Breaking down the growing feud on the Supreme Court; CNN exposes Gavin’s CA gas price problems

Summary

10 Minute Drill – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Breaking down the growing feud on the Supreme Court; CNN exposes Gavin’s CA gas price problems
Host: Matt Whitlock
Date: May 6, 2026
Podcast Description: Your fast, fun, 10-minute rundown of the most important stories in news and politics.

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Matt Whitlock delivers a rapid-fire briefing on three key stories shaking up U.S. politics and policy: ongoing tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, the rising feud and notable dissents on the Supreme Court, and California's notorious gas price problem, recently spotlighted (and perhaps mishandled) by CNN and gubernatorial hopeful Katie Porter. Whitlock also covers side stories, including Democratic infighting over tax policy and a Democratic Senate campaign fundraisers' ill-advised social media nostalgia for her Nazi grandfather.

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Key Discussion Points

1. International Tensions: Iran and the Strait of Hormuz

[01:30–02:41]

• Iran Testing Ceasefire: U.S. officials, including Gen. Raisin Cain, describe Iran’s latest missile launches and harassment of American ships as "low level kinetic attacks" — provocations that fall short of outright war but still test President Trump’s patience.
  • Quote (Gen. Raisin Cain, 01:30): “It feels like Iran is grasping at straws to try to do something across the southern flank.”
• U.S. Response: Whitlock notes that American policy on Iran hasn't changed substantially in decades. Presidents continually downplay such attacks, waiting to see if economic pressure alone will prompt Iranian concessions.
• Europe’s Role: Mark Meadows criticizes European nations, specifically Germany, for "freeloading" off American military and pharmaceutical innovation while enacting policies that cost the U.S. billions.
  • Quote (Mark Meadows, 02:41): “Your economy benefits from the pharma industry investment...our military [is] protecting you...and you have the nerve to attack us and talk down to us.”
• Trade Wars Loom: Center-right U.S. groups urge President Trump to push back on EU "protectionism" via existing trade authorities regarding digital taxes and regulation.

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2. Supreme Court Drama: Clarence Thomas’s Milestone & KBJ’s Feud

[04:29–08:53]

• Thomas’s Tenure: Clarence Thomas becomes the second-longest serving justice. Whitlock highlights the “remaking” of American law to fit Thomas's originalist vision.
  • Quote (Wall Street Journal via Whitlock, 04:53): “Longevity is its own reward. But more important is that the 77 year old justice has served long enough to see his originalist view of the Constitution remake American law.”
• Racial Gerrymandering Decision: Thomas delivers a strong opinion supporting the overturning of racial gerrymandering, echoing his belief that such policies "further discrimination and division."
• Louisiana Map Case Kicks Off Feud: The SCOTUS majority’s “fast-track” ruling on Louisiana’s gerrymandered congressional map unearths deep divisions, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson (KBJ) issuing a sharply worded dissent.
  • Quote (KBJ, as paraphrased tweet, 06:23): “Not content to have decided the law, [the court] now takes steps to influence its implementation...Because this abandon is unwarranted and unwise. Respectfully, I dissent.”
• Backlash from the Right: Justice Alito fires back, calling KBJ’s accusations “baseless and insulting.”
  • Quote (Justice Alito, 07:21): “The dissent in this suit levels charges that cannot go unanswered…trivial at best, and the other is baseless and insulting.”
• Whitlock’s Take: He frames KBJ as using the court as a political platform and notes that even liberal colleagues have pushed back on her “inflated rhetoric.”

