8/10/26: Mitch McConnell Discharged, Hillary Warns Abdul About Communist Attacks

Summary

Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar — Podcast Summary

Episode Date: August 10, 2026
Main Themes:

1. The mystery and political implications surrounding Mitch McConnell’s health and absence from the Senate
2. Hillary Clinton’s advice to Abdul El-Sayed amid Michigan's heated Senate race and broader concerns about Democratic campaign strategy and messaging

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1. Overview

This episode dives into two major stories:

• The opaque status of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's health after a long, unexplained absence, the lack of media transparency, and the implications for governance and democracy.
• Michigan’s high-stakes Senate race, featuring Hillary Clinton’s strategic guidance to Abdul El-Sayed following his surprise primary victory, and what it reveals about Democratic electoral challenges, Republican attacks, and shifting political coalitions.

The hosts—Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti—deliver their signature anti-establishment commentary, highlighting failures of mainstream media, Democratic Party elites, and the profound disconnects afflicting American politics.

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2. The McConnell Mystery: Health, Power, and Lack of Transparency

Key Discussion Points & Analysis

• McConnell’s Absence and “Is He Dead or Alive?” Speculation

  • McConnell has not been seen in public for nearly two months following a "minor" fall and a supposed mild pneumonia.
  • Only two still images have been released (possibly AI-generated, as the hosts joke).
  • Despite official statements that McConnell is “fine,” no video, audio, or public appearances have materialized.

• Evidence of Frailty

  • “Shout out to these journalists, man, zooming in, taking pictures of lifts. Covering the right stories.” (Political Commentator 1, 05:17)
  • Boxes with devices to help elderly people stand were observed at McConnell’s home — indicating his severe immobility.

• Media “Cover Up” & Democratic Breakdown

  • Mainstream media and the Capitol “club” are criticized for not aggressively seeking answers or demanding accountability.
  • Only independent journalists are actively covering the McConnell story (“It’s a story about an aging declining empire ruled by a bunch of geriatrics, some of whom don’t even know what time it is, what day it is, and that they’re even United States senators anymore.” — Political Commentator 2, 11:18)

• Dysfunction in Senate Representation

  • Questions about McConnell trying to vote by proxy, despite rules (07:07), and whether he can “even knows that votes are going on or that he’s a United States senator or what day of the week it is.”
  • The hosts implore Kentucky’s Governor, Andy Beshear, to intervene and appoint a new senator given the absence of proof that McConnell is competent or alive (16:05).

• Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

  • “[Why] has not released a short video of his absence… passes some seven weeks on Capitol Hill.” (Political Commentator 1, 06:57)
  • “This is not even a job you can work from home.” (Political Commentator 1, 07:07)
  • “Total democracy failure. There have to be some sort of competency requirements… This is insanity.” (Political Commentator 2, 18:22)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:25 – McConnell health saga update begins
• 05:07 – Analysis of medical devices at McConnell’s home
• 06:30 – Independent journalist chases McConnell’s staff for answers
• 08:23 – Discussion of cover-up, proxy voting, and political shenanigans
• 11:49 – Senator John Thune evasive when questioned about McConnell’s status
• 16:05 – Call for Governor Beshear to fill the Senate seat
• 17:07 – Representation crisis for Kentucky residents

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3. Michigan Senate Race: Hillary Clinton, Abdul El-Sayed, and the Battle for 2026

Key Discussion Points & Analysis

• Hillary Clinton’s Advice to Abdul El-Sayed

  • Clinton warns Abdul that Republicans’ “communist/socialist” messaging will be a potent attack line and urges the campaign to be prepared to rebut these attacks. (21:21)
  • She claims “You’re not going to convince Republican voters in Michigan,” suggesting focus should be on moderates and independents.

• Hosts’ Reaction: Clinton as an Inadvisable Guru

  • “I love even the concept of asking Hillary Clinton, who very, very, very famously lost Michigan twice...” (Political Commentator 2, 22:33)
  • They argue Democrats’ loss of working-class and crossover voters is a direct result of the elitist thinking Clinton represents.

• Electoral Strategy and Voter Coalitions

  • Saagar asserts, “The only way to win in a battleground state is by getting crossover votes. Trump won a lot of people who voted for Joe Biden in 2020.” (24:46)
  • The hosts emphasize generational, demographic, and regional shifts in Michigan—a large Muslim population, disaffected Republicans, and independent voters are all up for grabs.
  • Attacks branding Abdul as “socialist” or “communist” are seen as falling flat, as similar rhetoric was directed at Obama and Biden. (26:14)

• Obama and Kamala Harris Intervene

  • Obama calls for Democratic unity after the tough primary; Kamala endorses Abdul to shore up the base—especially among black voters in Detroit. (29:47, 31:43)
  • “As much as we have a critique… it is undeniably the case that many black voters have very warm sentiments towards her [Kamala].” (Political Commentator 2, 30:53)

• Political Reality Checks for the Left

  • Leftist critics object to Abdul accepting establishment endorsements or calling himself a “capitalist.”
  • “Sorry, leftoids, you’re retarded. Okay, I can say that again. Now, it’s 2026.” (Political Commentator 1, 31:43)
  • Hosts argue such purity politics are futile—winning requires coalition and strategic flexibility.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 21:11 – Hillary Clinton’s “advice” clips and hosts’ reaction
• 25:35 – Discussion on populist lane and crossover appeal
• 29:36 – Obama’s influence and Kamala endorsement analysis
• 31:47 – Leftist pushback and pragmatic campaign reality

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4. The Campaigns: Attacks, Messaging, and Candidate Quality

Notable Segments & Quotes

• Abdul’s Response to Islamophobic & Racist Attacks

  • Trump attempts to cast Abdul as “other”: posts picture of Abdul and wife with the caption “two very different Americas.”
  • Abdul deftly pivots:
    • “Yeah, he’s right. One in which your overlords are two people who don't like each other…but…want to come together to build the kind of America…where they lock arms to build the good things that they deserve together…Sara and I like each other. I don't know about the first lady and the president, but from what I've heard, it’s a bit of a rocky road.” (Abdul El-Sayed, 35:31)
  • “I'm a gift to the state of Michigan, God willing and hope to win this election.” (Abdul, 36:51)
  • Zings Trump: “At least I don't let mine go in the middle of the Oval Office.” (Abdul, 36:59)
  • The hosts praise Abdul's political instincts and ability to “turn it to his core campaign message.” (37:25)

• Mike Rogers’s Counter-Strategy

  • Rogers appeals to “hopeless” Democrats disaffected by Abdul’s victory, highlighting education, family, and “values.”
  • “This actually feels like a Hillary Clinton ad from 2016, right?” (Political Commentator 2, 40:18)
  • But they observe Rogers is “an unreconstructed neocon...a rubber stamp for Trump,” and his “country club” pitch lacks traction with the broader Michigan electorate. (42:07)

• Coalition Math

  • Obama/Kamala help with traditional Black Democrats; college-educated, downwardly mobile Whites are core for Abdul; Republicans try to strip away Jewish Dem votes with Israel attacks.
  • “At the end of the day…Democrats…are very united in not handing Trump more power.” (Political Commentator 2, 42:07)

• “Roger” Attack and Code Switching

  • Abdul’s viral rally line: “Now, Mike, I'm just gonna remind you, if you don't know how to say the name, keep the name out your damn mouth. Or just call me Abdul. But I got some opinions about his name. See, it's very fitting for him. Rogers, because that's his answer every time a corporation or Donald Trump tells him to do something. Mike, we need you to put a data center in the backyard. Roger. Mike, we need you to hike prescription drug prices. Roger.” (Abdul, 43:34)
  • Hosts debate whether Abdul’s style is “Obama-esque,” a corny “blackcent,” or effective for the room. (44:20)

• Candidate Quality: How Much Does It Matter?

