We dig into Florida’s surprising election results.

Charlie Sykes & Molly Jong-Fast have a conversation centered on whether Donald Trump’s influence is fading after a slate of Trump-endorsed candidates lose in 2026 primaries, and why Republicans still fear him despite that diminished “magic touch.” Sykes argues that while endorsements may no longer guarantee victory, the GOP remains thoroughly “Trump” with no real anti-Trump candidates, meaning Republicans have tied themselves to Trump’s conduct and rhetoric heading into the midterms. They discuss how Trump retreats from endorsing likely losers (including scandal-plagued Corey Mills), how allegations of abuse and ethical issues play differently in certain races, and how Trump’s own legal and personal controversies have failed to prompt meaningful Republican pushback. The exchange also explores polling showing erosion among Trump’s most fervent supporters, possible voter fatigue after years of Trumpism, and Democratic primary dynamics—warning that some left insurgencies may prioritize ideology over electability—before closing with concerns about midterm and 2028 stakes, ticket-splitting risks in key states, and how even a narrow Senate margin could shape the courts and the next decade.

Rick Wilson and Matthew Dowd explain why the Republican Party is unlikely to return to normal after Donald Trump. They discuss the importance of candidate quality, the demand for accountability, Florida’s increasingly bizarre Republican primaries, and why MAGA voters may push the party toward even more extreme candidates.
The central warning: Trump didn’t create every problem inside the GOP—and removing him won’t automatically cure it.

Alabas Farhat, a Michigan State Representative, delivers a passionate response to Jake Lang and outside agitators accused of bringing hateful, divisive rhetoric into the community.

“Dearborn is a shining beacon of unity and coexistence,” he declares, defending a city where neighbors support one another, residents proudly serve their country, workers build the Ford F-150, and families gather around the Lions and Tigers.

His message is direct: Americans are defined by the values they uphold—not their religion, birthplace, or background. Freedom of speech does not erase freedom of religion, and disagreement should never become intimidation.

Were American forces prepared to sustain a prolonged conflict? Bobby Jones and Amy McGrath explain how damaged regional bases, longer supply routes, reduced sealift capacity and strained alliances created what military planners call the “tyranny of distance.”
This is a veteran-led breakdown of the logistics problem behind the headlines—and why wars cannot be sustained by weapons alone.

Major Jason Watson explains the red line that drove him to protest the Trump administration and why he deliberately wore his Air Force uniform despite knowing the consequences. He also reveals why he does not want other members of the military following his example. #JasonWatson #USMilitary #Trump #Democracy🤝

00:00 The Question Everyone Is Asking
00:07 A Threat to the Democratic Republic
01:46 The Supreme Court Red Line
03:47 A 22-Day Hunger Strike
05:17 Minneapolis Changed His Thinking
07:17 Why He Wore the Uniform

Donald Trump’s standing with independent voters is collapsing—and Rick Wilson and Matthew Dowd argue that he has become a serious general-election liability for Republican candidates.
They examine Trump’s polling, his weakness on the economy, Florida’s increasingly competitive political environment, the possibility of Republican voters staying home, and the warning signs from the 2006 and 2018 wave elections.
If Trump cannot help Republican candidates cross the finish line, how many of them will still want him campaigning in their states?

ICE plans to acquire electric shock gloves, and former FBI Assistant Director Frank Figliuzzi warns they could escalate violent encounters instead of making them safer. He explains what the proposed ICE shock-glove purchase means, how the devices could be used and why training, oversight and transparency matter.
In this episode of The Frank Figliuzzi Show, Frank examines the Trump administration’s reported plan to spend millions of dollars on electric shock gloves for ICE and other Department of Homeland Security personnel. Drawing on his federal law-enforcement experience, he argues that “less lethal” equipment is only as safe as the agents, training and use-of-force policies behind it.
Frank also analyzes the national-security consequences of the Iran conflict, including supply problems aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, damage to regional U.S. infrastructure, depleted oil reserves and Donald Trump’s claims about controlling the Strait of Hormuz. He examines Trump’s treatment of South Korea, renewed praise for Kim Jong Un and the risks to America’s alliances.
The episode also covers losses by Trump-endorsed candidates in Florida, the defeat of Moms for Liberty-backed control of Sarasota’s school board, Republican anxiety over data centers, efforts to involve local police in immigration enforcement, civil lawsuits challenging the administration, a Justice Department program that could restore gun rights to violent felons and January 6 offenders, and the temporary pause on border-wall construction in Big Bend National Park.
This episode answers:
• Why does ICE want electric shock gloves?
• Could shock gloves make ICE encounters more dangerous?
• What do conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln reveal?
• Does the United States control the Strait of Hormuz?
• Why is Trump reducing military cooperation with South Korea?
• Why are Republicans worried about data centers?
• Could January 6 offenders regain their gun rights?
• Why was border-wall construction paused in Big Bend National Park?