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3. California Gas Prices and Political Fallout

[08:54–10:46]

• CNN Spotlight: Segment plays CNN’s Harry Enten noting California’s $6.13/gallon gas price compared to $4.48 national average.
  • Quote (Harry Enten, 08:54): “California for a gallon of gas are just, simply put, absolutely outrageous. Running well ahead of the national average.”
• Root Causes: Whitlock highlights state taxes and regulations as main culprits, not international events.
• Gubernatorial Candidate Katie Porter’s New Ad:
  • Attempts relatability as a “single mom” tackling high gas prices.
    • Quote (Katie Porter, 10:02): “I actually get what you’re going through. A single mom of three kids. I know what it’s like to push the shopping cart.”
  • Whitlock notes the ad conveniently skips the reason for California’s high gas costs—Democratic policies—and critiques Porter’s “hostility” and staff abuse, referencing a past domestic incident and the “joke” laugh track in her campaign spot.
    • Quote (Whitlock, 10:27): “I would have a lot more respect for Katie Porter if she’d be willing to point out that her state’s policies are the reason those gas prices are sky high.”
    • Quote on staff treatment (11:03): “Video evidence of her abusing her staff…she wants to make a joke of this…there’s no evidence to suggest she’s gotten past it.”
  • Prognosis: Porter is not seen as a top contender in the gubernatorial race, trailing candidates Tom Steyer and Javier Becerra.

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4. Rising Democratic Tax Plans and “You Can’t Make It Up” Segment

[11:10–12:30]

• Virginia Tax Politics: Rep. Abigail Spanberger is now “open” to new taxes (gym memberships, digital subs, dog grooming) despite previously denying support, illustrating recurring Democratic pivots after gaining power.
• Michigan “Nazi Grandkid” Scandal:
  • Kelly Newman (Democratic Senate campaign co-chair) faces backlash for a Veterans Day post honoring her grandfather — who fought for Hitler and immigrated to Detroit after WWII.
  • Whitlock deadpans: “You don’t necessarily have to have both sides when it comes to the Nazis.”
  • Washington Free Beacon’s headline: “Meet the proud Nazi spawn raising money for Democrats.”
  • Newman threatened legal action over the reporting, although she posted the content herself.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Matt Whitlock, on KBJ’s dissents (07:57): “It is the dissent’s rhetoric that lacks restraint.”
• Matt Whitlock, satirizing Katie Porter’s ad (10:27): “I would have a lot more respect for Katie Porter if she’d be willing to point out that her state’s policies and her party’s policies are the reason those gas prices are sky high.”
• Matt Whitlock, on Democratic pivots (11:39): “The minute they get into power, they will do the exact opposite, just as our great Governor Abigail Spanberger is doing here in Virginia.”
• Matt Whitlock, on Nazi past (12:18): “Just like Ryan, you don’t necessarily have to have both sides when it comes to the Nazis.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening & Met Gala Mockery: 00:00–01:17
• Iran & U.S./EU Relations: 01:18–04:28
• Supreme Court Feud: 04:29–08:53
• California Gas Prices & Katie Porter: 08:54–11:03
• Democratic Tax Plans & “You Can’t Make It Up”: 11:04–End

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Tone & Style

The episode is rapid, irreverent, and heavily opinionated, blending serious coverage with biting quips and occasional sarcasm, especially when covering Democratic figures or policy positions. Whitlock frames narratives with conservative skepticism, using direct quotes, analogies, and references to political pop culture (e.g., The Office).

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Summary

This 10 Minute Drill episode covers U.S.-Iran tensions, exposes sharp new rifts inside the Supreme Court (with pointed attention on Justice Jackson’s dissents), drills down on the real causes of California’s gas price woes and the unconvincing campaign efforts of Katie Porter, and showcases intra-Democratic contradictions on taxes and campaign scandals. With a mix of news, analysis, and humor, Whitlock provides listeners an engaging take on the week's most contentious political developments.

Transcript

[A]

Iran tests the cease fire in the Strait of Hormuz. Things get chippy on the United States Supreme Court. And we're going to look at one California gubernatorial candidate's ad that's getting called very desperate. All of that and so much more today on 10 Minute Drill. Everybody get up. Get up. The story of America is the story of an adventure. I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you.

[B]

We are a nation under God, and I believe God intended for us to be free.