  • Hosts argue that in national, high-stakes races, party is now almost everything: “Candidate quality is like a plus, plus, plus or minus two points. I don't really believe in it anymore. Whenever it comes to national elections...” (Political Commentator 1, 45:58)
  • “I would want a D next to my name in any swing state.” (Political Commentator 1, 48:45)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 35:07 – Abdul’s response to Trump’s attacks and host reaction
• 39:01 – Mike Rogers’s video to disaffected Dems analyzed
• 43:34 – “Keep the name out your damn mouth” rally moment

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5. Quotes & Standout Moments

• On McConnell

  • “This is not even a job you can work from home.” (07:07)
  • “It’s a story about an aging declining empire ruled by a bunch of geriatrics…” (11:18)
  • “Total democracy failure. This should not be allowed to persist.” (18:22)

• On Democratic Strategy

  • “The only way to win in a battleground state is by getting crossover votes. Trump won a lot of people who voted for Joe Biden in 2020.” (24:46)
  • “Sorry, leftoids, you’re retarded. Okay, I can say that again. Now, it’s 2026.” (31:43)

• On Abdul El-Sayed

  • “Yeah, he’s right. Two different visions of America...” (Abdul El-Sayed, 35:31)
  • “At least I don't let mine go in the middle of the Oval Office.” (Abdul, 36:59)
  • “Now, Mike, I'm just gonna remind you, if you don't know how to say the name, keep the name out your damn mouth. Or just call me Abdul...” (43:34)

• On Electoral Politics

  • “If Alyssa Slotkin can beat Mike Rogers in a wave red election...I don't even know if it matters…candidate quality is like plus or minus two points.” (45:58)
  • “People are much more willing to go with a different party when the stakes are not high at the federal level.” (47:27)

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6. Conclusions

• Transparency and Democracy

  • The ongoing secrecy and lack of transparency regarding Mitch McConnell's health reflect major institutional failures in both the Senate and the mainstream media, with real consequences for governance and representation.

• Michigan as Bellwether

  • The Michigan Senate race exposes the fractures and possible realignments in both parties, the enduring impact of elite missteps (Clinton, Obama, Harris), and the limits of old-school “red scare” attacks.

• Winning the Center—and Each Other

  • Both the Michigan Democratic and Republican strategies reveal a scramble for crossover voters, coalition management, and the crucial challenge of turnout among Black, Muslim, and independent voters.

• Soundbites That Stick

  • Both McConnell’s saga and the Michigan race supplied plenty of viral moments, punchlines, and insults—but as the hosts repeatedly note, in national races, party loyalty and national climate have, for better or worse, eclipsed all else.

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For those who missed the episode, this comprehensive breakdown captures the tone, main developments, and signature off-the-cuff analysis from Breaking Points, illuminating the crucial stakes leading up to November 2026.

Transcript

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[Political Commentator 2]

we have an update in the is he dead or Alive saga. That is Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Let's put this up on the scre. So allegedly he has now been discharged from that rehabilitation center in a hospital here in Washington D.C. this has been a nearly eight week medical absence, all caused by what him and his office are claiming was a minor fall with no significant injuries. And yet here we are two months later, having only received two still images that could easily be AI. I'm not saying they are AI, but they easily could be AI. But no video, no audio, no nothing. And now with no actual sightings of him, he has allegedly been moved from this hospital rehab center in D.C. to his home in Kentucky. He said in a statement, on the advice of my doctors, I'll maintain an intensive regimen of physical therapy from home during the state work period. I'll continue to engage with my staff and colleagues on important Senate business. A spokesman did not say whether the Senator would return to the Senate when the chamber, which is scheduled to begin a five week break start starting Monday, returns to session in September. That absence began in June when he was hospitalized after falling unconscious at his home. In July, he broke a long silence saying he had suffered from a fall in a mild case of pneumonia and had since been transferred to a rehab center to continue his recovery. Let's put D2 up on the screen. Here was the original statement from the office of the attending physician. Just as a just so you can recall what we were told happened two months ago and yet he still is not being seen in public whatsoever. Senator McConnell experienced several falls throughout the year that have been attributed to his post polio condition. He was admitted to the hospital four weeks ago after falling at home and sustaining minor injuries. A comprehensive evaluation by a multidisciplinary team determined he had no fractures, no cardiac abnormalities, stroke, tumor or hemorrhage, which is different by the way than what was reported in that 911 call from his home. Early in his hospitalization he developed pneumonia which responded rapid to antibiotic treatment. The remainder of his hospital stay focused on physical therapy strategies to reduce his risk of future falls. He's been medically cleared to continue fully participating in his intensive physical therapy program. We've got some eagle eyed reporters outside of McConnell's home in Louisville, Kentucky that spotted some medical devices there. Let's go ahead and take a look at this.

[Political Commentator 1]

You know about Mitch McConnell or his.

[Political Commentator 2]

So what you can see there in those boxes is some sort of a device that is intended to help lift elderly people from their recliner chairs. So indicating apparently that he is unable to easily at least stand up from just a seated position, shout out to

[Political Commentator 1]

these charlots, man, I love these people. This is old school. This is the real stuff, we're zooming in, we're taking pictures of lifts. We're covering the right stories. Seriously, I mean, nobody else is gonna do it. It's easy to go up on Capitol Hill and shove your phone in an alive senator's face, but to actually see what's going on with these people that, you know, there's very few who are actually on the beat. And I do wanna emphasize part of the reason is, is that on Capitol Hill speaking the way you and I are now, it's state Class A is uncomfortable. The staffers will freeze you out. McConnell's staff, they're all over the building. They can still, like, oh, I can't believe he would be so disrespectful to the former Senate majority. So that's why it's really only independent journalists that are really hammering this story and are asking it very difficult way, like, is he able to climb the stairs? Yes or no? Why is CNN or all these other people, they have all the money in the world. They could do it if they wanted to, but they're not right. And I think that's very important. You also saw that a lot of their staff are now again being chased down by some of these. By these independent journalists. One of them here, Nicholas Ballase, I wanna make sure I give him credit, has been following around the McConnell chief of staff, just being like, hey, how's your boss? Let's take a listen.

