Christmas Special: Inflation News Shocks Media, Dems Skip 2024 Autopsy, Kamala 2028, Christmas picks

Summary

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10 Minute Drill: Christmas Special

Episode Title: Inflation News Shocks Media, Dems Skip 2024 Autopsy, Kamala 2028, Christmas Picks
Host: Matt Whitlock
Released: December 23, 2025

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Episode Overview

Matt Whitlock delivers a brisk, insightful, and festive special, blending major political headlines with personal Christmas favorites. The main themes are the latest on inflation, Democratic Party post-2024 introspection (or lack thereof), Kamala Harris's moves for 2028, a Minnesota fraud scandal, and a cheerful segment on Christmas movies, music, and traditions.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Inflation: A Bit of Good News

• [00:37] Whitlock reports a dip in the annual inflation rate, dropping from 3% to 2.7% in November.
  • [00:41] B: “Finally some good news on the number one economic issue, the cost of living."
• The media is “working to contextualize” this, as the Trump Administration aims to show off their economic management, particularly with tax returns arriving in the new year.
  • [00:59] A: “They are working to lower costs for Americans and help them take home more of the money they're making.”

2. Democrats Skip Autopsy—And Lessons

• [00:59 - 01:44] Democrats, led by DNC Chair Ken Martin, are shelving their planned 2024 “autopsy” (post-mortem) report, claiming it would be counterproductive as they see electoral victories.
• Analyst Harry Entin warns this is a mistake.
  • [01:44] B (quoting Entin): “Democrats in the minds of the American public are lower than the Dead sea... net approval rating for Democrats in Congress... the lowest ever.”
• Whitlock points out Democrats are reverting to positions that hurt them in 2024, emboldened by special election wins.

3. Democrats’ Return to Unpopular Positions

• [01:55 - 03:44] Example: Gavin Newsom, a rising party leader, doubles down on support for trans rights, but fumbles the LGBTQ acronym.
  • [02:15] B (Newsom): “No one has been a stronger advocate for the lgbtq—”
  • [02:31] A: “Not great for the Alphabet Mafia's brand that the Democrat frontrunner can't get the acronym right”
• Whitlock highlights House Dems opposing bans on sex change treatments for minors; this, he notes, was an “80-20 issue” that cost them dearly in elections.
  • [02:40] A: “On issue after issue, we see Democrats getting comfortable moving back into those far left positions as they've seen some signs suggesting they might be winning.”

4. Kamala Harris Eyes 2028—With New Branding

• [03:44 - 05:38] Axios reports Kamala Harris is positioning herself for another White House run, adopting a more populist style.
  • [03:44] C (Harris): “Donald Trump is not the only source of our problems... the result of years of outsourcing and offshoring, financial deregulation, growing income inequality, a broken campaign finance system...”
• Whitlock calls out the irony, noting Harris herself raised $1.5 billion in 107 days in 2024, only to lose all swing states.
  • [04:27] A: “To me, this feels like it was written by a former Bernie Sanders staffer.”
  • [04:27] A: “She’s going to have to answer questions about that.”
• NYT reports internal anger over campaign finances, with donors demanding accountability.

5. Minnesota’s Billion-Dollar Fraud Scandal

• [05:38 - 06:42] Major Medicaid fraud in Minnesota: Over $9 billion lost to fraudulent claims.
• US Assistant Attorney Joe Thompson confirms that “a significant amount” (potentially “half or more”) is fraudulent.
  • [05:48] A (on Thompson): “I'm talking on the order of half or more.”
• Representative from the Minnesota disabilities community underscores the impact:
  • [06:24] B: “600,000 disability people in the state of Minnesota that could suffer... my people are done suffering.”
• Whitlock stresses these are not abstract numbers; widespread fraud deprives vulnerable groups of support.

