The Hugh Hewitt Show: Highly Concentrated

The Sportswriter Olympic Struggle Session and preview of SOTU

Feb 25, 2026
James Lileks, columnist known for sharp cultural humor; Michael Watley, former RNC chair and NC Senate candidate; Michael Walsh, novelist and commentator on history and religion; David Drucker, senior political writer analyzing Washington. They spar over the Olympic hockey backlash, cultural fights and Minnesota scandals. They preview the State of the Union, political messaging, midterm tactics, military posture, and campaign ground game.
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ANECDOTE

Ruthless Podcast Take On Hockey Backlash

  • Michael Duncan recounts Democrats' backlash to Team USA hockey as self-defeating politicization.
  • He contrasts American patriotism at the Olympics with Democrats taking the opposite side and booing national pride.
ADVICE

Use Vignettes To Sell Economic Gains

  • Use the State of the Union as the opening shot to nationalize the midterms by selling economic gains and concrete examples.
  • Duncan advises weaving vignettes (like daycare fraud) to connect accomplishments to voters' lives.
ADVICE

Acknowledge Affordability Then Show Results

  • Focus messaging on kitchen-table affordability and show empathy for voters' struggles.
  • David Drucker recommends swapping claims like "affordability is a hoax" for "I see where you're coming from, I'm working hard" to persuade skeptics.
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