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[00:00]
Sponsor/Advertiser Voice
This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try it@progressive.com Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.
[00:20]
Narrator/Host
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[00:50]
Audrey Moorhead
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[01:35]
Narrator/Host
From executive producer isaac saul this is tangle.
[01:49]
Audrey Moorhead
Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening, and welcome to the Tangle Podcast, a place for where you get views from across the political spectrum, some independent thinking and a little bit of our take. This is editor Audrey Moorhead, and today I am unfortunately here to talk about abuse allegations against a politician. This time we'll be covering the accusations against Republican Representative Max Miller of Ohio, what they mean for his reelection candidacy and our politics. Then you'll hear a reflection on the atomic bombing of Hiroshima 81 years later, followed by one of the stories we didn't cover this week. But the podcast is going to end with a nice palate cleanser, a nice story about Corellian bear dogs in Nevada. But before we get into today's podcast, I do have to say that I am a special guest on this week's suspension of the rules in the absence of Editor at Large Camille Foster, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Executive Editor Isaac Saul and I discussed Abdul EL Sayed's primary victory in Michigan, the allegations against Max Miller and and the Truth Social API that has everyone talking. It is a great episode if I do say so myself. So head over there to listen after you get through today's edition. I'll pass it off now to John and I'll be back for my take.
[03:04]
John Law
Thanks, Audrey and welcome everybody. Here are your quick hits for today. First up, The Senate voted 5144 to confirm Erica Schwartz as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Schwartz will become the agency's first Senate confirmed director in approximately one year. Number two, the Maryland legislature approved a ballot measure for the November elections that, if passed, would allow state Democrats to redraw congressional districts. Number three, the Senate Homeland Security Committee voted to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for invoking the Fifth Amendment throughout a Senate hearing last week. Committee Chairman Rand Paul, the Republican from Kentucky, said he will refer the resolution to the Justice Department. Number four, federal aviation officials are reportedly investigating an air traffic safety incident on Tuesday in which the Marine One helicopter carrying President Donald Trump may have flown too close to a commercial plane taking off from Reagan National Airport. And five, a federal judge ruled that permit requirements for short barreled guns and suppressors were unconstitutional, finding that Congress had no basis to impose the requirements after it removed a prior $200 tax for a permit.
[04:22]
Narrator/Host
You've been watching now these abuse allegations that have rocked the Capitol, this family drama that spilled out into the open, it's threatening to upend a key House race. And in just the last hour or so, an Ohio Republican accused of abusing his ex wife and daughter is reiterating he is not going to drop out of the race. Of course we're talking about Congressman Max Miller. Remember, his ex wife, Emily Moreno accuses him of things like holding a gun to her head, throwing her against the wall, throwing hot water at her. Police also investigated their two year old daughter's broken collarbone and bruises for possible abuse. Miller denies all these allegations. He has not faced criminal charges.
[04:59]
John Law
Over the past week. Representative Max Miller, the Republican from Ohio, has faced growing calls to resign or drop his bid for reelection amid allegations of domestic abuse. Emily Moreno, Miller's ex wife and the daughter of Senator Bernie Moreno, the Republican from Ohio accused Miller of verbally and physically abusing her and their two year old daughter. Miller denies the allegations. In recent days, Senator Moreno has spoken out against Miller, saying the Representative is unfit to serve in Congress. For context, Miller and Emily Moreno wed in 2022, shortly before Miller was elected to the House and filed for divorce in 2024. In July 2026 mother Jones obtained legal documents detailing allegations that Miller used illegal drugs, verbally abused his wife and acted violently toward multiple women. Moreno claimed that Miller had thrown hot water at her and held a gun to her head, among other aggressive acts. She also told police she suspected Miller may have been responsible for their daughter's broken collarbone. Child Services determined the allegations were unsubstantiated, and a prosecutor declined to pursue them, citing a lack of evidence. Miller Miller was previously accused of physical abuse by former White House press secretary Stephanie Grissom, whom he dated while serving as a Trump administration staffer. On Sunday, Miller issued a statement denying the accusations against him and released recordings of conversations between him and his ex wife, which he claimed supported his version of events and showed Moreno to be mentally unwell. In the documents Miller released to exonerate himself, a family