[Interviewee/Politician]

I read that McConnell's been discharged. Are you guys going to release a video of him, though, just to kind of quell any of the speculation or any of the rumors online? You probably read everything that's going on, so just wondering what you're going to do next.

[Political Commentator 1]

You never see that on the Hill. It's like, unspoken. You're not supposed to make the staff the story.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Why not?

[Political Commentator 1]

As he points out, the man makes $226,000 a year. And why McConnell has not released a short video of his absence, passes some seven weeks on Capitol Hill.

[Political Commentator 2]

It's nuts. Yeah.

[Political Commentator 1]

Also, this is not even a job that you can work from home. We were trying to figure this out. Yesterday, McConnell tried to vote, which is insane, in this Senate Agricultural Committee, I believe, by proxy. So he tried to get one of his elderly buddies in the Senate to vote for him by proxy. It turns out that in that specific Senate committee, you're not allowed to vote by proxy. So his vote didn't count. But who is making that call? Like, remember Dianne Feinstein when, what was it? Amy Klobuchar Leans over and is like, just vote yes. I mean, is that what's happening?

[Podcast Host]

Right?

[Political Commentator 1]

Like, is he all there? There's been no video of him talking of him walking, of his estimate of coming home. He spent two months in the hospital. I mean, you and I both know the hospital. The last thing, they don't want you there. They want to kick your ass out so they can get somebody else in there. And now he's got home healthcare aides who are at home, lift devices. Look, he's a very, very rich man because of his wife who's, you know, like a half a billionaire or something. So I'm not saying he's like not getting good care at home, but it's obvious now with the machines and being, you know, where he is, he's been missing now for quite some time. If he was able to talk, they would release a video. Of course they have to at this point. And it's like they still won't do it. That's what's so crazy about it.

[Political Commentator 2]

The lift chair. And we're going to show you home health aid have convinced me he is, he is alive.

[Political Commentator 1]

No, he's alive.

[Political Commentator 2]

Yeah, I'm convinced of that much at least. But I'm also convinced that he's in very poor, poor condition because there was no. They smuggled him out of this hospital, presumably in the dead of night. There were no photos of him being discharged because you've had reporters there, very few from the mainstream outlets. But you know, Desiree, who we had on the show, there's a handful that are like staking out the hospital to try to catch any potential movements. So they waited till the time, then there was nobody there. They ushered him out. I assume they took him because there were no sightings of him at either the DC airport or at the Louisville, Kentucky airport, which is not all that large. Someone would have spotted him. He is obviously very famous individual, well known, very easily recognized, et cetera. So presumably he probably took a private jet to get home to escape any kind of scrutiny, which again, if he's in great condition and he's having 20 minute phone conversations and sharp as attack and better than ever and just had a little fall, don't worry about it. You would want to release some video evidence. You wouldn't be afraid of cameras catching you as you're going to the airport to continue recovery at home, et cetera. So I think he's alive, but he's in very, very bad condition because that's the only thing that explains the complete cover up of Any sort of visual or audio evidence of him being in sound mind and body. And with the Senate so closely divided, obviously his vote makes a big difference on a lot of different things. Todd Blanche was confirmed over the weekend because they were able to get basically all of the Republicans, save for a couple in line, Cassidy, who was very reluctant, embarrassing that he ends up caving to Trump after Trump did all sorts of things to make sure that he was defeated in his primary. But in any case, they narrowly got that over the finish line. But there's a whole host of issues like that that could literally come down to McConnell's vote. Are they gonna figure out how to have him vote by proxy while we have no idea whether he even knows that votes are going on or that he's a United States senator or what day of the week it is? It's so completely insane. Put D6 up on the screen. This is the again, Nicholas Ballasea tweeted this out. I like that his last name is almost ballsy. This is a home health care aide who was coming and going from McConnell's residence. You can see this is her leaving. She's hurrying, not answering any questions, into a waiting car so that she can get away. What's interesting is there's another video of her when she's coming in. She's very chatty, she doesn't give away any information that's particularly relevant, but she's engaging with the reporter, very friendly. And then this, I think is the attending physician. Physician who is also leaving and also completely stonewalling, won't answer any questions, et cetera. So in any case, that's what we've got. And it's a story about this man who's incredibly important and powerful. It's also a story about the complete lack of curiosity and media interest from the national media, which to me is astonishing. It's a story of the fact that you have this tight knit club here in D.C. that encompasses both Democrats and Republicans. Cuz I guarantee you there are a lot of people in this town who know exactly what is going on. Some of them in the press corps, by the way, who are saying absolutely nothing. And of course, it's a story about an aging declining empire ruled by a bunch of geriatrics, some of whom don't even know what time it is, what day it is, and that they're even United States senators anymore. Anymore.

[Political Commentator 1]

Yeah, 100%. Did we play the John Thune clip? Because that one is very important. Yeah, let's, let's take a listen here. John Thune, who is the Senate majority leader, they said, have you been able to visit him? Like, have you talked to him? Do you know anything about when he's going to be back? Nothing. Take a listen, Mr. Leader.

[Interviewee/Politician]

Do you want to see Mitch McConnell put out a video of some sort? Put out a video. Mitch McConnell. Has he or should he? Well, I think that's.

[Political Commentator 1]

We're doing TV.

[Interviewee/Politician]

Cersei, do you think McConnell needs to put out some sort of video to show his condition to the public? McConnell.

[Political Commentator 1]

Oh, again, that's a decision between him and his staff.

[Interviewee/Politician]

Have you visited him in the hospital? Senator, have you been able to visit McConnell in the hospital?

[Narrator/Advertiser]

What's that?

[Interviewee/Politician]

Have you able to visit him in the hospital?

[Political Commentator 1]

I have not, no.

[Interviewee/Politician]

You have any update on his condition? Do you think he's going to be back? You're going to give him an ultimatum to come back to vote since you have a slim majority?

[Political Commentator 2]

I mean, look at that.

[Political Commentator 1]

He's got nothing to say. It's so crazy. It really, it's absolutely nuts, in my opinion. Like, you have the Senate majority leader haven't visited him in the hospital and he talk, he goes, oh, yeah.

[Political Commentator 2]

When he figures out what he's being questioned about, right? He's like, oh, oh, shocked, stunned, uncomfortable, like locks up. And also like, we're not aware of any of these people visiting him.

[Political Commentator 1]

No.

[Political Commentator 2]

Which is interesting. You know, they're all super rich, they

[Political Commentator 1]

got PJs, they can fly around, they could be there in and out in an hour.

