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Donald Trump is still dangerous, but voters clearly signaled that they had had enough of the moral collapse he ushered in. The electorate yearned for candidates who spoke about their faith-based values—not just Talarico and Hamilton, but Ossoff and El-Sayed as well. The vibe shift is so real that even ICE collaborator Alex Karp wants to be friends with the Democrats again. Ezra also predicts that Dems in the new Congress will be economics-first, with a particular focus on healthcare reform. And the party will end its unstinting support for Israel. Plus: The permitting reform bill will help the Dems make government work better, and AI agents are getting better at lying.
Ezra Klein joins Tim Miller.
show notes:

Ezra’s recent pod interview with Adam Jentleson (includes spanking talk

Some of the AI newsletters Ezra recommends:
Jasmine Sun's Substack

Understanding AI

Casey Newton’s Platformer

Transformer

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Too many voters in 2024 wanted to be with the bully party. But a lot of them saw how much cruelty that entailed—particularly with ICE and the attempted theft of voting rights. Nick also thinks that more members of the manosphere now recognize that being really mean is not a sign of strength. Plus: the opportunistic sports commentators who are playing to MAGA, Tim’s traumatic Chiefs memories, and Nick’s big miss with Jokić. Also, Tim calls for patience during the lame duck, and he speaks with Anderson Clayton, the young North Carolina Democratic Party chair, about the amazing and surprising wins the party racked up there.
Nick Wright and Anderson Clayton join Tim Miller.
show notes:

Nick’s shows “What’s Wright? With Nick Wright” and “First Things First”

The North Carolina Democratic Party website

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Trump’s loyalist foot soldiers in Congress are still sticking by him but the power of the presidency is ebbing away from him. He’s lost not only the leverage to broker a peace between Russia and Ukraine, the Iranians also saw the results of the midterms—which significantly undercuts Trump’s ability to negotiate a deal favorable to the US. Plus: Vance’s political future is evaporating before our eyes, Thune has been the weakest majority leader in decades, and Trump was clearly living in a delusionary bubble before the midterms (with the help of his giggling assistant). Susan Glasser joins Tim Miller.
Susan Glasser joins Tim Miller.
show notes:

Susan's column on the election results

The New Yorker’s ‘Political Scene’ podcast

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Nearly a week after the midterms, Trump made a feeble rigged election claim. He also made a phony offer to work with Democrats on an immigration deal, hoping somehow to distract them from their oversight powers. And like a true mob boss, Trump elevated tough guy Stephen Miller to keep the administration from falling apart—and to protect the grift. But he knows he was swamped in a massive defeat and that the country now has the possibility of a very different future. Still, the ICE terror state is ongoing, and the Dems have to push for the release of nonviolent immigrants from the internment camps. Plus: Now we know Bill had just about the right amount of hopium, the polling misses continued, Trump will play game show host in choosing a successor in ’28, and he sure looks like he subverted our national security interests just for a $25 million bribe for his ballroom. 
Bill Kristol (Mr. Right) joins Tim Miller.
show notes:

Sarah on how committed GOP voters are coping

Video of Texas voters celebrating Hinojosa’s and Talarico’s wins, which Bill mentioned

Scott Colom’s ad featuring the home of Medgar Evers

JVL on JD’s options now

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Closing Song: MJ Lenderman - “She’s Leaving You”

The MAGA coalition is falling apart, Fox News is flummoxed, and Trump is having to grapple with being rejected by huge swaths of America. Steele only has double birds for Republicans who played along with the 10-year hijacking of the party and are now trying to clean up their act. And in a way, the country gave double birds to the administration over DEI, based on the diverse slate of candidates who’ve won statewide office all over the place. Plus: Texas is the whole enchilada for Republicans, electing the president via the national popular vote is looking more possible, Marco leaving the administration would be consistent with how calculating he’s always been, and Tim’s 2012 autopsy was not wrong, just early.
Michael Steele joins Tim for the (much gloating!) weekend pod.
show notes:

Bill in Friday's "Morning Shots"

JVL on the conspiracy to push Trump aside (gift link)

Image of the before-and-after of Georgia’s statewide office holders

Talarico’s early vote total > Paxton’s overall vote total

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