GD POLITICS

Mary Radcliffe, political journalist offering on-the-ground qualitative takeaways. Nathaniel Rakich, data-focused political analyst explaining polling and messaging context. They dissect the speech's record length and showmanship. They debate tone, graphic storytelling, applause optics, few legislative asks, narrow affordability proposals, and the subdued rebuttal.

Jason Furman, Harvard economist and former chair of President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, offers sharp analysis of recent policy and data. They unpack the Supreme Court tariff ruling and its effects on trade and business decisions. He argues we may have achieved a rare soft landing, weighs recession risks, discusses AI’s productivity prospects, and reviews taxes, housing policy, and Fed strategy.

Rick Perry, former Texas governor and U.S. Secretary of Energy turned advocate for ibogaine research, reflects on the heated Texas Senate primary and why he backs John Cornyn. He describes discovering and trying ibogaine, its therapeutic promise and his push for clinical trials. He also revisits his 2012 debate 'oops' moment and the personal struggles behind it.

John Burn-Murdoch, Financial Times data reporter who tracks AI's effects and democratic backsliding. He discusses why AI anxiety feels different now. He explains how agentic tools are boosting software output and which jobs are most exposed. He also maps democratic erosion in the U.S. and considers links between AI-driven inequality and political decline.

Lenny Bronner, Senior data scientist at The Washington Post, gives technical polling analysis. Mary Radcliffe, head of research at 50 Plus One, tracks approval and public-opinion trends. They discuss Gallup stopping presidential approval tracking and what that means for long-run comparisons. They debate polling and politics around DHS funding and the political fallout from the Epstein files.

Patrick Svitek, a long‑time Texas political reporter, breaks down the messy Texas Senate primaries. He walks through the Cornyn‑Paxton‑Hunt GOP dynamics and the Tallarico‑Crockett Democratic contest. He highlights the Tarrant County upset, shifting Latino and Black coalitions, immigration’s rising salience, and how scandals and spending could shape November matchups.

Jessica Huseman, VoteBeat editorial director with on-the-ground reporting about voter-roll practices, and Nathaniel Rakich, VoteBeat managing editor and election analyst, unpack threats to the 2026 midterms. They discuss DOJ requests for state voter rolls, risks from wrongful purges, limits of a national voter file, legal and privacy concerns, and how federalism shapes election resilience.

Leah Askarinam, AP elections reporter covering campaign dynamics and voting trends. Jacob Rubashkin, deputy editor at Inside Elections and electoral analyst. They walk through the early math for 2026 control, discuss the generic ballot and Trump approval, weigh Senate map challenges and key competitive states, and flag House bellwether districts and special-election signals.

Claire Malone, reporting-based political commentator, joins Nate Silver, data-driven poll analyst. They open with a sober conversation about Alex Preddy’s killing and its political reverberations. Then they turn playful with a live 2028 Democratic primary draft, debating likely contenders, strategic picks, and what shapes momentum in a crowded field.

Nathaniel Rakich, managing editor at Votebeat and data-focused political analyst, and Mary Radcliffe, head of research at FiftyPlusOne and polling expert, unpack two recent federal immigration shootings in Minneapolis. They discuss Republican pushback, the role of video evidence, polling on immigration and enforcement, potential protests and funding fights, and whether this moment could shift politics ahead of 2026.