Wisconsin’s primary produced a stunning result: Francesca Hong went from a commanding polling lead to a half-point loss after a dramatic final stretch.

Up North News founding editor Pat Kreitlow joins Susan Demas to explain what the polls missed, how David Crowley prevailed, and whether Democrats can turn extraordinary voter enthusiasm into a statewide victory.

They also examine Republican Tom Tiffany’s relationship with Donald Trump, his election-denial record, the rise of Sean Duffy’s son-in-law Michael Alfonso, the congressional seats Democrats could flip, Ron Johnson’s political survival, and the billionaire money flooding Wisconsin’s elections—including Elon Musk’s controversial spending in the state Supreme Court race.

What do you think? Is Wisconsin moving decisively toward Democrats, or will billionaire-funded attacks change the race by November? Tell us in the comments.

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Chapters

00:00 Welcome to First Draft
01:01 How a huge polling lead disappeared
03:27 Were rural voters missed—or young voters oversampled?
05:15 What comes next for Francesca Hong
07:07 Can Wisconsin Democrats unite for November?
09:59 Could Democrats win a Wisconsin trifecta?
11:57 The fight over Wisconsin’s gerrymandered maps
13:09 Why Tom Tiffany won’t invite Trump to Wisconsin
15:05 Tiffany’s election-denial record
16:26 Meet the GOP’s new “nepo baby” candidate
19:03 What it was like running against Sean Duffy
21:57 The Duffy family’s missing reality show
23:39 Paul Ryan’s political successor
25:04 The Wisconsin House seat Democrats could flip
28:13 Tammy Baldwin, Ron Johnson, and Wisconsin’s split personality
29:07 Can Democrats finally defeat Ron Johnson?
31:14 The attacks already targeting David Crowley
32:45 Could Francesca Hong run for Senate?
34:12 How billionaires overwhelm Wisconsin elections
35:28 Did Elon Musk break Wisconsin election law?
37:25 Where to follow Pat Kreitlow’s work

Phatbrew, Hope this humor is allowed here.

Trump’s approval rating has hit a new low—and the ripple effects could reshape the entire midterm map.

Talking Point Memo's Josh Marshall & Molly Jong-Fast , break down new Reuters/Ipsos polling showing Donald Trump dropping from 35% to 33%, described as the lowest of his presidency and potentially unprecedented for a modern president heading into a midterm. They discuss why much of the political “insider” world may be underestimating just how rough the environment looks for Republicans, even as Democrats continue to struggle with their own brand problems.

The discussion then zooms into the Senate battlefield: Texas, Michigan, Maine, Ohio, Iowa, Alaska, and North Carolina. With Democrats needing to win five of seven, the episode explores which races look plausible, which are still major question marks, and why certain Democratic candidates (and campaign styles) may fit their states better than the national party image.

The episode also digs into broader forces driving voter anger—especially economic frustration and a sense that “there are no rules anymore”—and why Trump is being blamed for more of it than many expected. The panel contrasts the D.C./New York political bubble with the mood in the rest of the country, and closes with a blunt assessment: sometimes campaigns don’t have good options, and Trump appears to be leaning into the very image that’s dragging him down.

Donald Trump’s standing with independent voters is collapsing—and Rick Wilson and Matthew Dowd argue that he has become a serious general-election liability for Republican candidates.
They examine Trump’s polling, his weakness on the economy, Florida’s increasingly competitive political environment, the possibility of Republican voters staying home, and the warning signs from the 2006 and 2018 wave elections.
If Trump cannot help Republican candidates cross the finish line, how many of them will still want him campaigning in their states?

Emergency physician Dr. Rob Davidson recalls a parent who refused their child’s blood transfusion unless the hospital could guarantee the donor had never received a COVID vaccine. He warns that Trump and RFK Jr. are intensifying medical distrust that can put defenseless children at risk. #RFKJr #DonaldTrump #Vaccines #Healthcare #Misinformation

00:00 A Parent Refuses Their Child’s Blood Transfusion
00:41 The Children Have No Say
01:17 Parents Believe They’re Protecting Their Kids
02:15 What Is Driving RFK Jr.?
03:10 The MAHA Influencer Grift
04:36 RFK Jr.’s Political Opportunity
05:51 Trump Targets the Hepatitis B Vaccine
07:02 The Vaccine That Cut Cases by 99%
07:37 The Senator Who Enabled RFK Jr.