6. Christmas Picks & Traditions

• [07:50 - End]
  • Favorite Christmas Movies: Home Alone 1 & 2, Muppet Christmas Carol, Grinch, Charlie Brown Christmas, and the classic — It’s a Wonderful Life.
    • [08:00] B (movie quote): “Hey, Merry Christmas Mr.”
  • Favorite Christmas Albums: Andy Williams and Amy Grant; not much contemporary music.
  • Favorite Treats & Traditions:
    • Chex mix given to friends and neighbors; peppermint milkshakes enjoyed while decorating the tree.
    • Family Christmas village and decoration fun/mishaps with toddlers.
    • Christmas Eve Nativity play, with kids in key roles — shepherds especially for “sword fighting with crooks.”
• Whitlock invites listeners to share their own favorites and traditions.
  • [End] A: “From all of us here at 10 Minute Drill, we wish you a Merry Christmas.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:44] Harry Entin via Whitlock:
  "Democrats in the minds of the American public are lower than the Dead sea... net approval rating for Democrats in Congress... the lowest ever."
• [02:31] Matt Whitlock:
  "Not great for the Alphabet Mafia's brand that the Democrat frontrunner can't get the acronym right for the LGBTQ community."
• [04:27] Matt Whitlock:
  “When you hear Kamala Harris opine about things like our broken campaign finance system, you have to remember she's the one who raised $1.5 billion in 107 days, only to lose every single swing state.”
• [06:24] MN disabilities advocate:
  “600,000 disability people in the state of Minnesota that could suffer... my people are done suffering.”
• [08:00] Whitlock (on Christmas movies):
  “But you have to finish with It’s a Wonderful Life, my very favorite.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Inflation News: [00:37–00:59]
• Democrats Shelve 2024 Autopsy: [00:59–01:44]
• Democratic Brand & Policy Missteps: [01:55–03:44]
• Kamala Harris’s Future, Party Discontent: [03:44–05:38]
• Minnesota Medicaid Fraud Scandal: [05:38–06:42]
• Christmas Picks and Traditions: [07:50–End]

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Tone & Style

Matt Whitlock maintains a brisk, lightly irreverent, and accessible tone — mixing sharp political critique with humor and warmth, especially in the holiday segment. Direct, conversational, and wry, he sprinkles in listener engagement and personal anecdotes.

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For listeners who missed the episode, this summary offers both the punch and the personality that make 10 Minute Drill a lively, informative political rundown – with a much-needed dash of holiday spirit.

Transcript

[A]

It is December 23rd and we're going to do something a little bit Special on the 10 minute drill today. We're going to talk about the Democrat autopsy and their decision to throw it out. We're going to talk about Kamala Harris surprising political future. And then we're also going to answer some questions about Christmas. All that and more today on a special Christmas preview. 10 minute drill.

[B]

Everybody get up.

[A]

Get up. The story of America is the story of an adventure.

[B]

I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. We are a nation under God, and I believe God intended for us to be free.

[A]

Late last week, we got some welcome news on the state of the economy.

[B]

You can see the annual rate of inflation down a little bit in November. It was at 3% the last time we got a reading. Now it is ticked down, cooling slightly to 2.7%. That's right, John. Finally some good news on the number one economic issue, the cost of living.

[A]

Many in the media are working to contextualize this CPI news with with the narrative that's formed over the last several months about an affordability crisis. But the Trump administration will continue to try and tout ways, especially as people see their tax returns in the new year. They are working to lower costs for Americans and help them take home more of the money they're making. The New York Times has reported that Democrats are shelving the 2024 autopsy report into what went wrong for Democrats and particularly Kamala Harris. DNC Chairman Ken Martin has decided not to publish a public report, believing that a backward looking document would be counterproductive as the party has started winning. However, Harry Entin, a 10 minute drill favorite and mainstay, has some bad news for them.

[B]

Democrats in the minds of the American public are lower than the Dead sea. What are we talking about here? Well, let's take a look. The net approval rating for Democrats in Congress. You said it, Kate Baldwin. The lowest ever.

[A]

So again, a key theme out of that is, is the fact that Democrats have a worse position on the generic congressional ballot than they had at this time in 2018. But the interesting dynamic here is as Democrats feel like they're starting to win in some of these special elections, they're pivoting back to some of those extreme positions they held in 2024. For example, here's Gavin Newsom.

[B]

I want to see trans kids. I have a trans godson. There's no governor to sign more pro trans legislation than I have. And no one has been a stronger advocate for the lgbtq.

[A]

Minute one more time. Can we hear Gavin try and say lgbtq?

[B]

No one has been a stronger advocate for the lgbtq.

[A]

Mini wait one more time for the lgbtq.

[B]

Too many.

[A]

Not great for the Alphabet Mafia's brand that the Democrat frontrunner can't get the acronym right for the LGBTQ community. But it's not just Gavin. House Democrats are also pivoting back to some of these deeply unpopular positions that hurt them in 2024. 207 House Democrats opposed an effort to prevent sex change treatments for kids. Now you'll remember this was an 8020 issue that really hurt Democrats in the 2024 election. The fact that they support trans surgeries and treatments for minors under the age of 18, even as overwhelming polling shows us that is deeply unpopular. But on issue after issue, we see Democrats getting comfortable moving back into those far left positions as they've seen some signs suggesting they might be winning. Throwing out that autopsy will ensure they learn absolutely no lessons. As we talk about Democrats brand problems and the fact that they're committed to not learning any lessons from 2024, Axios is reporting that Kamala Harris is stepping towards another White House run. With that, she's tried out some new branding. Here is a clip from her speaking at the DNC winter meeting just a couple weeks ago.