coordinator described the abuse allegations as greatly exaggerated. The documents also included unredacted photos of Miller and Moreno's two year old daughter naked, which Miller's lawyer apologized for. Miller has reaffirmed his intention to continue his reelection campaign. Separately, the congressman requested an ethics investigation into himself in an attempt to clear his name. On Tuesday, the House Ethics Committee said it will investigate following Miller's statement. On Sunday, Senator Moreno wrote on X As a father and husband, I can tell you that the last two years have been pure hell for my wife Bridget, all our daughter Emily, me and our entire family. In the aftermath of Emily's divorce, Max Miller needs serious psychological help. He is a danger to my daughter and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter. President Donald Trump has remained publicly supportive of Miller, but reportedly expressed doubts about his candidacy in private. On Monday, the president said, I know Max. He's a good person. I mean, I always thought he was a very good person and I'm going to let the families figure that out. Today, we'll share views from the left and the right on the allegations against Miller, and then editor Audrey Moorhead will give her take.
[07:42]
Isaac Saul
We'll be right back after this quick break. Hey everyone, quick thought before we get started. If you listen to Tangle, it's probably because you're trying to escape the media echo chamber. But even when you read broadly, it's hard to see which stories are being emphasized and which ones are being ignored. This episode is brought to you by Ground News. Ground News is not a publisher. It's an app and website that gathers reporting on every news story from across the political spectrum and shows you each outlet's bias rating, factuality rating, and who owns it. It's more than just an aggregator. It gives you context on every perspective in one place so that you can make up your own mind. For example, a recent story about a bipartisan border deal collapsing was covered by 50 plus outlets. One left leaning headline read GOP sinks border deal under Trump Pressure while a right leaning one said Democrats block stronger Border enforcement. Same event, very different framing. Ground News lets you compare that instantly and even flags blind spots stories disproportionately covered by one side. If you want unlimited access to these features, subscribe to the vantage plan for 40% off@groundnews.com that's groundnews.com tn promo code tn again groundnews.com tn code tn for 40% off. If you care about seeing the full picture, I think you'll really value this tool.
[09:04]
Sponsor/Advertiser Voice
This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try it@progressive.com Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.
[09:32]
John Law
Alright, first let's start with some agreement. Writers across the political spectrum view the allegations against Miller as credible and most think he should not seek re election. Alright, and now for what the left is saying. Many on the left question whether Republicans will demand Miller step down. Some argue that Trump has caused the GOP to doubt women's allegations. Others contend Bernie Moreno should have spoken about his daughter sooner. In the Hill, Laurie A. Watkins asked, how will Republicans handle Max Miller? I criticized Graham Platner because if character is going to mean anything in our politics, it has to mean something. Even when the person under scrutiny is on your own side. I still believe that, watkins wrote on Sunday. Moreno said publicly that his former son in law should not serve in Congress. That is not a Democratic strategist's opinion. That is a sitting Republican United States Senator telling voters that a member of his own party in his own state is not fit for the office he holds because of what the man allegedly did to the senator's own daughter and granddaughter. The allegations have been public for months. The pattern behind them goes back two decades. And still Miller stayed in the race with the quiet cover of a party that spent the summer telling Democrats exactly how seriously character should be taken, watkins said. Here is what I would say directly to the Republican Party. You have spent years telling the country that you are the party that protects women and children, the party of family values, the party that will not look away from abuse. I believe many of you mean it, so mean it now, even when it costs you something. In the Atlantic, Ashley Parker said Republicans have been slow to call for an Ohio congressman to end his reelection campaign. Once upon a time, it was practically de minimis for either political party to disavow a candidate facing allegations of domestic violence. But now is not that time. Which might help explain why Republicans have been reluctant to say that an alleged domestic abuser, especially one facing allegations from two women, is probably a poor choice to represent their party this November, parker wrote. I'm referring, of course, to Miller, whom Emily Moreno has accused of scalding her with hot water, holding a gun to her head and throwing her against a wall. All allegations he has denied. But this is now a party whose leader has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women. Perhaps only in President Trump's Republican Party does believing all women, or even some women some