RealClearPolitics Podcast

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s address to the Reagan Defense Forum on Saturday where he called President Donald Trump the “true heir” to Reagan and attacked “neo-Reaganites” who in his words, “sought global military hegemony under the auspices of peace through strength.” Also, Marjorie Taylor Greene appeared on 60 Minutes to discuss: why she split with President Trump, and the threats to her and her family after Trump labelled her a “traitor". Then, they discuss a lengthy New York Times critique of immigration policy under President Joe Biden, and what its publication may say about the Democratic Party's policy on immigration going forward. Also, they chat about a new piece in The Epoch Times which describes how an immigrant family's daughter’s college education affected her assimilation experience. And they discuss this morning’s announcement by Former House Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX) that he is dropping out of the Texas Senate race, and what that may mean for Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) who has scheduled a press appearance this afternoon to discuss her political future. Plus, after granting a presidential pardon to Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), President Trump criticizes the congressman for deciding to run again for his office as a Democrat. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss today’s FIFA event at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, where President Donald Trump received the first ever FIFA Peace Prize. Also, Trump has renamed the U.S. Peace Institute after himself, and used it as the venue for yesterday’s signing of a peace accord between The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda. Then, RCP White House correspondent Phil Wegmann joins Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon to discuss the arrest of the alleged Jan. 6, 2021 pipe-bombing suspect, and what the arrest means for FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino. Also a look at new economic numbers on inflation released this morning, and their implications for next week’s Federal Reserve vote on interest rates, scheduled for December 10th. Then finally, they discuss yesterday’s Supreme Court’s decision on redistricting in Texas. The Court blocked a lower court decision that found the new boundaries were likely unconstitutional because they were drawn based on race, allowing Texas to adopt the congressional map designed by the GOP in the upcoming 2026 midterms. Also, "You Cannot Be Serious" stories for the week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss the announcement that only one house has been rebuilt since wildfires devastated the Pacific Palisades in Southern California, as Los Angeles city officials continue to block reconstruction efforts. Also, which party will pay the political price if there is no compromise on continuing Obamacare subsidies before the end of the year? Then, Reagan Institute Policy Director Rachel Hoff joins Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon to discuss a new poll from the Institute on American attitudes toward foreign policy issues, including support for NATO and Ukraine and views on the role of artificial intelligence in the U.S. military. And then, Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss Turning Point USA’s public reaction to Candace Owens, who has spread conspiracy theories about the assassination of Charlie Cook, and Charlie Kirk Show producer Blake Neff’s invitation to Owens to appear on a special program dedicated to answering her accusations. Also, a new poll from the Media Research Center shows that only 24 percent of respondents correctly described Kirk’s alleged assassin as holding left-wing views.. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss takeaways from yesterday’s special election in Tennessee’s seventh congressional district, where Republican Matt Van Epps beat Democrat Aftyn Behn by nine points. Also, President Donald Trump calls affordability a Democratic hoax during yesterday’s televised cabinet meeting. Then, OutKick columnist Mary Katherine Hamm joins the guys to discuss the political future of Minnesota governor Tim Walz in the wake of a New York Times report that more than one billion dollars of taxpayer money has been stolen in Minnesota, in three separate plots that are currently under investigation by federal authorities. Also, a look at the 2028 Republican presidential field, and new polls that show Donald Trump Jr. in second place for the GOP nomination. After that they discuss "Notes on Being a Man", a new book from podcaster Scott Galloway about the state of masculinity in America. And finally, they look at football coach Lane Kiffin’s controversial move from the University of Mississippi to Louisiana State University. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss today’s special election in Tennessee’s reliably red seventh congressional district, where Democratic candidate Aftyn Behn is locked in a surprisingly close race with Republican Matt Van Epps for the seat vacated last summer by Representative Mark Green. Then, they discuss today’s cabinet meeting at the White House, and what is next in Venezuela and the Ukraine War. Also, new reporting on Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, USN Admiral Frank Mitch Bradley and the September 2nd attack on an alleged drug gun boat in the Caribbean, where two survivors of the initial airstrike were reportedly killed by a follow-on strike. And lastly they discuss a plan announced by billionaire Michael Dell and his wife Susan to give $250 to each of 25 million American children to supplement proposed “Trump Accounts,” for a total gift of $6.25 billion. Plus, they chat about new rules going into effect for Pentagon reporters, with press briefings scheduled for this week that will be attended by only a few conservative outlets. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss whether the recent ambush of two National Guard members by an Afghan national will prompt changes in immigration law, and President Donald Trump’s remarks about Somali immigrants and the need for what he calls “reverse migration". Then, they discuss press reports that the U.S. Military killed two survivors of a September 2nd attack on a drug boat in the Caribbean, and Congressional calls for an investigation into Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s role in the alleged incident. Then finally, they talk about a New Yorker article by Benjamin Wallace-Wells on the effect of rising political violence on Americans’ willingness to participate in politics, and what can be done to lower the temperature of the national debate. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Happy Thanksgiving! Here are some past interviews for you to enjoy on this holiday. Carl Cannon talks to human rights advocate Katrina Lantos Swett about threats to religious liberty here and around the world. Lantos Swett is President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, and former Chair and Vice-Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). Tom Bevan talks to John Tillman, the founder of MediaPedia, a new company that hopes to provide transparency when it comes to media bias. The company uses artificial intelligence to rate the ideological leaning of reporters, which it says allows it to “empower news consumers to see the bias behind the bylines of legacy news outlets.” Andrew Walworth talks to war correspondent and former New York Times Pentagon reporter Thom Shanker about singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, whose gimlet-eyed view of world politics endeared him to a generation of foreign policy practitioners and observers. Zevon, who died in 2003 from cancer, was earlier this month inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Phil Wegmann, the RCP White House correspondent known for his insights on foreign affairs, dives into the controversial leak of a conversation between Envoy Steve Witkoff and his Russian counterpart. He discusses the intra-party divides within the Republican Party regarding Ukraine support and the implications of their foreign policy stance. The conversation also touches on surprising polling data in Tennessee's special election, revealing a tight race that challenges assumptions about voter sentiment.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss the latest on ceasefire negotiations in the Ukraine War, and whether Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are at odds over how to move forward. Also, a look at the possible court martial of Senator Mark Kelly for his participation in a video that urged service members to refuse unlawful orders from their superiors. And a judge decides to delay the Administration’s case against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Then, Will Rinehart of the American Enterprise Institute joins the guys to discuss the politics of building new, massive data centers across the country and Americans’ attitudes toward artificial intelligence. Then finally, they discuss polling in New Hampshire that shows Pete Buttigieg in first place in the race for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, and an article in the RealClearPolitics Takeaway newsletter today on new polling from The Pew Research Center concerning voters' feelings about President Trump’s job performance. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss relations between President Donald Trump and New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, and whether the two can find common ground to help make the city more affordable for its residents. Also, Trump is developing his plan to address the high cost of health insurance. Will it be the basis for a compromise that could avoid a government shutdown in January? Then, Dean of the Institute for World Politics - James S. Robbins joins the guys to discuss the latest on ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine, and the rising military pressure on Venezuela, as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan “Raizin” Cain visits troops in the Caribbean. Then lastly, they discuss the news that Rep. Marjorie Tayor Greene (R-GA) will depart Congress in January, and what her political future may hold. Plus, a “teen takeover” of the annual tree-lighting ceremony in Chicago’s Millennium Park in Chicago on Friday night left one 14-year old boy dead from gunfire and many others wounded, raising new questions about the way the city handles crime. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.