[Political Commentator 2]

Well, and plus, he's been in D.C. he's been here the whole time, up until just now when he got moved to Kentucky again in the dead of night. So, number one, they must not care that much about him because they must not really like him as a human being because no, no. Someone, you know, you go visit him in the hospital. But yeah, number two, they're worried about being spotted and then having face questions, et cetera, so they've all just ate away. The only person we know of who's gone to visit him is his own wife, who, when he initially fell ill and was in the hospital, first thing she did was fly to China.

[Political Commentator 1]

So, I mean, it's the most inspiring love story of all time. It really is. That's exactly what you want.

[Political Commentator 2]

You can see the way his friends and family, loved ones are really coming through for him.

[Political Commentator 1]

And when you get married, you're just like, you know, what I want whenever I'm deathly ill is for you to fly halfway across the world to conduct A routine business with the vice premier of China. One of us can only hope for that type of relationship. But I think, see, I think it's not that they don't like him, it's that if you see him then you have to say what his condition is. So it's easier to just say, oh, I have no idea, I haven't talked to him. His wife says he's fine. You know, it's one of those where you don't check up because if you know the answer, people would know because there are reporters, there's some people who are staked out. If you visited, if you visited, you could say, can he talk? What's his condition by the way?

[Political Commentator 2]

How's he look, by the way? John Thune is lying. He knows what the condition is because it's his job to know. Because he's the majority. He has to know where am I getting the votes from for whatever agenda items, whatever things need to pass, the SAVE act, whatever their priorities are. You have to know are my senators alive or dead? Are they capable of being here in person to cast a vote? So he's 100% lying when he says he has no idea about his condition and really has nothing to offer. He does know. Now he, I think he probably is honest about not visiting him in the hospital because of the political peril that would require, et cetera. But he definitely, he's spoken with the wife, he knows what the true condition is. He just doesn't want to say and is participating in this cover up.

[Political Commentator 1]

Here's the thing, we have got a full month till we find out even more because Senate's out, August recess is here. They're not back until September 14th. Right. So literally 33 or 34 days away from today. So he's got 34 days to rehab at home before maybe he'll show up

[Political Commentator 2]

from minor, no big deal fall.

[Political Commentator 1]

But that's the thing is that August recess could not have come soon enough for him because now he doesn't need to be in the chamber and there's no vote. So it's one of those where I think I honestly I would hope that at least some decision has to come to a point back in September because at that point I mean we're talking about total insanity. I guess they could just continue to weekend in Bernie's this thing from September cuz he's not running for reelection. Just let him, you know, go off into the sunset. We'll just have no idea.

[Political Commentator 2]

Here's the other thing. Andy Beshear, really Governor of Kentucky. Step up to the plate, bro. You had two entities, according to a podcast appearance, that told you this man was dead and there's no sign of life. He's provided you, as governor of the state, with no evidence that he is of sound mind and body whatsoever. So fill the seat and then take it, and then let it be challenged in court and have a discovery process just move forward, say, okay, this man is no longer able to serve. I'm filling the seat, and then let the courts challenge it and fight it out. And that way, at least you're gonna, number one, look like you're doing something, you care and you're a fighter. And number two, have some ability to force transparency because otherwise, this game is just gonna continue indefinitely.

[Political Commentator 1]

You're talking about the politics of it. I talked about this during Feinstein. It would always just enrage me, like, I'm Sorry, there are 4.6 million people who live in Kentucky. Like, you deserve some sort of representation. Senators don't just sit around doing nothing. Like, if you've got. If you're a veteran, you got a problem with your VA benefits. The easiest way to get something done is have a United States, especially a powerful United States senator, call on your behalf. That's a big deal.

[Political Commentator 2]

And they did not vote for that staffer who is now doing presumably everything for this office. And Mitch McConnell is not just any old senator. He is one of the most senior, powerful members of the Senate with all sorts of seniority and what that entails. So, yeah, for now, they just only have Rand Paul as their only representation. They're missing in action one of their senators. And, yeah, that is not right. It's not right when you have a

[Political Commentator 1]

real senator who can actually make stuff happen for you. I've seen it up close. If you are a. A powerful constituent, it shouldn't always be this way. But if you're, you know, a company or something like that, you can. You can usually get your senator on the phone and they can get stuff moving and that stuff, you know, matters. If you have a tax problem, VA benefits, McConnell's that actually, of course, he is. The way that these guys who are very unpopular always get themselves reelected is they entrench themselves with the business community and they lean heavily into constituent services. But when you're gone and you literally, you know, maybe you're unable to completely speak, you can't do that. So that's the part that bugs me more than anything is I just know there's four and a half million people out there without the representation that they deserve in the United States Senate. It's bullshit. It's just we all just sit around and we're like, oh, okay. Like Dianne Feinstein, who represented the most populous state in the union and nobody ever said a single word about it. It's insanity.

[Political Commentator 2]

Total democracy failure. Total democracy failure. This should not be allowed to persist. There have to be some sort of competency requirements. Requirements to take questions via town halls, disclose what your true cond like. This is insanity. Can't continue.

[Political Commentator 1]

All right, let's get to Michigan.

[Political Commentator 2]

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[Political Commentator 1]

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[Podcast Host]

well, it's that time again. Backpacks, first day of school outfits, and the low key anxiety of Am I even doing this right? Good Mom's Bad Choices is diving into the back to school season the way only we know how Unfiltered, funny, and full of the moments other shows won't touch. From surviving morning drop offs to the guilt of missing the first bake sale. Iri told me that she next season she wants to join a club team

[Political Commentator 2]

that's by your house.

[Political Commentator 1]

So I was like, so you want

[Podcast Host]

me to pick you up from school? I'll take her by my house. But then I have to take her there and then I have to drive back and then some days I'm here and I have to go pick you

[Political Commentator 2]

up at school and then bring you back.

[Podcast Host]

I was just like, hell no. This is a space where moms trade their highlight reel for the real real. Whether you're a new mom, a veteran mom, or just trying to make it to pick up on time, this season of Good Mom's Bad Choices is for you. Listen to Good Mom's Bad Choices from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Political Commentator 1]

I'm Mangesha together and I'm back with a new season of the podcast Skyline Drive. This time I'm diving into a rabbit hole of peptides, organoids, Blood boys, Blue Zones, and brain replacement to try to understand what this longevity obsession is all about and what it really means to live forever for all of us. I learned about some rad science. I can make a brain for you.

[Podcast Host]

And then we can test what drug

[Political Commentator 2]

is the best for your brain as opposed to his brain.

[Political Commentator 1]

Here's some hard truths. I would expect Indians to age faster, but I did not expect it to be almost a four to five year active acceleration and get myself into a world of trouble.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

I'd say probably start bone smashing.

[Interviewee/Politician]

That doesn't work.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Make it look more defined.

[Political Commentator 1]

They say it works.

[Political Commentator 2]

I don't know.