of the time become politically fraught, parker said. I am not unsympathetic to Bernie Moreno. I am the stepmom in a blended family, and I understand a key Tenet of Divorce 101, especially when there are kids, is to never speak ill of anyone involved. Moreno seemed to be trying to abide by that ideal. In Slate, Jill Filipovic described as Senator Bernie Moreno's too late attempt to stand up for his daughter. For weeks now, journalists, Democrats and plenty of American voters have been pushing powerful Ohio senator Bernie Moreno to say something, anything, in defense of his daughter and granddaughter. For weeks, Bernie Moreno stayed silent even as Miller went on a crusade of character assassination against Emily Moreno, saying she was mentally ill with untreated bipolar disorder, filipovic wrote. It's good that Moreno has finally come to the defense of his own daughter and granddaughter after weeks of silence and dithering. But it's reasonable to ask what took him so long. And given that the deadline for Miller to pull out of the race is Wednesday, where are all the other Republicans, especially those who called on Democrats to force Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner to resign? In demanding that Miller step aside, Filipovic asked traditionalist conservatives, those who push a nuclear family model with a male lead of household and a female carer for home and children. Make women a clear pledge. Acquiesce to your husband's authority and you will be protected and provided for. Your children will be as well. The Miller Moreno saga is a textbook example of how this promise of patriarchal protection is a myth. Alright, that is it for what the left is saying. Which brings us to what the right is saying. Many on the right say Republicans must disavow Miller. Some criticize Miller's attempts to defend himself in the media. Others note the political implications of Miller staying in the race. In the New York Post, Bethany Mandel argued Republicans must draw a line. Rumors have reverberated on Capitol Hill for years that domestic violence allegations against a two term Ohio Republican would soon explode. Now they've hit the fan in the ugliest imaginable way and Republicans must choose between principles and party loyalties, mandel wrote in Sunday's video statement. Miller tried to brush off his ex wife's claims by saying that she offered to cook him dinner just days after one alleged physical altercation. Anyone familiar with domestic violence recognized that as a tell. It's an unfortunate reality that victims often try to placate an abuser as a means of defusing tensions. Republicans know and have known that Miller is problematic at best. Now they're faced with the same calculation Democrats were forced to make just weeks ago, which when their hopes for control of the Senate hung in the balance of their moral computations, Mandel said. A political party cannot credibly ask Americans to take its values seriously if it refuses to uphold those values when doing so is inconvenient. Republicans now have a chance to show that family values describes a standard they're willing to enforce, not merely a slogan they're willing to campaign on. In the Bulwark, Andrew Egger wrote, things are quickly going from terrible to unsustainable for Max Miller. The congressman who has long faced serious, troubling allegations of domestic abuse became a national spectacle this week after he tried to refute the allegations in a bizarre livestream, Egger said incomprehensibly he decided to take another bite of the apple yesterday afternoon, going on CNN for a lengthy interview with Jake Tapper. It couldn't have gone worse. Miller was utterly unconvincing in his denials, strange and off putting in his tone and approach, and seemed unable to speak in complete sentences, stringing together semi related fragments of talking points at random. Any half sane person who found himself in this situation would go straight off the air and into monastic life or the witness protection program. Miller, on the other hand, says he's determined to stay in the race and the only people who could perhaps change his mind, House Speaker Mike Johnson and President Donald Trump seem determined not to force the issue, egger wrote. The trajectory of the next few months thus seems basically he will run and lose and that will be the end of it, including the House Ethics Committee investigation. These obscene humiliations will last a few more months at most. The stain on Trump and Johnson, however, will remain In PJ Media, Scott Pinsker said that the Republican Party should swap Miller with someone else. Some very nasty allegations of spousal abuse and breaking his daughter's collarbone were made. Miller vehemently denies all accusations of wrongdoing. What's muddying the political waters is where the allegations originate. The ex wife who accused Miller of abuse is the daughter of Senator Bernie Moreno, a MAGA favorite. Unsurprisingly, Senator Moreno is on his daughter's side, pinsker wrote. Had his accuser been a left wing activist, it would have been easier for Miller to dismiss it as a political smear. Yet he still played that card. This is high stakes big league politics. With control of the House coming down to just a handful of districts, destroying Miller's career raises the question of cui bono. Be naive as to deny the possibility, but it's also true that this is the second pro Trump MAGA member who's accused Miller of physical abuse, Pinsker said. Is it possible that Representative Miller was wrongfully accused not once but twice? You betcha. But at this point, that's an awful lot of smoke. Miller is also a junior player in D.C. he's not irreplaceable. And given the nastiness of the allegations as well as the quantity, it's in the best interest of the Republican Party to swap Miller with someone else. All right, let's head over to Audrey for her take.
[17:25]
Audrey Moorhead
Thanks, John. This is editor Audrey Moorhead, and I'm back for my take. It is hard to really put into words just how horrific all this is. Just last month you heard me talk about the sexual assault allegations that ultimately sunk Maine Democrat Graham Plattner's Senate campaign. While Platner's scandals were reaching a crescendo, the Tangle team was also watching the Max Miller story build across the aisle. In May, the Daily Mail published photos of Emily Moreno's alleged injuries. Further updates came in a slow drip until Mother Jones comprehensive reporting on Moreno's allegations against Miller in mid July. But even then, media coverage of Miller has been nowhere near as ubiquitous as coverage of Platner was. I remember feeling indignation as the story slowly came out with why weren't people talking about this? Why wasn't anyone taking this seriously? I mean, this was a senator's daughter filing for a restraining order against a sitting congressman, accusing him of slamming her into walls and pouring steaming water on her, fearing that he had broken their Toddler daughter's collarbone. Where was the coverage? We wanted to cover this topic as our main story on Tuesday, but we couldn't even find sufficient commentary on the story to make it the main topic until yesterday. Stepping back, I can see why the situations are a little bit different. For one thing, Miller's situation is quite a bit more complicated. Platner's accusers faced great personal risk in speaking up, but they were no longer attached to Platner directly. Emily Moreno, however, is permanently linked to Miller through their daughter, and she has to consider what's best for their child as she navigates her legal battles with a national political figure. Graham Platner's story got so much coverage because his accusers went directly to the media, but the Moreno family has not, saying they wanted to keep their story out of the public eye for as long as possible. Even now, Emily Moreno hasn't spoken to the media herself, instead releasing statements through her spokesperson and legal team. And most of the allegations have only come out through public records of their legal proceedings. For his part, Emily Moreno's father, Senator Bernie Moreno, affirmed their story when he broke his silence on Sunday, saying, quote, if there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them. In a subsequent interview, Moreno said his daughter had asked him to keep things private to lower the temperature because of Miller's volatility. Sources close to the Moreno's confirmed the story to the Atlantic's Ashley Parker. If that is indeed the case, I don't fault Emily Moreno for her silence. And I have a hard time faulting Senator Moreno for his. That includes the moment when he told reporters he didn't know if Miller should continue running for Congress as his daughter's abuse allegations went public. At first I thought Bernie Moreno's silence was cowardly. But now that he has spoken up, I really think he was trying to do right by his daughter and granddaughter until his hand was forced. And I'm even somewhat ashamed that I didn't give him that benefit of the doubt to begin with. With all that said, the context only explains why none of the Morenos have yet sat down for a full media interview. It does not explain why it's taken so long for the story to gain traction among the commentariat. And that slowness I'm much more cynical about. I don't want to rank levels of trauma, but the accusations against Miller demand every bit as much scrutiny as the ones against Platner. They've also been building up publicly for much longer as outlets began reporting on Moreno filing for a restraining order at the end of July. Why did public figures take so long to comment directly on the allegations in Miller's House race? Unfortunately, I think they've been silent because the Miller allegations just weren't as salacious. Platner was a charismatic rising star gunning for a high profile Senate seat. Miller has, as far as I can tell, been a largely milquetoast MAGA representative from a usually safe Republican district. Disgusting as it may be to say, it makes sense to me that pundits are more interested in sifting through the dirt on Platner. But now that the Miller allegations are finally being discussed publicly, they're subject to all sorts of scrutiny. And they should be. Scrutiny is a vital part of public adjudication of claims like this against political figures. I'm perversely grateful for figures like Michael Tracy who seem to never believe claims of abuse and impropriety because they provide a good measuring stick to determine the veracity of these allegations. And as Traci notes, some of the evidence points to a more complicated situation than just Max Miller is a bad guy. Family psychologist Deborah Karicki did say in court that she thought the abuse allegations were exaggerated, though she also confirmed Emily Moreno's story about hot water. Emily Moreno did swear that she had never seen definitive evidence that Miller had harmed their daughter, though this statement predated the collarbone incident and investigations into Miller have never resulted in him losing custody of his daughter. Indeed, Child Services said the allegations he abused his daughter were unsubstantiated and Emily Moreno never formally brought charges. Miller himself has been trying to fight the allegations against him on social media and on the broadcast media circuit. Miller claims the hot water incident was just play. He also said that in the time after the incident, Moreno offered to cook dinner for him and invited him to playgrounds to spend time with their daughter. He denied that his daughter told Moreno daddy kill you, and told CNN's Jake Tapper that their daughter was scared to go to her mother's house, although to Tapper's credit, live on the air, he asked how Miller could claim his daughter was too young to make the statement about her dad, but old enough to make the statement about her mom. And finally, Miller asked for a House Ethics Committee investigation into the claims against him to prove his innocence. Traci and Miller can build a strong argument that the congressman isn't necessarily a significant threat to his ex wife and child, but they can't sufficiently disprove that Max Miller is abus Domestic abuse experts and survivors will tell you that abuse doesn't always look like a deadly threat. It can come in the form of volatility or fear of occasional violence, followed by attempts to obfuscate and deny and paper over with love. Responses to abuse, too, can range wildly from pretending nothing's wrong to reconciliation attempts for the sake of the children caught in the middle. Most of all, Miller's own history and his conduct throughout this situation have only indicted his character. Further, former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham has accused Miller of abuse during their relationship in the first Trump administration and filed for a restraining order. An unnamed high school girlfriend claims Miller pushed her out of a door and downstairs during their relationship. Miller has a history of drunk and disorderly behavior. Meanwhile, in interview after interview, he appears volatile and defensive. When interviewers push back on his claims, like Jake Tapper did, Miller slips and slides, going from defending himself to levying counterclaims against his ex wife to invoking due process rights. I don't deny that he has a right to due process in the courts, but he should know that public scrutiny of a political figure is different. The courts may decide that he should keep partial custody over his daughter, but voters still have a right to decide whether a man accused of this sort of personal conduct by multiple women is really fit to serve in one of the highest offices in the country. All of this, then, leaves me with just one more consideration how Miller and Republicans will respond to these abuse allegations. So far, I have cause for despondency, as Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that he won't intervene. Senator Moreno said Miller was unfit to serve in Congress, but most congressional Republicans aren't making strong statements on the matter, and President Trump appears content to stay on the sidelines, too. Miller himself has refused to back down, and if it weren't so horrible, I'd find it laughably fitting that he did so by invoking President Trump's electoral victory through a storm of scandal in 2016. I think Miller is banking on something that we all fear to be true. Character matters less and less to certain voters. Privately, at least, Republicans do seem worried about Miller's candidacy. President Trump reportedly called Miller to express doubts about the upcoming election. Prominent pollsters also seem to think that the allegations will hurt Miller, as many of them have downgraded the seat from solid R to likely R or even lean R. As more news has come out, and maybe as Senator Moreno takes a public stand, the House Ethics Committee begins its investigation and Miller himself continues digging holes in his public appearances, Republicans will see reason to abandon him and push Miller out as Democrats eventually did with Platner. I admit I'm not very confident in the gop, but if Republican leadership won't draw the line, I hope Ohio voters will. That's it for my take, so I'll pass it back to John for the rest of the podcast. Thanks so much for listening.
[25:40]
Isaac Saul
Foreign. We'll be right back after this quick break.
[25:52]
Audrey Moorhead
Hi, this is Kim and Penn Holderness from the Laugh Lines podcast.
[25:55]
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[26:00]
Audrey Moorhead
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Audrey Moorhead
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Audrey Moorhead
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Audrey Moorhead
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[27:51]
John Law
