Episode Overview

In this February 18, 2026 episode of 10 Minute Drill, host Matt Whitlock delivers a rapid, sardonic rundown of the latest political stories. The show focuses on:

• The continued repercussions from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (AOC) much-mocked performance at the Munich Security Conference
• Fallout from the Democratic-led DHS shutdown, highlighted by a massive wastewater spill in Washington, D.C.
• Maryland Governor Wes Moore's own PR disasters and parallels with other “resume-inflating” Democrats
• The campaign ad seen as the nail in Eric Swalwell's political coffin
• Broader commentary on the Democratic Party’s current identity crisis and left-wing signaling

Whitlock maintains a sharp, critical tone throughout, calling out perceived hypocrisy and strategic missteps.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. AOC’s “Disastrous Face Plant” in Munich

[00:38] – [03:50]

• Recap of AOC’s inability to answer a basic question on US involvement if China moves on Taiwan.
  • Memorable moment: AOC’s stumbling answer, “You know, I think that this is such a… you know, I think that this is a… this is, of course, a…” [00:54] (AOC, quoted)
• Additional gaffes on Mexico’s history, Venezuela’s geography, and dismissive comments on Israel/genocide.
• AOC’s defensive PR move: Calling the New York Times to shift the focus.
  • “That’s quite a tell again, that a Democrat thinks her best way to sort of fix the story is to call the New York Times—Democrats’ best friend.” [01:41] (Matt Whitlock)
• Parallels to Kamala Harris, described as similarly unprepared outside favored issues.
• Host’s judgment: “[If] you are a member of Congress and you can’t answer a very basic question about China and Taiwan. You should not go to the most prominent foreign policy and security conference in the world.” [03:23] (Matt Whitlock)

2. DHS Shutdown Leads to “Poo-Tomac” Disaster

[03:51] – [09:50]

• Explanation: Democrats shut down the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to protest ICE, despite its funding.
• Hakeem Jeffries clip underscores the desire among party leaders for a dramatic government shutdown.
  • “But fundamentally, we need change that is dramatic, that is bold, that is meaningful, and that is transformational.” [04:00] (Hakeem Jeffries)
• Real-world consequence: 250 million—potentially up to 1 billion—gallons of wastewater spills into the Potomac River.
  • “That is the equivalent of 1,500 Olympic sized pools of human waste flowing into the Potomac.” [05:06] (Matt Whitlock)
  • Reminder of Potomac’s prior dangers: “Nine or eight, eight or nine years ago... a girl who went canoeing... she died because of the bacterial infection… That is the Potomac’s baseline.” [05:24]
• FEMA’s involvement hampered by the shutdown; President Trump calls for a federal cleanup [06:01].
• Sharp criticism of Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Virginia Governor Abby Spamberger for delayed, minimal responses.
  • “Is there a better image of the failures of Democrat governance in the year 2026 than a river of human waste flowing towards taxpayers who are being asked to pay more in taxes while the governors are pointing fingers at each other…” [08:52] (Matt Whitlock)

3. Wes Moore’s “Tim Walz” Moment: Resume Inflation & Evasion

[09:51] – [12:20]

• Review of Washington Free Beacon revelations: Moore’s uncorroborated claims about a doctoral thesis, family history with the KKK, birthplace, military honors, and childhood struggles.
  • “What the Free Beacon’s reporting points out is that Moore has never really effectively been able to corroborate his more Hollywood friendly version of events here.” [10:55] (Matt Whitlock)
• Moore’s strategy: Dismissing criticism as “politics of personal destruction.”
  • “It’s this politics of personal destruction where as a person who has nothing neither to be ashamed of or nothing to exaggerate about my life, that this is the thing that conservative right wing blogs want to attack.” [11:23] (Wes Moore, quoted)
• Host draws parallel to Tim Walz’s failed VP campaign: “The fact that there were sort of holes everywhere in his bio that led to more and more holes and followed him. And this is gonna be the same story with Wes Moore.” [11:52] (Matt Whitlock)

4. Democrats’ Identity Crisis & Progressive Signaling

[12:21] – [13:38]

• CNN’s Harry Enten on public perception:
  • “Voters who say the Democrats are now too liberal... 42% in ‘96... now 58%... Democrats who think of themselves as Democratic socialists... about a third.” [12:29] (Harry Enten, quoted)
• Democratic leaders, like Chuck Schumer, focus on progressive signals instead of governance, e.g., making the Pride flag a permanent symbol.
  • “Chuck Schumer wants to give the Pride flag the same status as the American flag, which he knows is never gonna happen... But it’s a desperate signal to the far left.” [13:18] (Matt Whitlock)

5. “You Can’t Make It Up”: Eric Swalwell and Tom Steyer Ad

[13:39] – [14:30]

• Spotlight on Tom Steyer’s campaign ad slamming Eric Swalwell for absenteeism.
  • “We as taxpayers are paying his salary to come in and vote. And yet he has missed more votes than a guy who died almost a year ago.” [14:12] (Matt Whitlock)
• Ad exemplifies dissatisfaction with establishment politicians seeking higher office without accountability.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• AOC on Taiwan:
  “You know, I think that this is such a… you know, I think that this is a… this is, of course, a…”
  — [00:54] (AOC, responding to Munich moderator)

• On Democrats’ PR tactics:
  “That’s quite a tell again, that a Democrat thinks her best way to sort of fix the story is to call the New York Times—Democrats’ best friend.”
  — [01:41] (Matt Whitlock)

• On the wastewater spill:
  “That is the equivalent of 1,500 Olympic sized pools of human waste flowing into the Potomac.”
  — [05:06] (Matt Whitlock)

• Wes Moore’s evasive answer:
  “It’s this politics of personal destruction where as a person who has nothing neither to be ashamed of or nothing to exaggerate about my life, that this is the thing that conservative right wing blogs want to attack.”
  — [11:23] (Wes Moore)

• Harry Enten on Dems’ leftward shift:
  “Voters who say the Democrats are now too liberal… now 58%... Democrats who think of themselves as Democratic socialists... about a third.”
  — [12:29] (Harry Enten)

• Whitlock’s summary of Dem governance:
  “Is there a better image of the failures of Democrat governance in the year 2026 than a river of human waste flowing towards taxpayers who are being asked to pay more in taxes while the governors are pointing fingers at each other…”
  — [08:52] (Matt Whitlock)

• Steyer on Swalwell:
  “I should be working right now. I should be working right now. I should be at the Capitol.”
  — [13:54] (Tom Steyer ad)

Episode Structure & Flow

• AOC’s foreign policy gaffes and media fallout ([00:38]–[03:50])
• The DHS shutdown, D.C.’s environmental crisis, and political blame game ([03:51]–[09:50])
• Wes Moore’s credibility issues and muddled responses ([09:51]–[12:20])
• Democrats’ internal divisions and showy political gestures ([12:21]–[13:38])
• High-profile attack ad: Tom Steyer vs. Eric Swalwell ([13:39]–[14:30])

This episode provides pointed commentary on Democratic missteps and deeper party issues, mixing news updates with sharp, often sardonic analysis tailored for politically engaged listeners pressed for time.