[A]

First off, yesterday we celebrated the rare lunar alignment of a Cinco de Mayo that is also Taco Tuesday. And to honor it, we bring you the greatest Cinco de Mayo tweet of all time. This is President Trump, May 5, 2016, exactly 10 years ago yesterday. Happy Cinco de Mayo. The best taco bowls are made in Trump Tower Grill. I love Hispanic. Hispanics. Meanwhile, Tuesday night was also the Met Gala, a great opportunity for people to see just how out of touch Hollywood and celebrities are. Here is celebrity Sarah Paulson, whose net worth is $12 million, talking about how the rich have too much money. Now, as you look at and mock Sarah Paulson, I would note that one time Sarah Paulson attacked me on Twitter because I posted a list of my top 10 favorite TV show characters, which included Jack Bauer, Michael Scott, things like that. And she was personally very upset that she wasn't a single one of them. And that was very interesting. Moving on to Iran.

[B]

The threshold of restarting is a political decision above my pay grade. What I'll say is it's low harassing fire. Right now, it feels like Iran is grasping at straws to try to do something across the southern flank.

[A]

So that was General Raisin Cain talking about the fact that Iran is attacking American ships and firing missiles at the UAE and other countries. But the United States does not see that as a breach of our ceasefire. They see this as what they call low level kinetic attacks. But they are clearly testing how much they can get away with. And one challenge for President Trump is, in some ways, this feels a little bit like how American presidents have been dismissing Iranian attacks for 46 or 47 years, saying it hasn't quite met the threshold of needing to simply blow them to the moon. But I think that President Trump's patience is clearly getting tested. What he's waiting to see is if the economic restraints on them are enough to get them to come to the table and and continue making concessions. Meanwhile, we continue to discuss the role of Europe, particularly the European Union, and their role or lack of a role in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. One person who tied this to a unique fight is former Congressman and former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.

[B]

Chancellor, I would tread carefully. Your economy benefits from the pharma industry investment. And while you're freeloading, our military service members are protecting you with security. And you have the nerve to attack us and talk down to us.

[A]

What Mattis is pointing out there is just like with our security relationship where Europe has freeloaded off of American support for decades, there's a number of other areas where the European Union and European countries like Germany have freeloaded off of America for far too long. In this case that Matto's pointing out, one is the pharmaceutical industry, where the European Union and Germany in particular have set incredibly low prices for American drugs, forcing Americans to own the cost of research, development, innovation, things like that. And he's calling for this to be a trade investigation using the 301 Trade Authority within the U.S. trade Representative's authority. They're calling for that within this context. But there's other places as well where this has been raised. For example, on Tech20, center right groups urge President Trump to counter Europe's discriminatory digital taxes. Now, we've talked about this quite a bit. We've even shown you graphics that show European countries in the European Union have made more money off of taxing American companies than out of their own sort of original European based company's revenue because there are very few extremely successful companies coming out of Europe because they've regulated them to death. But going back to this letter, there are four different tools. These center right groups in America have called on the US Trade representative and the Trump administration to look into, as a part of our larger trade conversation, the Digital Networks act, the Digital Markets act, the General Data Protection Regulation, and the Digital services taxes imposed by EU member states and others that cost U.S. firms up to $117 billion. Now altogether, these can cost over $100 billion to U.S. companies. They're trying to use these punitive protectionist trade policies to bilk as much money from America as they can without having to do any of the work of actually innovating and creating companies. And so everyone's calling on the Trump administration to use their trade authorities and 301 investigations to get to the bottom of this and recenter these trade relationships. This Thursday, Justice Clarence Thomas, one of the greatest Americans to have ever lived, will become the second longest serving justice on the US Supreme Court in history. Here's how the Wall Street Journal recognized him as he becomes the second longest serving justice, the Supreme Court has shifted his way. Longevity is its own reward. But more important is that the 77 year old justice has served long enough to see his originalist view of the Constitution remake American law. Now, one thing that Justice Thomas has written about multiple times through his service on the Supreme Court is the issue of racial gerrymandering. So it's notable that just last week he was able to participate in this major decision that overturned racial gerrymandering, something that he again has called outright racism and something that actually furthers discrimination and division in our country. On that note, on Tuesday, the Supreme Court had to pass a decision on the issue that we talked about, Louisiana's congressional map. Now, in this case, people involved asked for a quick decision on if the Supreme Court's decision on Louisiana's congressional map meant that their map was now illegal. The Supreme Court gave a very quick response to that, saying, yes, the new map is now illegal. But the Supreme Court's decision to grant the petitioner's request for very, very quick response on whether the map was legal or not ignited. Again, a bit of the conflict we've been seeing for the last several months on the Court where Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is frustrated with the rest of the Court for not being as political as she is. Now, I want to display this in a way that makes it easier to follow because there's a lot of text. So we're going to show this as if this was tweets between Justices. Justice kbj not content to have decided the law, it now takes steps to influence its implementation. The the Court unshackles itself from both constraints today and dives into the fray. And just like that, those principles give way to power because this abandon is unwarranted and unwise. Respectfully, I dissent. Now, it's incredibly notable there that Jackson is essentially accusing the rest of the Court of an unprincipled use of power, even though they were granting the request of the petitioners for quick action. But this is a theme we've been seeing for several months, to the point that even the liberal Justices in their own opinions have had to criticize Justice Jackson for either being unfamiliar with the law or using rhetoric that simply didn't make sense in the circumstances. In this particular case, Justice Alito clearly had enough. He responded back. The dissent in this suit levels charges that cannot go unanswered. The dissent's reasons for its purpose, course of action are trivial at best, and the other is baseless and insulting. Now, again, this is a big deal for Supreme Court justices to be responding to each other in this way. But it shows just how fed up the other justices are with Justice Jackson and her politicking and her just generally detachment from the facts and cases and use of inflated rhetoric, knowing it will likely get a lot of attention on MSNBC or Ms. Now and among sort of the liberal commentariat. But going back to what Justice Alito wrote back to her, the dissent goes on to claim that our decision represents an unprincipled use of power that is groundless and utterly irresponsible charge. The dissent accuses the court of unshackling itself from constraints. It is the dissent's rhetoric that lacks restraint. Now, this is a conflict that I think we're gonna continue to see more of as Justice Jackson gets more and more comfortable essentially serving as a left wing commentator on the Court, using Supreme Court opinions and dissents to sort of lay out her political agenda. And she said in the past when she disagrees with something, she's going to be heard. And it's really unfortunate for her side because the more she's heard, the less the facts appear to be grounded in her point of view. Now we move over to California. Now, we've been talking for quite a while about how Democrats want people to believe that the main reason they're seeing high gas prices is because the war in Iran. However, if you live in the formerly great state of California, your gas prices are more than $2 higher than the rest of the country. Not because of Iran, but because of your own state's policies. Now, CNN had an incredible nugget on that issue.

[C]

The national average right now is 448. But you think that's bad, go out to the left coast top in the United States, $6.13. You always know that the prices in California for a gallon of gas are just, simply put, absolutely outrageous. Running well ahead of the national average. The folks in California really getting hurt by this increase in gas prices.

[A]

In that same clip, Harry Ensign goes on to describe why those prices are so high. Talking about the insane gas tax, talking about all the regulations that go into that. They also asked Californians if they believe the increased gas prices are wor for whatever California leaders are hoping to achieve. Overwhelming majorities say no. That, among other things is Gavin Newsom's legacy. Obviously, we don't wanna leave out high speed rail to nowhere, billions of dollars in fraud, things like that. But meanwhile, in the race to replace failed Gavin Newsom as he prepares to run for a what I believe to likely be a failed presidential run. Looking at the governor's race now, we've talked a little bit about Katie Porter. Now, Katie Porter has a new campaign ad intending to sort of be a mea culpa, but also turn some heads. Now we're gonna show you a few parts of that.

[D]

I'm Katie Porter and I'm not like most people who run for governor. I actually get what you're going through. A single mom of three kids. I know what it's like to push the shopping cart.

[A]

Now just let me jump in there and say Katie Porter's in part a single mom because she very famously attacked her ex husband with boiled mashed potatoes. That is very clear in the filing. Continue.

[D]

My Minivan has almost 200,000 miles.

[A]

I'd point out for those of you who are audio only, as she's talking about her minivan, there's a sign that pops up that says sky high gas prices. Now, Katie doesn't talk about why they have sky high gas prices. Harry Anton obviously knows I would have a lot more respect for Katie Porter if she'd be willing to point out that her state's policies and her party's policies are the reason those gas prices are sky high. I also think it would be great if she could explain that she would do things differently, but she so far has neglected to do so because she's likely also controlled by the same left wing climate people. But I wanna go on to the end of this and what I think is the most egregious part of this ad.