[Political Commentator 1]

Listen to Skyline Drive how to live Forever on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Political Commentator 2]

So in the wake of his victory in the Democratic primary in Michigan, Hillary Clinton has emerged to give Abdul El Sayed some advice about how to win the state. Let's take a listen.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

You're not going to convince Republican voters in Michigan. And the real fight will be how. How do we make sure that people who voted for Haley feel comfortable voting for Abdul El Said? And how do we get independents to feel comfortable? And you can see that it's not just about Michigan, but the Republican messaging is communist, socialist. It's going to be a very effective attack. And so people on the left have to be prepared to answer that and to be effective at answering it. Do you think communist is an effective attack in 2026? Well, all I know is that's the attack that Trump is leading with. And I assume they've tested it and I assume that they have reason to believe that it's effective or they wouldn't be beating the drum on it because now it's not just him. Vance has done it. Others are doing it. They are trying to, you know, bring back scare tactics about our candidates. And, you know, it didn't work in New York. Mamdani was elected and there was a lot of money spent against him. When you have an effective candidate on the left, it still is gonna be a close race.

[Political Commentator 2]

I love Sagra. Even the concept of asking Hillary Clinton, who very, very, very famously lost Michigan twice. Yeah, literally twice. In a sh upside to Bernie Sanders, two shock upsets and then a shock upset to Donald Trump in the general election what the best course of action is to win in the state of Michigan.

[Political Commentator 1]

I feel like taking crazy pills. The only Democrat since, what is it, 1988. No, I'm thinking of Wisconsin. It might have been longer than that when somebody who had won Michigan, what is going to or to lose Michigan, which was considered the blue wall. If you're young and you weren't there, that was the M.O. everyone knew. You know, Pennsylvania has always kind of been the blue wall, famously. Pennsylvania was always a toss up, always has been, like in my lifetime. But, you know, Wisconsin and Michigan, especially Michigan, which I believe Trump only won by like 10,000 votes in 2016. That was the shock of all shocks on election night. And so, yeah, I remember when she lost to Bernie, everyone was like, oh, it's, you know, whatever. It's a shock thing. It doesn't matter. At the end of the day, the Democrats, Democratic voters, it was inconceivable that this woman would lose Michigan except to like Debbie Dingell or whatever, who was like, I don't know, I'm a little worried about this. That's just what to me is like, this is the problem with our media, the way that we venerate these types of politicians and then we're about to just talk about Obama. But, you know, Hillary just said something there where she said, it's impossible to win Republicans. I completely disagree with that. Wall Street Journal has a story out this morning that you have. Republican Party is losing its edge with voters on the economy. In the first term, Trump's net approval of handling on the economy at its absolute low point was minus 3. Today it sits around minus 40. So we are talking about a 40% delta to the first term, which, as you know, the first term it wasn't popular, but a lot of people had the, you know, I mean, you remember this under Biden, all the boomer Republicans had the Joe Biden, I did that stickers with gas and sure could use some mean tweets right now. This was like the. If you have a boomer grandpa who's a Republican, like, he almost certainly had that bumper sticker. I don't see the bumper sticker around anymore. You know, I don't see anybody putting that type of cope anymore. So sure, you've got a few Fox News boomers and others who are on board. But I mean, I looked at the data. In Michigan, you got a lot of young people and you got to also, you know, one thing she also again, wrong about is just about Haley Stevens. No, the reason why Trump won Michigan and Slotkin also won is there was a literal crossover vote of people who by definition voted Republican for Donald Trump and did not vote for a list or. And voted also for Slotkin over Mike Rogers. Over Mike Rogers. Right. So it's like that person exists right now. Of course you can win them over. Trump won a lot of people who voted for Joe Biden in 2020. That is exactly how you win an election, especially in a battleground state like this. That's what Abdul should. That's what any candidate should be doing, frankly, is you have to win crossover vote.

[Political Commentator 2]

I mean, think about what a powerful lane he can occupy and is occupying. You can oppose data centers, oppose the war and run on the economy and affordability. Those are. On all of those issues, you're gonna find a lot of discontent with, yes, some Republican voters who had voted for Trump. We talked about the Trump Mamdani voters. Like, this is a thing. And I'm not saying you're gonna win over, but certainly the sort of, like, independent Republican voters, some of the people who aren't absolute partisan diehards. But I do think you're right to sort of hone in on that comment from her because to me, it's very emblematic of typical Democratic elite thinking and

[Political Commentator 1]

how she lost in the first place.

[Political Commentator 2]

That's right. And where they just. They assume that certain groups are with them when you shouldn't. Right. They assumed, oh, Latinos will be with us, period. End of story. We don't really need to do anything. They assumed that basically 100% of black voters would be with them forever. They assumed young voters and young men would be with them forever. And so there are these assumptions that certain groups will lockstep, stay with them that are not true. And there's also an assumption on the other side that you can't then win back once the state is gone, it's gone. Oh, Iowa, it's just gone. Ohio, we just can't win it anymore. It's over. End of story. When my experience has been. I think all of our experiences have been over the past several elections, you actually have a broader swing electorate than has been portrayed. And again, partisanship does run deep. You have some people who are very locked in, and there's nothing you can do. And the only question is whether they're gonna show up or not. But there is actually a large demographic that is open in a moment of incredible tumult and change like this. So I think that's a really important point, and I do think that Abdul has positioned himself smartly. You know, the other thing on the communist point, I'm not gonna say that attack doesn't have any power behind it and that there isn't a reason why they're leaning into this. It's also the. That they use in literally every election, no matter who is running. They said the same thing about Obama and about Biden and so about Hillary and They're saying it again. Again. I think it has some impacts, but at a time when Trump is, like, taking stakes in a lot of companies and what used to be verboten in American political discourse has been brought into the mainstream, I think they're gonna have to do better than just he's a scary commie in order to be Abdul and other capable candidates like him, like,

[Political Commentator 1]

with Trump and the dictatorial fascism stuff didn't land in 2024, you know, maybe land now. At the time, it didn't land. And look, obviously that was a failure in messaging. And at the end of the day, most people either voted with their wallet or whenever it came to immigration in order to. They were like, look, maybe, but we're gonna roll the dice. That's how people will feel whenever it comes to the communists and the socialist attack. You've also got Obama out here. Our favorite E2 up here on the screen. Obama reached out to both Senate candidates in Michigan. The emphasis in his calls was unifying Democrats after a difficult primary. And so, I don't know. I never know what to make of this. You know, the vaunted Obama from on high coming down, putting his blessing upon these two candidates. But it always seems to be in such a way where he's trying to. He's trying to recreate the same thing he did in his practice presidency where he came in and even though he had no reason to do so, decided to give a huge amount of power to these, like Bill Clinton. He literally hired Hillary as his Secretary of State. He always is trying to push these more insurgent candidates who, again, follow some of the playbook that he laid out to do the same thing, even though his strategy was a total and a complete failure. I'm not saying Abdul El Sayed doesn't necessarily have to reach out to Haley Stevens voters, but Haley Stevens herself endorsed him and is like, look, I'm all in behind it. Like, what else?

[Political Commentator 2]

You've been very gracious.

[Interviewee/Politician]

Yeah.

[Political Commentator 1]

I mean, yeah, it's kind of admirable, to be honest.

[Political Commentator 2]

It is.

[Political Commentator 1]

It's like, you know, you very rarely see it in politics today. But what I found here in this, like, warm and encouraging discussion to unite Democrats to win Michigan in November is they're always trying to, like, tamp down the reason why he won in the first place. That's kind of how I look at it.

[Political Commentator 2]

I mean, I will just say, look, as much as I have plenty of complaints about the Obama era, he is the most popular politician in America.

[Political Commentator 1]

Sure.

[Political Commentator 2]

That is reality.

[Political Commentator 1]

Shouldn't be that way, it is.

[Political Commentator 2]

Abdul needs to earn trust with especially older black voters in Michigan and make sure they are turning out in numbers that, you know, that are gonna be important to get him across the finish line. And there was a smear campaign that was run to convince them that he hates Michelle Obama and he's sexist and all these sorts of things, and that Obama endorsed Taylor Stevens. So if Obama does decide to actually get involved in this race and campaign for Abdul, I do think that that will be an important marker. I think the sort of fake Obama endorsement of Haley Stevens is a big part of the reason why she was able to make it as close as she ultimately was able to make it. And then also these ads that were running suggesting, again, that Abdul hates Michelle Obama and is sexist against her or whatever. So I think we have to keep that in mind. Kamala endorsed him as well. I think this also, again, as much as we have a critique here, it is undeniably the fact. Put E3 up on the screen. Is undeniably the case that many black voters have very warm sentiments towards her and favorable opinion of her. I've seen, I don't know, saga. You probably didn't see this. There's all kinds of lefties that were mad about him accepting her endorsement. I'm like, do you want to win or not? It's not like he abandoned his principles to come to her. She came to him. He's not endorsing her, although he did vote for her, but he's not endorsing her. She is coming to him. I mean, this is addition, right? You need to make sure that you got the entire Democratic base behind him, all of that, and then appeal to the winnable independents, the winnable Republicans, based on what is a very strong populist message. So I think obviously he's gonna accept Kamala Harris endorsement. It would be. So can you imagine if he rejected her endorsement, the chill that would put into, like, the black voters who were skeptical of him in Detroit and went for Haley Stevens, et cetera. That would be political suicide to do something like that.

[Political Commentator 1]

Sorry, leftoids, you're retarded. Okay, I can say that again. Now. It's 2026.

[Political Commentator 2]

There's a. That just doesn't want to win. You know, like, we have to live and political reality here.

[Political Commentator 1]

It's like being a Republican who doesn't want Trump's endorsements.

[Podcast Host]

Like, yeah, good luck.

[Political Commentator 1]

That's like shooting yourself in the heart. Do you want to win or not? I mean, yeah, I don't Know that is beyond stupid. But the bigger question actually is whether he's going to win. That's honestly the more interesting question. I probably would bet on him right

[Political Commentator 2]

now, just cause the national climate, he's the national movement. He's also, I mean he is a talented candidate. I think people are seeing that he is very quick, he's very confident, he's very forceful and he has. This is another thing that some leftists were mad at. He called himself a capitalist. I don't care what he calls himself. Look, the reality is that yes, if you poll the general population, socialism is still unpopular. He's running in Michigan and he's trying to win. He's not compromising on his principles. But if he's gonna compromise on the label he calls himself, I don't know why we would complain about that.

[Political Commentator 1]

First of all, obvious again, this is. Y' all just too much Twitter brain stuff. Get over it. People like, do you wanna win or not? But beyond that, yeah, sure, don't listen to me, you don't have to. But my more my bigger point for Abdul and why I think I probably would bet on him is if Alyssa Slotkin, who I sat across from, is frankly one of the most unimpressive politicians I've ever met. Sorry, Alyssa. It's true. Just in terms of your ability to communicate, if that lady can beat Mike Rogers in a wave red election. I'm sorry, like how exactly is Mike supposed to win? I just. Especially with the national mood, to use the Hillary example, if Mike Rogers can't win with the back of these young voters, these uncommitted voters, all these people who are either not voting for Trump or depressing the vote for the Democrat, if she can win in that environment, how the fuck is he supposed to win? Whenever you've got a bunch of disaffected Republicans who are not coming to vote, period. I mean, look, it's fine to get people to vote when they're scared, but it's just not really how it works. You gotta have something positive. That's largely why Abdul, again in my opinion, his campaign is very intelligent, is it's hopeful campaign. It's a very Zoran esque like look, we're fighting against whatever, fascism, et cetera, but we're also doing healthcare. We're talking about affordability, we're talking about spending more money here than overseas. What is Mike Rogers running on? Abdul is a bad. I mean it's just not enough. I've seen this story too many times in politics. It can work. Don't get me Wrong, the Trump 2020 campaign was the closest that it ever came actually to working, which is basically like. Like, Joe Biden is a tool of defund the police. And he still lost at the end of the day. So that shows that even with you had the most intense culture war since the 1960s.

[Political Commentator 2]

True.

[Political Commentator 1]

And you still weren't able to win the election, how are you gonna win today with the economy where it is?

[Political Commentator 2]

That's a really great point. I mean, they're just leaning into, like, oh, my God, he's a Muslim and he's scary. Did you know his full name is Abdul Rahman Mohammed El Sayed? And so Abdul responded to that. And then Trump had also put out this post that showed, like, him and Melania in formal wear. And then Abdul and his wife, who's wearing a hijab at, like, a diner, and said something like, two different Americas. And of course, again, Abdul Rahman El said. So he responded to both of those things. One at the unity rally that they held in Michigan. The other one was on a Sunday show. Let's go ahead and take a listen to how he's tackling those.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Speaking of President Trump, last night, he posted on social media a photograph of

[Political Commentator 1]

him and First Lady Melania Trump in

[Narrator/Advertiser]

formal attire next to a photograph of you and your wife.

[Political Commentator 1]

You appear to be in a restaurant booth or something.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

Your wife is a psychiatrist. She's wearing a hijab. The caption was two very different Americas.

[Political Commentator 1]

What was your response when you saw that?

[Abdul El-Sayed]

Yeah, he's right. One in which your overlords are two people who don't like each other, but joint in the interest of. Of making billions of dollars off of you, or two people who genuinely love each other, enjoyed some pancakes together, want to come together to build the kind of America where they can raise a family and know that that family is going to have the good things. So, yes, you've got two different visions of America. Donald Trump's vision is the one you're living in right now. Can you afford your gas? Can you afford your groceries? Do you believe when you look your kids in the eye that they're going to have a better future than you did? And Sara and I are running because when we look our daughters in the eye, Amelie and Sirin, we want them to believe, believe that they're every bit as able to have a better future than the one that they could have had under the Trump administration, that they can live together with their sisters and their brothers in America in a way where they lock arms to build the good Things that they deserve together, where they know they'll have the health care that they need and good jobs and that they don't have to go 15 minutes and know that there are kids who live 15 minutes away whose lives are very, very different than theirs because we've been been for far too long. Okay. With a level of inequality in this country. I want them to live in an America where they can breathe clean air and drink clean water and actually, Sara and I like each other. I don't know about the first lady and the president, but from what I've heard, it's a bit of a rocky road.

[Political Commentator 1]

Abdul, Donald Trump, seems you're a gift to the Republican Party. What do you say to that?

[Abdul El-Sayed]

I'm a gift to the state of Michigan, God willing and hope to win this election.

[Political Commentator 1]

And he says, if you pardon the language, you're full of. What do you say to that?

[Abdul El-Sayed]

At least I don't let mine go in the middle of the Oval Office.

[Political Commentator 2]

Very zoron like ability there with the Donald Trump attack to immediately turn it to. Yeah, you're right. Two visions of America. One, that's for the oligarchs. You know, do you like this vision of America that you're living in right now, or are we gonna try to make things more affordable and go a different way? Immediately back to, you know, not doing the like, oh, my God, that's so racist. And it's not fair. And making it about him. Instead, he immediately turns it to his core campaign message.

[Political Commentator 1]

Well, in the words of a very successful politician who I remember covering a lot. Not me, us. Right. It's a common slogan. Look, they're gonna try. Maybe it's just me. I don't think that this type of stuff is gonna work all that well in Michigan, especially when you have one of the largest Muslim populations in the United States. That's where I'm like, look, maybe in Maine, maybe in a super white lily state, but here, like in Michigan, where Trump actually courted a significant part of the Muslim vote. I mean, his own people remember the Hammitrack mayor and other endorsements. Trump, like, there's, Look, I've talked to some of the people on the Trump campaign. They acknowledge that the Kamala, Gaza and the no wars in the Middle east was the only reason that they won that state. They know it for sure. And people like Grinnell and a few others who were on the ground were instrumental in getting the Hammitrack mayor and a lot of the other Muslim community leaders to outright endorse Trump. Over Kamala at that time. That's why when I see this type of stuff, I'm like, look, I mean, why do you think Rogers lost? He wasn't willing to do it.

[Political Commentator 2]

If Kamala had won the Arab American vote at the levels that Abdul won in the primary, she would have won the state.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Yeah.

[Political Commentator 2]

I crunched the numbers.

[Political Commentator 1]

We were talking about who was Hilary earlier. If the same amount of blacks vote in the city of Detroit in 2016 that they did for Obama, she wins the election. But she took blacks for granted, and that's why she lost.

[Political Commentator 2]

Yeah, that's right. So Mike Rogers is doing this whole. He's the moral centrist now, and he's reaching out to disaffected Democrats who think Abdul is too extreme. He recorded this video with his wife. This is clearly gonna be sort of a core strategy for them. Let's take a listen.

[Narrator/Advertiser]

If you're among the majority of Democratic voters that woke up on Wednesday feeling, well, hopeless because the person who won does not represent your values, well, just know there is still hope. Michigan deserves a senator who is ready to sit with you, hear from you, and represent you. The parents across Michigan who want an education system that sets up their kids for success. You have a home with us. To grandparents across Michigan who are heartbroken from watching their kids and grandkids leave the state. You have a home with us. To young people who are looking for real solutions to solve our housing affordability crisis. You have a home with us. To working families who. Who don't want higher taxes and lower paychecks. Well, you have a home with us. And to the vast majority of people across Michigan who do not want to throw their support behind a campaign filled with anger, divisiveness, calls for violence, and the views that are out of touch with your values. Well, you have a home with us. The fight is far greater than just left versus right. The fight is for the very soul of our nation. Over the next 90 days, I'm going to work hard to earn your trust, to earn your support and earn your vote. We have a state to save. Michigan. Let's get to work.

[Political Commentator 2]

This actually feels like a Hillary Clinton ad from 2016, right?

[Interviewee/Politician]

Yeah.

[Political Commentator 1]

And I look at the data. So the data actually tells us. Because it feels like this is like country club reach out.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Right?

[Political Commentator 1]

And that's actually kind of what happened. So if you look at the data, who voted for Abdul EL Sayed, who voted for Haley Stevens? People who voted for Haley Stevens are predominantly people who are either much wealthier or make over a few Hundred thousand dollars a year. Or are traditional black Democrats in the state who are kind of convinced by the Obama, like the Obama fake ad campaign by AIPAC and its allies. The people who voted for Abdul predominantly much more college educated white. I mean it's kind of the traditional dsa, downwardly mobile, college educated coalition. Okay. But what you can see with Rogers is he's still trying to get some of those people who are distaste. Like they find Trump distasteful, but they find, you know, higher taxes a lot more distasteful.

[Political Commentator 2]

Yeah.

[Political Commentator 1]

So he wants those voters to kind of come into it actually does make sense. But again, coalitionally I do think he's gonna have a much more difficult time. That's by the way, another reason why they're gonna hammer this Israel thing until kingdom come. Not just for the money that it comes over, but they wanna strip away any of the traditional Jewish Democratic vote who normally two thirds of Jews vote Dems. So they want all those people to come over to Rogers kind of in an interesting psyop. But a lot of it is gonna be, a lot of it will come down to this education where the Republicans need high, low, they need the educated rich and they also need the uneducated, uneducated rich, but they also want like the more working class white to be with them. The DSA and Abdul type candidate is gonna need the downwardly mobile white college educated Democrat and they need those traditional black Democrats and other parts of that coalition to come in for them. Which is why, you know, his strategy with Obama makes total sense. Cuz those people revere Obama.

[Political Commentator 2]

Yeah, yeah. I mean, look, here's the thing. At the end of the day, I think there's a lot of delusion among the Republicans that because the primary was close, that means there's a lot of dissatisfaction with Abdul as the nominee. And I think just from all of the rallying around him, you've got Pete coming in, you got Kamala, they did this unity rally. Haley Stevens been very great, gracious. I think you can already see that that was a delusion. Democrats, whether they love Abdul or whether they got some issues and concerns, they are very united in not handing Trump more power. And Mike Rogers at the end of the day is number one, an unreconstructed neocon who's never seen a war he didn't like in a deep state op, by the way. And number two, a rubber Stanford Trump, who started engaging after criticizing Trump after January 6, then flipped on a dime when it was politically useful to him. Him and started doing the same election conspiracy bullshit that he knew would be required to get Trump's support. This is who this guy is. Also, by the way, Abdul's made a big deal of the fact that he immediately. Mike Rogers, after he lost his last campaign, immediately moved to Florida and has now moved back to himself as well.

[Political Commentator 1]

Abdul's rich too.

