Podcast
10 Minute Drill
Hosted by Matt Whitlock · EN
Your morning 10-minute rundown of the most important stories in news and politics, hosted by veteran political strategist Matt Whitlock. We’re keeping it fun, fast, and light because you’ve got enough going on. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.
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Rubio's Iran Warning, $10M DNC Autopsy DISASTER, Protesters CHEER ICE & Texas Election Night
Yesterday00:15:58Summary readyAt Trump's 12th Cabinet meeting, Secretary of State Rubio was blunt: Iran will never have a nuclear weapon — full stop. Defense Secretary Hegseth went further, making clear that if negotiations don't produce a deal, the Department of War is ready to finish the job militarily. We break down what these back-to-back statements mean for the state of talks and what the administration's red lines actually are. Texas held its primary runoff last night. John Cornyn holds on. The Paxton-Cornyn calculus shifted dramatically once voters got a closer look at Democratic candidate Talarico — including his "God is queer" remarks that even CNN panelists couldn't defend. We break down the results and what they mean heading into November. The DNC just released its 2024 election autopsy — a report they paid $10 million for. DNC Chair Ken Martin's own cover letter says he's "not proud of this product," doesn't endorse what's in it, and couldn't put the DNC's stamp of approval on it. The report also fails to address the single most important factor in 2024: Joe Biden's delayed exit from the race. Democrats have lost massive ground in elections from 2009 through 2024, and this autopsy doesn't come close to explaining why. We give it the autopsy it deserves. Meanwhile 2028 jostling is already underway. Cory Booker says "the system is rigged." Chris Murphy is talking about "community." Ro Khanna says Democrats lost because they "weren't willing to say the working class was shafted." We look at who's positioning, who's being honest, and who's just running the same playbook that's been losing for 15 years. Andrew Bremberg has a three-step plan to cut healthcare costs through transparency — giving patients prices before care, cleaning up the federal employee health program, and forcing transparency across employer health plans. It's a practical, serious proposal and worth five minutes of your time. The EU is planning to hit Google with a fine in the high triple-digit millions over antitrust concerns. Google says the changes they've already made represent "the biggest downgrade in the product's history." The U.S. State Department is watching closely and calling it "corrosive to private investment." We break down what's really happening. And the moment nobody expected: anti-ICE protesters outside a detention facility — cheering for ICE agents. We play the clip. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro 0:31 - Cabinet Meeting Highlights & Iran 2:02 – Texas Primary Night Results 5:28 – Andrew Bremberg’s OpEd 7:42 - Europe & Google 9:51 – 2028 Democrats: Who's Positioning & How 14:32 – Anti-ICE Protesters Cheer for ICE
SummaryGraham Platner’s bizarre origin story; Dems fight ICE by building a wall; Jaxson Dart and the heckler’s veto
2d ago00:14:32Summary readyGraham Platner positioned himself as a working-class Maine veteran ready to take on the establishment. So why did his father give him $200,000 to buy his first house? Why did GQ profile him weeks before he even filed to run? Why did the New York Times write a feature on him before he even announced? And why does the same political consultant who worked for Fetterman and is now working for Zohran Mamdani keep showing up in his orbit? We break down the full Platner operation — and why it looks a lot less like populism and a lot more like the Beto O'Rourke playbook dressed up in Carhartt. Meanwhile Democrats are running from Platner faster than he can cash his donor checks. Elizabeth Warren — silent. Chuck Schumer — silent. Hakeem Jeffries — "haven't seen those posts." Cory Booker — "not been following." Jake Auchincloss essentially endorsed Susan Collins in a safe D+11 seat. The party that built Platner is now pretending he doesn't exist. In New Jersey, anti-ICE protesters outside Delaney Hall in Newark are building an autonomous zone — digging up cement blocks to physically blockade vehicle access to the detention facility. You might even say they're building a wall. Rep. Mikie Sherrill tried to visit and was turned away. We break down what's actually happening inside and outside the facility. Iran update: U.S. forces destroyed IRGC ships attempting to lay new mines in the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend. Talks are ongoing but the IRGC is making clear why peace negotiations aren't simple. We explain what "defensive in nature" actually means in this context. This week's Waste, Fraud & Abuse Wednesday: the numbers that should make every taxpayer's blood pressure spike. And Jaxson Dart introduced President Trump at a recent event — and is now getting torched by sports media for it. Emmanuel Acho says introducing the president shows a "lack of wisdom." We push back: political intolerance shouldn't be a veto over a teammate's right to their own beliefs. We all sat through years of Obama at every sporting event. Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes said it best. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro 0:37 – The Latest from Iran 2:00 – ICE takes on New Jersey 3:08 - the Platner Problem 6:46 - The Planter Op 9:40 – Waste, Fraud & Abuse Wednesday 11:38 – Jaxson Dart, the Heckler's Veto & Sports Politics 🔔 Subscribe for sharp, fast political news every Tuesday and Thursday. #GrahamPlatner #MaineSenate #ICE #DelaneyHall #Newark #IranDeal #JaxsonDart #WasteFraudAbuse #BetoORourke #ZohranMamdani #AntiICE #10MinuteDrill #PoliticalNews #BreakingNews #2026Midterms
SummaryMemorial Day Recap: Honoring the 13 Fallen, Iran on the Brink, Platner's Portnoy Disaster & Newsom's Gas Lie
3d ago00:13:55Summary ready⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Intro 00:40 – Honoring the 13 Fallen of Operation Epic Fury 01:11 – Iran Deal: "95%" There — or Not? 02:25 – America’s red lines with Iran 06:44 – Newsom Blames Chevron for Gas Prices 08:00 – California Primary Clown Car 09:50 – Platner Won't Apologize for mocking purple heart recipient 10:43 – Platner campaign steps in it with Portney
SummaryDemocrat Calls for Internment Camps, Massie OUT, Socialist Cities Collapse
1w ago00:15:36Summary readyA Texas Democratic congressional candidate just called for converting an ICE detention center into an internment camp for "American Zionists" — and her runoff is on May 26th. Democrats are scrambling. We break down the Maureen Galindo story and what it says about where the Democratic Party's radical fringe is heading. Trump is in the "final stages" of talks with Iran — which could mean a deal, or it could mean something very different is coming. We explain what's actually on the table. Primary night wrap-up: Thomas Massie is OUT after losing his Kentucky primary to Ed Gallrein. We break down what really happened — and why Massie's attempt to make it about Israel didn't work. Plus Georgia Supreme Court results and what the night's outcomes mean for the 2026 midterms. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Republicans need to be "broken" — and not just electorally. We play the clip and ask: who is this rhetoric actually motivating? Socialist cities update: Zohran Mamdani's New York and Seattle's new tax experiment are running into the same wall. Seattle's mayor is now "gravely concerned" about a billionaire exodus — just weeks after welcoming the new socialist agenda. We revisit Ronald Reagan's warning that never gets old. Plus your comments — including a great question about the ballroom and private funding — and why Mark Cuban deserves credit for standing up on drug price transparency even when it costs him politically. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro 0:36 – Midterm Outlook & Massie’s End 4:29 - Zohran’s NYC & Seattle’s Issue 8:26 – Hakeem Jeffries' "Break Them" Rhetoric 10:00 - Comment Section! 11:42 – Texas Democrat’s Anti-Semetic Stand 12:52 – The View’s latest wild take
SummaryIran's 5 Demands, Primary Night Results, NAACP Boycott & Cleveland Clinic Exposed
1w ago00:15:54Summary readyIran has submitted a new proposal to the United States with five demands: U.S. troop withdrawals from the region, war reparations, lifted sanctions, release of frozen assets, and an end to the naval blockade. Meanwhile, NATO is weighing a deployment to the Strait of Hormuz if it isn't open by July. We break down what this means — and why America's posture is raising serious questions. Then it's primary night across America. In Kentucky, Thomas Massie faces a serious challenge from Ed Gallrein, while a wide-open GOP Senate primary to replace retiring Mitch McConnell features Andy Barr vs. Daniel Cameron. Georgia's Senate runoff pits Mike Collins against Derek Dooley. We've got the results and what they tell us about where the Republican Party is heading. New 2028 Democratic primary polling is out — and the crosstabs are more revealing than the headline numbers. Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom, AOC, and Pete Buttigieg's support broken down by Black, white, and Hispanic Democrats tells a story of a party without a clear frontrunner. This week's Waste Wednesday: Cleveland Clinic collected $933 million in 340B drug program funds — money designed to help low-income patients — while running Super Bowl ads, building a facility in Abu Dhabi, paying executives millions, and maintaining a 7,000-piece art museum. We're not making this up. And the NAACP is calling on Black athletes and fans to boycott southern universities over voting rights and redistricting. We ask a simple question: where was the NAACP when Virginia Democrats drew maps that eliminated majority-minority districts? When an organization uses college kids as political pawns, it deserves scrutiny — regardless of party. Today's episode covers: • Iran's new terms and NATO's Hormuz warning • Kentucky, Georgia & Texas primary results • 2028 Democratic primary polling crosstabs • Cleveland Clinic's 340B scandal • The NAACP boycott and the politics behind it ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro 1:24 - Iran’s 5 Demands 3:15 – Primary Night America (KY, GA, TX) 5:51 – 2028 Dem Primary Polling Crosstabs 7:44 - White House Ballroom 10:11 – Waste Wednesday: Cleveland Clinic Exposed 13:06 – NAACP Boycott: Politics or Principle? Subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone who wants the news without the noise.