[D]

Now, could you guys please get out of my shot?

[A]

Oh my gosh. The laugh track that you hear there when she delivers the punchline of can you guys please get out of my shot? Which again is video evidence of her abusing her staff. Now she wants to make a joke of this to suggest maybe she's gotten past it. There's no evidence to suggest she's gotten past it. In every interview that we've seen of her in the past year, she has the same hostility, the same sort of quick switch towards violent reactions. But it is notable that she wanted to make a joke of abusing her staff. But the laugh track, as if you're watching an episode of Seinfeld, is in my mind over the top. And this is one reason she can't break through into what's likely the top three or four in that race right now. I think the Democrat side of that coin is looking like it's between billionaire Mr. Magoo, Tom Steyer and absentminded former DHS Secretary, nun, sewer, no record at all. Javier Becerra so we'll see where this shakes up. But Katie Porter doesn't look to be going anywhere in that minivan. Now, during the state's ballot referendum, the gerrymandering nuclear option in Virginia, a lot of Abigail Spammer supporters defended all of these accusations that she was going to raise taxes by saying these haven't actually passed. She hasn't actually signed them. They didn't want her to be tied to those taxes in the larger context of a major referendum going on in the state. But now that that referendum is in the hands of the courts, Abigail Spamberger is showing that she's open to a number of those taxes that people said she had absolutely nothing to do with. Spanberger now says she's open to taxes on gym memberships, digital subscriptions, and even dog grooming. And this is once again relevant to the entire country because you're seeing this from Democrats nationwide who are running on things like smart affordability policies and even tax cuts. The minute they get into power, they will do the exact opposite, just as our great Governor Abigail Spamberger is doing here in Virginia. Be warned, for you can't make it up segment today, we have a very interesting story from the Washington Free Beacon. We've been talking a lot about Graham Platner and his Nazi tattoos. But for Democrats and ties to Nazis, that's not the end of it. Now this is from Kelly Newman, who is the co chair of Michigan Democrat Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow's campaign. I'm going to read you this Facebook post. Happy Veterans Day to all my family and friends who serve or have served. Without you, America would not be here today. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Interesting story. I do not talk much about my grandfather. Albert Neumann was on the German side in World War I and World War II. Yikes. He was on the German side, which means he was a Nazi. Continuing he escaped to Brazil with my father after Germany lost in World War II and then made their way to Detroit where they spoke no English and worked their way up to provide a stable life for their family. Oh my gosh. Yikes. So what she's acknowledging there in this Veterans Day post is that her grandfather was a Nazi. A good reminder that you don't need to post everything you ever think of. And because she is a prominent advisor to Democrats and a top fundraiser, the Washington Free Beacon also reported on this Meet the proud Nazi spawn raising money for Democrats. Michigan trial lawyer Kelly Newman, celebrated veterans Day with ode to her grandfather who fought for Hitler, which is a completely fair representation of exactly what happened here. But this woman, recognizing that she's becoming a vulnerability for Democrat campaigns, threatened legal action against the Washington Free Beacon for posting about what she herself had publicly posted. Michigan trial attorney and Democratic fundraiser Kelly Newman, the co chairman of Senate Democrat candidate Mallory McMorrow's campaign, threatened the Free Beacon with legal action unless we retract our story about her Veterans Day Facebook post honoring her grandfather who served on the German side in World War II. So not sure if those legal threats are going to work because she posted this publicly on Facebook, but this entire episode reminds me of a great moment from the office. I'd like to make a toast to the troops. All the troops. Both sides. Now, just like Ryan, you don't necessarily have to have both sides when it comes to the Nazis. But congratulations to Mallory McMorrow for joining Graham Platner in the Senate Democrat candidates with ties to Nazis. That is all the time we have for today. Thank you so much for joining us on 10 Minute Drill. Please like subscribe, leave us a review, tell your friends and have a great day.