver (D.-NJ) is charged with felony assault against a federal officer during a protest earlier this month at and ICE detention center. Then, they discuss the Supreme Court’s 8-1 decision to allow the Trump Administration to remove temporary protective status for 350,000 Venezuelan migrants, and former FBI director James Comey telling MSNBC how he found a shell formation spelling out “8647” on a beach walk with his wife. Plus, they talk about the resignation of CBS News president Wendy McMahon, who is leaving because she “could not agree on the path forward with management” regarding Paramount’s apparent plans to settle a lawsuit with President Trump over the editing of a television interview with Kamala Harris. Then lastly, former U.S. Ambassador the United Nations and Trump National Security Advisor John Bolton talks to RCP Contributor Charlie Stone about Trump’s approach to the Middle East and what it's like to advise Trump on foreign policy matters.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss reactions to the announcement this weekend that former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, as well as the release of audiotapes of Biden’s October 2023 interviews with special counsel Robert Hur regarding his handling of classified documents. They also talk about Sen. Chuck Schumer’s contention that personnel cuts at the Coast Guard may be the cause of this weekend’s tragic accident involving a Mexican tall ship that crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge, taking two lives and injuring 17. Plus, Trump calls for an investigation into payments to celebrities who endorsed Kamala Harris, including Bruce Springsteen, Oprah Winfrey, and Beyonce. Next, Tom talks to RCP White House correspondent Phil Wegmann about the latest in President Trump’s peace efforts in Ukraine. And finally, Carl talks to RealClear Religion contributor Myra Kahn Adams about growing tension between Vice President J.D Vance and Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio, and her ongoing series, “Bible Study For Those Who Don’t Read The Bible.”

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss reactions to former FBI director James Comey’s Instagram post of the numbers “8647” spelled out using seashells on the beach, which some have interpreted as a threat aimed at President Trump. Also, current FBI director Kash Patel says he will move 1,500 agents out of Washington, and that the FBI will leave the Hoover Building in downtown DC. They also talk about the politics behind a House resolution introduced by Rep. Summer Lee (D.-PA) yesterday designed to give reparations to descendants of American slaves. PLUS this week's “You Can’t Be Serious” – a look at the most outrageous statements or events of the past week. Next, Carl Cannon talks to historian Jason Steinhauer about Trump’s decision to fire Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress and congressional reaction to the move. And lastly, RCP contributor Maggie Miller talks to journalist John Murawski about his recent reporting on the University of Austin (UATX) and the School of Civic Leadership at the University of Texas. Both are part of a growing national movement hoping to revive classical education by emphasizing the Great Books, free markets, and individual liberty.