SummaryIran's Clock is Ticking, Dems' Race War Play, & the Fake Doctor Running for Senate | 10 Minute Drill
1w ago00:16:59Summary readyIran is on the clock — and Trump isn't bluffing. After Iran bombed a UAE nuclear facility, President Trump is holding a Situation Room meeting on next steps and issuing a stark warning: "TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE." We break down what's coming and why the ceasefire window may be closing fast. Plus: Democrats are going all-in on a race-based midterm strategy — Booker, AOC, Buttigieg, Ayanna Pressley, and more are leaning hard into racial framing heading into 2026. But is it actually about race — or about power? We look at how Democrats drew their dream redistricting map in Virginia and somehow ended up DILUTING Black political power in the process. Then: Kamala Harris's "No Bad Ideas Brainstorm" era of Democratic politics — from abolishing the Electoral College to packing the Supreme Court. And California is now proving that what starts as a "no bad ideas" brainstorm doesn't stay hypothetical for long. We also dig into the foreign-funded proxy war targeting American data centers — over $39 million in foreign donations being used to stoke fear about U.S. energy infrastructure. Who's behind it? Hint: it's not who the activists claim. And: Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed is calling himself a "physician" — but Politico found he has almost no history of actually treating patients. Meanwhile, his rival Mallory McMorrow's campaign is in freefall. We break down why. Finally: Democrats are getting caught on camera being coached on how to seem "authentic." Spoiler — it's not working. The 10 Minute Drill delivers fast, fun political analysis on the stories shaping Washington and the 2026 landscape. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday. ⏱️ TIME STAMPS: 0:00 – Intro 0:39 – Iran: Trump's warning & Situation Room meeting 2:23 – Democrats' race war midterm strategy 7:45 – Kamala's "No Bad Ideas Brainstorm" 10:22 – Foreign-funded data center proxy fight 12:37 – Abdul El-Sayed: the fake doctor running for Senate 15:04 – Democrats and authenticity (or the lack of it) #Iran #Trump #Democrats #Election2026 #KamalaHarris #10MinuteDrill #Politics #DataCenters #AbdulElSayed #Michigan #Redistricting #Midterms #MattWhitlock #BreakingNews #DonaldTrump
SummaryMonday Rundown: China deals, Kamala’s brainstorm, Ballroom brawl, next front in redistricting
2w ago00:08:12Summary readyJoin us for a special Monday rundown ahead of another crazy week! President Donald Trump returns from China with major headlines — but what did the United States actually gain from the trip? In this special Monday Rundown episode of the 10 Minute Drill podcast, we break down the potential Boeing deals, agricultural agreements, Taiwan tensions, and China’s reported agreement that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon. We also dive into the biggest foreign policy takeaway from the trip: China signaling it will not provide Iran with weapons to use against the United States as tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate. Plus: Trump’s latest warning to Iran: “TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!” The Virginia Supreme Court fallout and why Democrats may have wanted the rejection all along Kamala Harris and the “No Bad Ideas Brainstorm” era of Democrat politics Packing the Supreme Court, DC statehood, Puerto Rico statehood, and abolishing the Electoral College Democrats struggling to look “natural” on camera Ballroom funding controversies The growing political fight over data centers Abdul El-Sayed facing scrutiny over claims about being a doctor The 10 Minute Drill delivers fast-paced political analysis, breaking news, media reactions, and the stories shaping Washington and the 2026 political landscape. Time Stamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:42 - What Trump brought back from China 1:56 - Next in Iran 2:42 - Dems next move on redistricting fight 4:24 - Kamala no bad ideas brainstorm 5:44 - Democrats ballroom meltdown 7:16 -Stories of the week! Subscribe for daily political commentary, campaign analysis, Trump news, Supreme Court updates, and the latest from Capitol Hill. #Trump #China #Iran #SupremeCourt #KamalaHarris #Taiwan #Politics #10MinuteDrill #Virginia #DataCenters #Boeing #DonaldTrump #Election2026
SummaryTrump Arrives in China, JD Targets Fraud, Greenpeace Loses BIG | 10 Minute Drill
