THE DAILY BLAST with Greg Sargent

The GOP’s embrace of Donald Trump’s authoritarianism is growing more blatant. Republicans have joined him in attacking his criminal trials as illegitimate. Those angling to be his running mate say they wouldn’t have certified his 2020 loss. And many Republicans are echoing his refusal to say he’ll respect the 2024 outcome. We talked to Tom Nichols, a leading Never Trump conservative and staff writer at The Atlantic about why he is now arguing that his former party’s support for Trump has driven it into the abyss. Listen to this episode here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

RFK Jr.'s running mate, Nicole Shanahan, surprises with an $8 million donation to his campaign, raising concerns about spoiler threats in swing states. Discussion with strategist Stephanie Schriock on the challenges of countering right-wing influence, educating voters, and safeguarding democracy against potential spoiler candidates.

Matt Gertz discusses how right-wing media is laying groundwork to contest election results, portraying Democrats as election stealers. They explore GOP support for Trump's challenges to the rule of law and analyze potential running mates for Trump. The podcast delves into media responses to Trump's threats and the importance of comprehensive coverage to prevent future incidents like the Capitol siege.

Ankush Khardori, former federal prosecutor, discusses how Trump's lawyers' mistakes stem from his demand for absolute loyalty, explaining Cohen's shift from devotion to betrayal. They delve into the dynamics of Trump's 'cult-like' loyalty, his lawyers' strategic flaws, and the implications of Cohen's testimony on the Trump defense.

This week, The New York Times released new polls that sent shock waves through the Democratic establishment, finding Donald Trump leading in all six key swing states, in some cases by startling margins. While President Biden has fared better in other recent polls, the bottom line is that he is trailing in all the swing-state polling averages. So we talked to Jefrey Pollack, a top pollster for the Biden campaign, who laid out why he thinks it’s premature to read too much into these polls, and why the current data set, in his view, actually shows a hidden path to reelection for the president. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim Kessler from Third Way discusses how Democrats are winning the war on crime under Biden, contrasting with Trump's failed approach. The podcast explores the significant increase in funding for public safety projects by congressional Democrats, highlighting their success in addressing the crime issue. Kessler emphasizes the importance of countering Trump's false narratives on crime and effectively communicating the Democrats' achievements in reducing crime rates.

Former federal prosecutor Barbara McQuade discusses how Stormy Daniels's mockery of Trump during her trial could impact his conviction, highlighting the potential damage to Trump's credibility and motives for committing crimes in the hush-money scheme.

David Drucker, senior writer at The Dispatch, discusses the surprising anti-Trump sentiment in Indiana GOP primary, where Nikki Haley gained significant support. The trend of resistance against Trump among Republican voters raises questions about Biden's potential to sway these voters. The outcome serves as a warning sign for MAGA movement in November.

Rep. Ted Lieu discusses the power struggle between Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Johnson, Democrats' strategy to protect Johnson, and the waning influence of Greene and MAGA within the House GOP.

Kim Wehle, a professor of law and former assistant U.S. attorney, discusses the bombshells in Trump's trial, including Hope Hicks's testimony undermining his defense, new evidence linking payments to Stormy Daniels, Trump held in contempt, and predictions of more damaging revelations ahead.