Thanks Audrey on this day in history, months after Germany surrendered to Ally forces, fighting between the United States and Japan dragged on in the Second World War's Pacific theater, the toll was high after Japan attacked Pearl harbor in December 1941. Roughly 416,000American soldiers and 2.1 million Japanese would die in the war, with hundreds of thousands more wounded on both sides at the Potsdam Conference in the summer of 1945 Allied heads of state called for Japan's unconditional surrender, issuing a terse warning of prompt and utter destruction if the country failed to do so. Japan refused. On August 6, the Enola Gay B29 Superfortress bomber dropped an atomic bomb christened Little Boy on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in the first use of a nuclear weapon in active combat. As many as 80,000 people died instantly or within the first 24 hours of the blast, and the death toll rose to about 140,000 by the end of 1945. The city's population was roughly 300,000 people at the time of the attack. Three days later, on August 9, the United States used a nuclear weapon for the second time when the B29 bockscar dropped Fat man, an atomic bomb with a yield of 21 kilotons, six more than Little Boy on Nagasaki, population 263,000. Japan surrendered on August 15. By the end of 1945, the death toll in Nagasaki had reached about 70,000. In the years to come, thousands more would suffer and die from radiation exposure. A nuclear weapon has not been used in combat since. Debates on the merits, ethics and legality of the bombings continue to present day. The bombings were undeniably devastating man made humanitarian disasters, and many historians consider their usage to mark the beginning of the Cold War. Historians also credit the atomic bomb as a key contributor to the long peace and weigh its usage against the lives that could have been lost through protracted conventional warfare. Today, museums and memorials stand in Hiroshima and Nagasaki for visitors to learn about and reflect on the bombings and fallout carrying an ongoing warning against future nuclear warfare. And now for the road not taken. Throughout the week, we considered covering Todd Blanche's Attorney General nomination as our main topic. The story evolved as the week went on. Blanche's status was uncertain coming out of the weekend, but he appeared back on track. After striking a deal with Republican Senate holdouts and advancing through committee, we decided to hold on coverage to see how his nomination fares in the full Senate. With Senator Susan Collins saying she'll vote no and Senator Mitch McConnell still unable to return to work, Blanche's status is again uncertain. We're planning to dedicate a full edition to the story when the confirmation vote is held. And last but not least, our have a nice day story. In the 1980s, Karl Lackey was a one man team responsible for stewarding the black bear population for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Black bears once lived throughout the state, but habitat loss reduced their total number to about 30. At the time Lackey took charge as the population rebounded, Lackey realized he needed help preventing confrontations between humans and bears, particularly in the Tahoe area. That help came from Karelian Bear Dogs, a breed that specializes in confronting bears to teach them to avoid areas where people live. Today, Badger and Banjo are two of NDOW's most valuable employees, keeping up to 700 bears across Western Nevada away from humans. They really add a level of comfort and safety for us, ndow employee Becca Carneello said. This can be a really challenging job and it's really cool to have someone with you who adores you. Tahoe Daily Tribune has this story and you can check it out with the link in today's episode Description alright everybody, that is it for today's episode. As always, if you'd like to support our work, please go to readtangle.com for where you can sign up for a newsletter membership, podcast membership, or a bundled membership that gets you a discount on both. Our latest episode of Suspension of the Rules is up on Apple Music, Spotify and your favorite podcast platform. You can also check out the full episode on our YouTube channel, which has additional footage for your viewing pleasure. And while you're there, please do us a big hit. Subscribe, click like and turn on notifications. All of those things help us get noticed in the algorithm, which helps us get seen by more and more viewers. We are off next week folks. We're going to be taking a little bit of time to get refreshed, relaxed and prepped for the rest of the year, and during that time we'll be releasing the video of our West Virginia event where we talked with Cat Rosenfield, Andy Mills and Camille Foster about the future of AI and other current political events. So stay tuned for that. We'll be back in your ears on August 17th. Until then folks, for Isaac, Audrey and the rest of the crew, this is John Law signing off. Haven't absolutely wonderful weekend, y'. All. Peace.
[32:40]
Isaac Saul
Our Executive Editor and founder is me, Isaac Saul and our Executive Producer is John Wall. Today's episode was edited and engineered by Dewey Thomas. Our editorial staff is led by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman with Senior Editor Will Kaback and Associate Editors Audrey Moorhead, Lindsey Knuth and Bailey Saul. Music for the podcast was produced by Diane Style. To learn more about Tango and to sign up for a membership, please visit our website@retangle.com.
[33:19]
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[33:50]
Audrey Moorhead
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[34:19]
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Summary6 min read