[C]

We must be candid and clear. Donald Trump is not the only source of our problems. He and the rise of the MAGA movement, I believe, are a symptom of a failed system that is the result of years of outsourcing and offshoring, financial deregulation, growing income inequality, a broken campaign finance system, and endless partisan gridlock, all contributing to how we got here today.

[A]

Now, that little sound bite there was interesting to me because it didn't sound like Kamala Harris at all. And if you followed Kamala Harris over her career, you know she can shapeshift quite a bit. To me, this feels like it was written by a former Bernie Sanders staffer, someone with much more populous roots. But when you hear Kamala Harris opine about things like our broken campaign finance system, you have to remember she's the one who raised $1.5 billion in 107 days, only to lose every single swing state. And if she does try and run again, she's going to have to answer questions about that. This from the New York Times. Some Democratic donors have demanded a more thorough accounting of how exactly the party and Ms. Harris spent $1.5 billion in 15 weeks en route to losing every battleground state in 2024. Since the election, it has come out that a former top aide to Mr. Biden, Mike Donilon, received $4 million from the campaign, even though he did not work meaningfully with the Harris campaign after Mr. Biden left the ticket. All I know is I hope Kamala Harris never leaves. We go back to the state of Minnesota where the what was once reported as a $1 billion fraud scandal has turned into so much more among the 18 billion.

[B]

Do I know you said it's a significant amount that is fraud. Is it a majority? Is it up to half? How much of it is legitimate?

[A]

You know, I don't make these generalizations in a hasty way. So when I say a significant amount, I'm talking on the order of half or more. That was first U.S. assistant Attorney Joe Thompson, who's leading the investigation into this bombshell Minnesota fraud scandal. And as we talk about this and these numbers sound more and more crazy and abstract, we one thing that we want to make sure that we highlight is the real world implications for people. Obviously, losing $9 billion or more of tax dollars is crazy and terrible, but it also is taking away access to services to people who actually need them. Here is a representative of Minnesota's disabilities.

[B]

Community, 600,000 disability people in the state of Minnesota that could suffer. And sadly, it's quite interesting that we have Governor Wall speaking in front of the state and saying that this fraud is nothing but the side. But my people are done suffering.

[A]

One thing that we talked about in the DOGE efforts but also later in the big beautiful bill efforts to cut fraud, waste and abuse in programs like Medicaid is it's not just a numbers issue. It's not just abstract billions here, abstract billions there. It's the fact that when you have these services full of fraud, waste and abuse, whether it is able bodied men or whether it is just simply false applicants in the program, it makes it more difficult for people who actually need services and to get it. And so as investigations into Tim Walsh's mishandling of this, Attorney General Keith Ellison's cover up in this and everybody else who is involved in this continue to come to light, you need to understand those real world consequences for people. And also look at every Democrat in Washington who attacked those efforts to cut fraud, waste and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid that would have found things like this. And now on to the most important topic of the day. Because it is December 23rd, it's only two more sleeves to the Christmas Day. I wanted to answer a couple Christmas questions that people have sent in. First, what is your favorite Christmas movie. So I have a lot. This is a difficult question, but I go from the home alones 1 and 2, not 3 or 4. We don't count those to things like Muppet Christmas Carol to the classic Grinchstel Christmas Charlie Brown Christmas. But you have to finish with It's a Wonderful Life, my very favorite.

[B]

Hey, Merry Christmas Mr.

[A]

Butter. Favorite Christmas album for me. I'm an old classics guy. I love Andy Williams Christmas sets the tone, sets the vibe. I also love a little bit of Amy Grant Christmas. There's a lot in there. I don't do as much of the contemporary stuff, though sometimes sprinkling it in is a little bit fun. Favorite Christmas Treats Our family has a tradition of making mountains of Chex mix around Christmas time, giving it out to friends, neighbors, things like that. We also make peppermint milkshakes with when we decorate our Christmas tree. Now that I have little kids, it's very fun. It's fun in concept. It's not as fun because they love to tear down the ornaments and the tree. And my Christmas village is literally a ghost town because my 1 year old has broken many of the villagers. They're in pieces all over the place. What can you do but Christmas snacks? Also I love peppermint bark things like that. Favorite Christmas Tradition everyone's got different ones. One thing I think a lot of people share is the Christmas Eve Nativity, having the little kids dress up as different parts of the Christmas Nativity experience. Now every small child wants to play Mary and Joseph, but it's also fun to be a shepherd because people use little crooks to sword fight. Things like that. Whatever your favorite Christmas traditions, favorite Christmas movies, favorite Christmas songs are, I'd love to hear. Leave a Comment Write something in your reviews. Whether you follow us on X or Instagram, let us know because I want to hear what you love to do. And from all of us here at 10 Minute Drill, we wish you a Merry Christmas. Thank you for joining us. A great Christmas present to us this year has been getting to do this with all of you. Have a great one. We'll see you next week.