2w ago00:13:21Summary readyPresident Trump arrives in Beijing as tensions with China remain high over Taiwan, human rights, trade, and America’s strategic future. We break down the optics, the red lines from Beijing, and why experts are warning Americans not to be fooled by the Chinese Communist Party. Plus: Vice President JD Vance turns up the pressure on states over waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs, while Democrats continue fighting accountability measures even as new polling shows the party struggling with voters. Also in today’s episode: Trump’s high-stakes China visit Beijing’s warnings on Taiwan and “human rights” Hudson Institute warnings about China’s strategy JD Vance’s anti-fraud push Why fighting waste and abuse polls so well CNN’s Harry Enten on Democrats’ collapsing popularity Greenpeace loses a massive pipeline lawsuit North Dakota Supreme Court rejects Greenpeace appeal strategy “Crypto Day” and the CLARITY Act markup in Congress Democrats backing away from climate messaging Sheldon Whitehouse doubles down on climate politics Questions surrounding Sandra Whitehouse and climate-linked NGO funding The “All White Beach Club” controversy goes viral The 10 Minute Drill cuts through the noise with the biggest political stories shaping Washington, media, and the 2026 election cycle. 0:00 - Intro 0:35 - Trump in China 4:09 - JD Fights Fraud 6:40 - Unpopular Dems 8:05 - Greenpeace Loses 10:05 - Crypto Day 11:31 - Sheldon’s All White Beach Club #Trump #China #JDVance #Crypto #Greenpeace #ClimateChange #Politics #Congress #Taiwan #Democrats #Republicans #10MinuteDrill
SummaryUnpacking everything Trump hopes to accomplish in China; Zohran’s Intifada realized
2w ago00:14:51Summary readyPresident Trump arrives in Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Xi Jinping as the debate over China, trade, espionage, and American decline takes center stage. On today’s episode of the 10 Minute Drill, we break down Trump’s China strategy, growing fears about CCP influence operations inside the United States, anti-Israel chaos in New York, Supreme Court redistricting battles, and another Democrat media meltdown. Trump and Xi are meeting for bilateral talks, a state banquet, and a series of carefully choreographed diplomatic events as tensions over trade, manufacturing, EV mandates, and economic competition continue to dominate global politics. Meanwhile, Democrats who spent years promising to “hold China accountable” are facing scrutiny over policies that expanded Chinese access to U.S. markets and supply chains. We also cover explosive new reports involving alleged Chinese influence operations, including accusations against Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang, a reported CCP recruitment attempt targeting congressional staff connected to the China Select Committee, and ongoing concerns about climate groups and Chinese-linked funding networks. Plus: Zohran Mamdani’s New York descends into anti-Israel chaos as mobs target Jewish neighborhoods and synagogues The Supreme Court allows Alabama to redraw congressional maps after race-based districting rulings Tennessee’s new maps scramble political expectations ahead of 2026 Virginia Democrats continue their legal disaster after filing in the wrong court AGAIN Xavier Becerra struggles with even mild media scrutiny as Democrats face a new political reality 0:00 - Intro 0:38 - Trump to China 2:02 - Adversarial Relations 7:13 - Zohran’s Infitada 8:34 - Alabama & Tennessee 10:21 - Virginia Dem Meltdown Continues 12:06 - Bacerra’s Gotcha Moment #XiJinping #ZohranMamdani #Becerra #Politics #News #10MinuteDrill #Congress #Redistricting #TrumpChina
SummaryAnalyzing the most important week of Trump’s presidency with Iran, China, and huge budget bills
2w ago00:15:49Summary readyTrump says Iran’s response was “inappropriate” as the ceasefire appears to be on life support. Meanwhile, Congress gears up for the next reconciliation battle with major CBP and ICE funding on the table. On today’s episode of the 10 Minute Drill, we break down the latest on Iran, the Virginia Supreme Court fallout, Democrat outrage over redistricting, California’s political implosion, Gavin Newsom’s controversial diaper program, and why Spencer Pratt may accidentally be better at political messaging than half the consultant class. PLUS: Strong jobs numbers shake up the political narrative Secret Service briefing the Senate amid major security concerns Hakeem Jeffries claims Republicans “have to cheat to win” Democrats furious after Virginia court developments Cook Political Report’s latest House ratings for 2026 Tennessee redistricting and what it means nationally Karen Bass blames climate change for California failures Media meltdown over criticism of Katie Porter’s temperament DSA endorses billionaire Tom Steyer in California Gavin Newsom facing backlash over $20 million diaper initiative tied to politically connected nonprofits We also dive into why Spencer Pratt’s messaging is connecting with voters trapped in “blue state hell” and how meme culture, AI content, and simple political communication are reshaping the internet. 0:00 - Intro 0:38 - Latest from the Hill 1:55 - Fragile Ceasefire 3:22 - Fallout from Virginia 6:56 - The Mess in California 12:15 - Climate Change is Over? 13:44 - Gavin’s Diaper Policies
Summary