Tangle Podcast: The Abuse Allegations Against Rep. Max Miller

Date: August 6, 2026
Host: Audrey Moorhead (Editor), with contributions from John Law and Isaac Saul

Episode Overview

This episode of Tangle focuses on the serious domestic abuse allegations against Ohio Republican Rep. Max Miller. The discussion explores the context of Miller’s reelection candidacy, the response from across the political spectrum, the handling by party leadership, and the complex personal and political fallout of the case. The team contrasts media and political reactions to similar scandals, especially those on the other side of the aisle, and closes the main segment with a thoughtful editorial from Audrey Moorhead.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background of the Case

(04:22 – 07:41)

Allegations: Emily Moreno, Miller’s ex-wife (and daughter of Senator Bernie Moreno), accuses Miller of verbally and physically abusing her and their 2-year-old daughter, including specific claims: holding a gun to her head, throwing her against a wall, and scalding her with hot water.
Investigations: Police and child services investigated, but allegations concerning the daughter were found unsubstantiated, and prosecutors declined to press charges due to insufficient evidence.
Prior Accusations: Stephanie Grisham (former White House Press Secretary) and a high school girlfriend previously accused Miller of physical abuse.
Miller’s Response: Miller emphatically denies all allegations, released private recordings in defense, and sought a House Ethics Committee investigation into himself.

“Miller denies all these allegations. He has not faced criminal charges.” – John Law (04:22)
Family & Political Fallout: Senator Bernie Moreno broke his silence to denounce Miller as unfit for office and raised concerns about their granddaughter’s safety.

“Max Miller needs serious psychological help. He is a danger to my daughter and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter.”
– Senator Bernie Moreno statement (reported at 06:22)

2. Media & Political Party Reactions

(09:32 – 17:24)

The Left’s Perspective

Widespread skepticism about whether Republicans will act, with many suggesting the party has set aside its own professed standards on abuse and family values.
Comparisons to how Democrats handled allegations against their own members (e.g., Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner).

“If character is going to mean anything in our politics, it has to mean something. Even when the person under scrutiny is on your own side… You have spent years telling the country that you are the party that protects women and children... So mean it now, even when it costs you something.”
– Laurie A. Watkins, The Hill (quoted by John Law at 10:13)
Frustration over Senator Moreno's delay in public criticism, though some empathy for familial complexities.
Critical lens on patriarchal political rhetoric, with calls for consistency and protection for women:

“The Miller-Moreno saga is a textbook example of how this promise of patriarchal protection is a myth.”
– Jill Filipovic, Slate (14:18)

The Right’s Perspective

Multiple conservative commentators urge the GOP to distance itself from Miller to remain credible on moral values.
Highlight the dilemma: Electoral calculations vs. ethical principles.
Criticism of Miller’s public defense tactics (e.g., livestreams and CNN interview) as “bizarre” and ineffective.

“A political party cannot credibly ask Americans to take its values seriously if it refuses to uphold those values when doing so is inconvenient.”
– Bethany Mandel, New York Post (15:08)
Acknowledgment that the allegations are politically toxic, with growing acceptance that Miller cannot survive politically:

“Any half sane person who found himself in this situation would go straight off the air and into monastic life or the witness protection program. Miller… says he’s determined to stay in the race… these obscene humiliations will last a few more months at most. The stain on Trump and Johnson, however, will remain.”
– Andrew Egger, The Bulwark (16:03)

3. Editorial Reflection: Audrey Moorhead’s Take

(17:24 – 25:39)

Audrey’s analysis covers:

Stark contrast in media coverage between Max Miller’s scandal and that of Democrat Graham Platner.
Complicating factors: Miller’s accuser is still connected by co-parenting, causing the Moreno family to proceed more cautiously and avoid the media spotlight.
The slow response by the political and media establishment criticized, with suspicion that Miller’s lower profile and the district’s relative safety contributed to the lack of urgency.
Nuances of the case: Some evidence muddles the narrative (e.g., custody rulings, some allegations found “exaggerated” by family psychologists), but Miller’s history and demeanor are highlighted as red flags.
The broader implications for political culture: Shrinking significance of personal character, and the strategic silence of leadership figures like Speaker Johnson and President Trump.