[Political Commentator 2]

I'm sure he is. But in any case, last piece here, this is from the unity rally. I referenced this earlier. Rogers and others making a big deal out of like, oh my God, did you know what his real name is? Let's go ahead and take a listen to how Abdul is responding to that.

[Abdul El-Sayed]

Now, Mike, I'm just gonna remind you, if you don't know how to say the name, keep the name out your damn mouth. Or just call me Abdul. But I got some opinions about his name. See, it's very fitting for him. Him Rogers, because that's his answer every time a corporation or Donald Trump tells him to do something. Mike, we need you to put a data center in the backyard. Roger. Mike, we need you to hike their prescription drug prices.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Roger.

[Abdul El-Sayed]

Mike, we need you to rubber stamp this war we shouldn't be fighting.

[Interviewer/Reporter]

Roger.

[Abdul El-Sayed]

Mike, this one's Donald Trump. I need you to lick these boots, Roger.

[Political Commentator 2]

They ate that shit up.

[Political Commentator 1]

Let's call it what it is. That's an Obama. That is an Obama ripoff. That's also code switching. And I'll call it for what? Like, sorry, like what the fuck are we doing here?

[Political Commentator 2]

What do you mean?

[Political Commentator 1]

Come on, it's like a black sent Obama type thing.

[Political Commentator 2]

This is how he talks.

[Political Commentator 1]

No, it's not. I've interviewed the man many, many times.

[Political Commentator 2]

No, no, no, this is. I think it's. But it does sound like Obama. I will just say like, like it's kind of a corny as hell line and he kind of pulls it off. So I don't know, people are. People ate it up in that room for sure.

[Political Commentator 1]

Yes, the women. I mean, that was the quintessential democratic woman. Like 55 years old with the kooky glasses. I mean, look, I mean, no hate, you know, we're all in this country together. But sure, I'm sure she ate it up. I'm not just to me, I found it corny as fuck, but nah, I

[Political Commentator 2]

mean, nah, he ate. He ate in that clip.

[Political Commentator 1]

I'm sure you think so. Didn't work for me. I think he's doing an Obama impression. Look, I put all of this aside.

[Political Commentator 2]

You have to admit though, he is a very talented politician.

[Political Commentator 1]

I've always thought he was good.

[Abdul El-Sayed]

Yeah.

[Political Commentator 2]

Very charismatic.

[Political Commentator 1]

Always impressed me.

[Political Commentator 2]

Very quick on his feet. That clip we played where they were like, Obama says, what was it? Something. Obama says, you're a piece of shit or whatever. And he was like, oh, well, at least I don't let mine go in the Oval Office.

[Political Commentator 1]

Trump says, you're a piece of shit.

[Political Commentator 2]

Yeah, exactly. Sorry. Sorry, Trump. I mean, to come up with that on the fly like that, to me is impressive.

[Political Commentator 1]

Look, he's battle tested. He did lose previously to Gretchen Whitmer. He had some problems, I just think. Cola. This is also where the candidate thing, like I was talking about with Slotkin. If Alyssa Slotkin can beat Mike Rogers in a wave election, like, I don't even know if it matters. Like, we're talking about a few percentage points.

[Political Commentator 2]

I would agree with that, actually.

[Political Commentator 1]

I genuinely, like, I really believe at this point, candidate quality is like a plus, plus, plus or minus two points. I don't really believe in it anymore. Whenever it comes to national elections, we have had too much evidence. Whenever it comes to national. National stakes, where people will put aside everything whenever it means you're gonna vote the right way. Like, it's just Democrats are pissed off. I think if you have a D next to your name in the state of Michigan, I think you're gonna win.

[Political Commentator 2]

I kind of agree with that. I always come back to the guy who's Attorney General of Virginia, J. Jones, who had those text messages that come out that were. They were like, I want to murder my opponent. And he won. Children should win.

[Interviewee/Politician]

He won.

[Political Commentator 2]

People were like, eh, but he's a Democrat and he.

[Political Commentator 1]

And you're talking about statewide, right? You're talking about statewide, where the stakes aren't. Frankly, let's be honest, it's not that fucking high. Yeah, we're talking about vote in the United States Senate, plus or minus. Like, for most people, I'm saying this has always been the case since Tea Party, even more so today. The candidate quality, I just don't think it matters that much anymore. Unless you're. I don't know. Who was the guy who ran in North Carolina? I don't even remember the guy's name.

[Political Commentator 2]

Roy Cooper?

[Political Commentator 1]

No. Who ran against him? The preacher who had all these weird pornographic fantasies. These people come and go. Roy Moore. It takes somebody like that to tank your. Thank you.

[Political Commentator 2]

It matters a lot in a primary. Mattered a lot for Zoran in his primary. Goes from 1% to winning. It matter for Abdul in his primary, who is up against the whole machine $60 million, et cetera. But I do think in a general election, you're right that the national mood is more important than it does matter.

[Political Commentator 1]

It can mandate statewide. That's actually why I think we're going to talk about Hong tomorrow. I think Hong might be in trouble statewide. Whenever it comes to Governor, it just. People vote very differently whenever it comes to the stakes. That there. Andy Beshear, good example. Dem, governor, Republican. You know what, what do these Republicans win by whenever it comes to the nationwide election? Like +34.

[Political Commentator 2]

Oh, in Kentucky, yeah, it's bonkers.

[Political Commentator 1]

But then they'll vote for a Democrat. So, you know, I wouldn't underestimate that. So I actually, I'll say Canada quality matters more in a statewide election, but when it's nationwide, the stakes are just too high.

[Political Commentator 2]

When we saw Virginia and New Jersey, those were state level elections.

[Political Commentator 1]

Good point.

[Political Commentator 2]

And both Abigail Spamberger and Mike, it

[Political Commentator 1]

was the first time he could react.

[Political Commentator 2]

Yeah, that's true. That's a point.

[Political Commentator 1]

Yeah. I mean, look, it's, it's complicated, obviously. We'll see. I still wouldn't bet. I wouldn't say that. It wouldn't hurt, like to have a, a wave of Democrats in an election where everybody's just kind of voting and pissed off. It would definitely wouldn't hurt to be statewide in that. But people are much more willing to go with a different party when the stakes are not high at the federal level. At the end of the day, for Abdul and or Mike Rogers, it's like, are you going to vote for Trump or not? Right. Like, that's an up or down question of expression of disapproval or whatever. Whereas with, you know, with statewide elections, much more complicated, like property tax data centers. I mean, I think it matters a ton, don't get me wrong. But there's so much evidence now for how people vote in that way that I would just, I would want to D next to my name in any potential swing state. There's just no way around it with the.

[Political Commentator 2]

That's just the national climate right now.

[Political Commentator 1]

That's the, that's the reality. Okay, I hope you guys enjoy the show. We're about to do our ama, so. So we'll see you then.

[Podcast Host]

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