Perino on Politics

Charlie Kirk's assassination continues to reverberate around the country as many Americans speculate on why this happened and ask if the country is more divided than ever. Host of The Guy Benson Show on FOX News Radio, Guy Benson, and Outkick Columnist and Host of the Getting Hammered podcast, Mary Katharine Ham, step in for Dana to discuss Charlie's impact on American politics, his legacy, and the emotional response to his death.  Guy and Mary Katharine highlight New York Governor Kathy Hochul's endorsement of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and weigh in on why extreme candidates could lead to enormous problems for the future of the Democratic Party.   I Wish Someone Had Told Me: Mary Katharine notes that despite the darkness the country has experienced over the past few weeks, Charlie Kirk's message for faith lives on.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following President Trump's crackdown on crime in Washington, D.C., public attention has increasingly turned to issues of crime and safety. At the same time, New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani is actively seeking endorsements ahead of the upcoming election. As the race intensifies, some question whether mainstream Democrats will seek to distance themselves from this progressive faction.   Republican Strategist and Co-Founder of South and Hill Strategies, Colin Reed, discusses the current issues Democrats face as they head into the 2026 Midterm Elections and the 2028 Presidential Election.    I Wish Someone Had Told Me: President Trump and California Governor Newsom go head-to-head. Who will have the last laugh?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Following a few sleepy weeks in Washington, D.C., Congress returns from recess, where a budget battle is already brewing. Senior Vice President of CRC Advisors Matt Whitlock explains why a funding fight won't work in the Democrats' favor; however, he notes that nobody wins in a government shutdown. Matt describes the current messaging problem that Democrats face and highlights President Trump's approval ratings, which are significantly better at this point in his term than it was during his first term. I Wish Someone Had Told Me: Matt touches on the rise of unaffiliated voters as the 2026 Midterm Elections inch closer.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Back to school means back to the basics, and this year, that might mean banning phones in schools as concerns grow over kids' learning and plummeting reading rates. The founder of En Avant Strategies and former staff director of the Senate Republican Communications Center, Antonia Ferrier, explains why parents and legislators have growing concerns about technology in the classroom.  Antonia highlights the current crime issue Washington, D.C. is facing and why President Trump's crackdown is working. She also discusses whether President Trump will take similar action in other U.S. cities, which are overrun by crime.  I Wish Someone Had Told Me: Dana and Antonia recap some of their experiences working on Capitol Hill and discuss the importance of having strong women leaders in the government.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While the 2026 Midterm Elections swiftly approach, some Democrats and Republicans are already looking ahead to the 2028 Presidential Election. Founder of Podium Strategies and former Chief of Staff and advisor to the Biden White House Press Office, Yemisi Egbewole, breaks down some of the challenges facing the current Democratic Party.  Following President Trump's press conference last week about crime in Washington, D.C., Yemisi shares her thoughts on the issue and her growing concerns about youth crime in major cities. She also describes the best candidates to look at for the 2028 Election, and why Governors may be the best bet for the Democratic Party as they look to move beyond both the Biden administration era.  I Wish Someone Had Told Me: As youth voters grow more concerned with the state of the U.S. economy, Yemisi explains why Democrats need to change their messaging tactics when appealing to younger generations.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bruce Mehlman, the founder of Mehlman Consulting and author of The Age of Disruption Substack, discusses current political dynamics in the U.S. He breaks down President Trump's strategies regarding crime in D.C. and the implications for youth crime and public safety. Mehlman shares insights on how AI might influence redistricting and why it’s never too early to consider the 2028 Presidential Election. The conversation also touches on international trade relations and the evolving landscape of U.S.-Canadian negotiations.

While the end of summer nears, Democrats continue to push their anti-MAGA agenda, and President Trump steamrolls ahead. Founder of the Stewart Group, Don "Stew" Stewart, unpacks the current political climate, including why the nation is more divided than ever. Stew suggests that Democrats' messaging is not helping them gain voters. He and Dana discuss potential issues that the Democrats could target and reform to address their declining popularity. I Wish Someone Had Told Me: Dana and Stew examine states that are considering redistricting before the 2026 Midterm Elections. Will an attempt at gerrymandering help the Republican Party secure a win?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the 2026 Midterm Elections approach, are Americans already making decisions for the following November?  Democratic Strategist and Senior Vice President at The Messina Group, Ty Matsdorf, provides insight into the current state of the Democratic Party. He shares how Democrats plan to flip the majority in 2026 and whether they will remain bogged down by the policies and actions of the Biden administration.    Ty also describes the changing media landscape and the need for Democrats to adapt their messaging and outreach strategies to appeal to right-leaning voters.    I Wish Someone Had Told Me: Dana and Ty discuss whether questions concerning NYC Democratic Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani will frustrate other Democrats on the campaign trail.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Outkick Columnist and Host of the Getting Hammered podcast, Mary Katharine Ham, guest hosts for Dana. She is joined by Republican strategist and co-founder of South and Hill Strategies, Colin Reed, to unpack the first six months of President Trump's second term and his agenda successes, which Republicans hope will lead to economic gains.  Mary Katharine and Colin weigh in on the current state of the Democratic Party. Colin notes they're putting themselves on the wrong side of 80/20 issues, and without a unifying message or leader, they will continue to flounder. I Wish Someone Had Told Me: It has been one year since former President Biden dropped out of the 2024 Presidential race, and Colin explains why Americans still want answers about what happened during his presidency.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Senate Republicans are laser-focused on getting the so-called rescissions package across the finish line. Republican strategist and Executive Vice President at Targeted Victory, Matt Gorman, breaks down the package aiming to claw back government spending. He explains that despite the previous noise surrounding President Trump and the former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) head Elon Musk's initiative to cut waste, fraud, and abuse, their agenda isn't complete without the help of Congress.  Meanwhile, as the 2026 Midterm Elections inch closer, Matt describes why the GOP base will define the results.  I Wish Someone Had Told Me: Dana and Matt highlight the discussion surrounding President Trump and the Epstein scandal. Has an online debate sparked internal fighting between MAGA Republicans? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices