RealClearPolitics Podcast

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and RCP White House correspondent Phil Wegmann discuss today’s launch of President Trump’s new tariff regime and whether Trump and Vladimir Putin will meet in person to talk about the future of the Ukraine War. They also discuss whether Trump’s push for redistricting will have unintended consequences. Plus, they chat about Trump directing the Commerce Department to begin work on a new census that would not count illegal immigrants, with implications for representation in Congress and apportionment of electoral college votes in presidential elections and federal grants. Then finally, Phil Wegmann interviews Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina about why he opposes a stock trading ban for members of Congress and his views of Trump’s involvement in cryptocurrency. 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 President Trump’s claim that he was debanked by major New York financial institutions due to pressure from Biden-era bank regulators. They also talk about crime in the nation’s capital which has led Trump to threaten a possible federal takeover of Washington, DC. Then, they discuss President Trump’s statement yesterday that he considers Vice President J.D. Vance the heir apparent to the MAGA movement. And, they chat about the expanding battle over redistricting as more states threaten to change their congressional maps in response to Texas. Then finally, they talk about Glenn Kessler, the Washington Post editor who has written “The Fact Checker” column since 2011 and his new piece for Substack about his decision to take a buy-out and leave the paper. And winding it up, Andrew talks with historian Jay Cost of the American Enterprise Institute about why Congress takes the summer off and whether members will continue to hold town halls in their districts. 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 RCP White House correspondent Phil Wegmann discuss attorney general Pam Bondi’s decision to order a federal prosecutor to prepare evidence for a grand jury looking into Obama administration officials and their handling of intelligence about Russia’s role in the 216 election. And they talk about the House Oversight Committee which today issued subpoenas for Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Merrick Garland, Bill Barr and others as they investigate Jeffrey Epstein. Then, they discuss Senator Elizabeth Warren’s endorsement of New York Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mandami, while other prominent Democrats demure. Plus, they talk about Jim Acosta holding an on-air conversation with an artificial intelligence generated version of one of the students killed in the Parkland school shooting in 2018, Joaquin Oliver. According to Acosta, “I really felt like I was speaking with Joaquin. It’s just a beautiful thing.” Next, Tom talks to RCP contributor and lawyer Richard Porter about what redistricting in Texas may mean if California, New York and other states follow suit. Then RCP contributor Maggie Miller talks to psychologist and lead investigator Christopher J. Ferguson about a recent piece in RealClearInvestigations that looks at “dopamine addiction” claims surrounding social media. Are we really addicted to our phones, or is that a myth? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Photo courtesy of the AP's Mark Black Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss new jobs data from the Labor Department that show the labor market is slowing. And, they talk about Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) who released newly declassified documents related to the Trump/Russia investigation including conversations between the Hillary Clinton campaign and George Soros’ Open Society Foundation. Next, they discuss President Trump’s plans to break ground in September on a new $200 million ballroom for the White House, and they give up their “You Cannot Be Serious” stories for the week. Then, Part 1: RCP White House correspondent Phil Wegmann talks with Neera Tanden, President of the Center for American Progress and a key presidential aide during the Biden Administration, about her recent article for The Wall Street Journal, “How Democrats Can Win on Immigration". And, Part 2: RCP White House correspondent Phil Wegmann talks with Neera Tanden about the symbolism of Alligator Alcatraz and her recent testimony before the House Oversight Committee on staff use of the autopen during the Biden Administration. Tanden is currently president of the Center for American Progress. She was director of the United States Domestic Policy Council from 2023 to 2025 and staff secretary to President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2023. 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 former Vice President Kamala Harris’ decision not to run for governor of California and her announcement today of her new campaign memoir, 107 Days. And, they talk about new polling from Gallup that shows Democrats have regained their advantage when it comes to party affiliation, even as the party’s favorability rating among voters remains at a historic low. Then, they discuss Trump’s tariff policies, including today’s announcement of a 90-day extension for Mexico and a promise to use tariffs to punish Canada for backing Palestinian statehood. Plus, a federal appeals court begins today to consider a case that challenges Trump’s ability to unilaterally impose tariffs, while the Senate advances a bill that would ban Congress, the Vice President and the President from trading individual stocks. Next, Tom Bevan talks to Ausin Berg, Executive Director of the Chicago Policy Center and author of The New Chicago Way about Mayor Brandon Johnson’s proposal for a “corporate head tax" in Chicago to help close the city’s $1.1 billion dollar budget deficit. The tax would charge large corporations for each individual they employs within the city. And lastly, Andrew Walworth talks to presidential historian Tevi Troy about Joe Biden’s forthcoming memoir, the $10 million dollar advance the former president received for it, and why he predicts the book will make for dull reading. 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 New Jersey Senator Corey Booker’s tirade on the Senate floor attacking fellow Democrats for cooperating with President Trump. And, they talk about some new data on the U.S. economy which shows strength in the second quarter, but critics say that Trump’s tariffs make it hard to get a real reading on the economy’s performance. Then, they discuss a report from NBC News that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is considering leaving his Pentagon post to run for governor of Tennessee in 2026. Plus, they chat about some House Republicans who want to rename the Kennedy Center “The Donald J. Trump Center For Performing Arts”. Next, Tom talks to RCP senior elections analyst Sean Trende about Texas Republicans' proposal to redraw the state’s congressional map to gain as many as five seats in the 2026 midterms. And lastly, Carl talks to Democratic lawyer Lanny Davis about why he thinks the Democratic Party should encourage open primaries and allow independents to participate in primary voting. 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 Monday’s mass shooting in midtown and its political impact of New York on the city’s mayoral race. And, they discuss Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu disagreeing on the severity of the food crisis in Gaza. What has been the role of misleading and fake images in shaping public opinion? Then, they talk about a New York Times report that Harvard is the next Ivy League school to consider settling with the federal government over accusations of violating civil rights laws, one week after Columbia University agreed to pay $220 million to reinstate its federal grants and end investigations. Plus, they chat about the controversy over a new set of ads from American Eagle featuring actress Sydney Sweeney. Critics have denounced the ads for including what they see as racist dog whistles, while supporters say the commercials signal the “death of woke advertising”. And finally, Carl talks to former congressman Brad Carson, head of Americans for Responsible Innovation, about President Trump’s “AI Action Plan” and how regulation of artificial intelligence will help shape America’s future economy and security. 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 RCP White House correspondent Phil Wegmann discuss the latest news from President Trump’s trip to Scotland. And, they talk about former North Carolina governor Roy Cooper entering the race for the Senate, providing Democrats with a potential pick-up in 2026. Then, they discuss a Boston judge’s decision to stop the government from defunding Planned Parent. And, Phil Wegmann reports on his trip to interview Governor Ron DeSantis at the Florida detainee center known as “Alligator Alcatraz". Next, Phil Wegmann interviews Florida governor Ron DeSantis outside of Alligator Alcatraz. And lastly, RCP contributor Charlie Stone talks to Google Chief Strategist Neil Hoyne on the future of artificial intelligence, how it should be regulated, and what it will mean for young job seekers in the future. 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 Heather Wilhelm of National Review discuss polls released today by The Wall Street Journal and Gallup, and what they tell us about Trump’s current standing with American voters. They also talk about the White House shifting strategy on the Epstein Files and President Trump’s new executive order that attempts to set standards for “name, image and likeness” payments for college athletes. Plus, they have the "You Can't Be Serious" stories of the week. Next, Maggie Miller talks to RealClear Investigations editor J. Pedar Zane about his most recent commentary on the lure of artificial companionship and its implications for human relationships and society. And finally, Carl Cannon talks to legal scholar Harry Litman about Donald Trump’s lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.