“Most of all, Miller’s own history and his conduct throughout this situation have only indicted his character. Further, former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham has accused Miller of abuse during their relationship… Miller has a history of drunk and disorderly behavior. Meanwhile, in interview after interview, he appears volatile and defensive…”
– Audrey Moorhead (22:08)

“I don't deny that he has a right to due process in the courts, but he should know that public scrutiny of a political figure is different… voters still have a right to decide whether a man accused of this sort of personal conduct by multiple women is really fit to serve…”
– Audrey Moorhead (23:51)
Prediction: Public and party pressure may eventually force Miller out, but confidence in GOP leadership to act is low.

“If Republican leadership won’t draw the line, I hope Ohio voters will.”
– Audrey Moorhead (25:26)

4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

John Law (on bipartisan skepticism):

“Writers across the political spectrum view the allegations against Miller as credible and most think he should not seek re-election.” (09:32)
President Trump (public vs. private stance):

“I know Max. He’s a good person. I mean, I always thought he was a very good person and I’m going to let the families figure that out.” (Reported by John Law at 07:31)
Audrey Moorhead (on media slowness):

“The context only explains why none of the Morenos have yet sat down for a media interview. It does not explain why it’s taken so long for the story to gain traction among the commentariat. And that slowness I’m much more cynical about.” (21:39)
CNN’s Jake Tapper challenging Miller:

(Paraphrased by Audrey at 23:13)
“[Jake Tapper] asked how Miller could claim his daughter was too young to make the statement about her dad, but old enough to make the statement about her mom.”
Audrey Moorhead (on public accountability):

“Voters still have a right to decide whether a man accused of this sort of personal conduct by multiple women is really fit to serve in one of the highest offices in the country.” (23:51)

5. Timestamps for Key Segments

Episode Introduction & Overview – 01:49
Story Recap & Case Background – 04:22
Partisan Media Reactions: The Left & The Right – 09:32 – 17:24
Audrey Moorhead’s Editorial Take – 17:24 – 25:39
Historical Reflection: Hiroshima Anniversary – 27:51
Lighter Stories & Outro – 31:51ff

6. Takeaways & Podcast Tone

The conversation is thoughtful, measured, and anchored in a commitment to presenting arguments from across the political spectrum.
The hosts avoid sensationalism, focusing instead on the political, personal, and ethical complexities—emphasizing the importance of due process while highlighting the distinct standards to which public figures are (and should be) held.

For those seeking a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the Max Miller abuse allegations and their political ramifications, this episode serves as a candid, bipartisan, and clear-eyed analysis.

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Transcript28 lines

[00:00]
Sponsor/Advertiser Voice
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[00:20]
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[00:50]
Audrey Moorhead
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[01:35]
Narrator/Host
From executive producer isaac saul this is tangle.
[01:49]
Audrey Moorhead
Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening, and welcome to the Tangle Podcast, a place for where you get views from across the political spectrum, some independent thinking and a little bit of our take. This is editor Audrey Moorhead, and today I am unfortunately here to talk about abuse allegations against a politician. This time we'll be covering the accusations against Republican Representative Max Miller of Ohio, what they mean for his reelection candidacy and our politics. Then you'll hear a reflection on the atomic bombing of Hiroshima 81 years later, followed by one of the stories we didn't cover this week. But the podcast is going to end with a nice palate cleanser, a nice story about Corellian bear dogs in Nevada. But before we get into today's podcast, I do have to say that I am a special guest on this week's suspension of the rules in the absence of Editor at Large Camille Foster, Managing Editor Ari Weitzman, Executive Editor Isaac Saul and I discussed Abdul EL Sayed's primary victory in Michigan, the allegations against Max Miller and and the Truth Social API that has everyone talking. It is a great episode if I do say so myself. So head over there to listen after you get through today's edition. I'll pass it off now to John and I'll be back for my take.
[03:04]
John Law
Thanks, Audrey and welcome everybody. Here are your quick hits for today. First up, The Senate voted 5144 to confirm Erica Schwartz as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Schwartz will become the agency's first Senate confirmed director in approximately one year. Number two, the Maryland legislature approved a ballot measure for the November elections that, if passed, would allow state Democrats to redraw congressional districts. Number three, the Senate Homeland Security Committee voted to hold Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress for invoking the Fifth Amendment throughout a Senate hearing last week. Committee Chairman Rand Paul, the Republican from Kentucky, said he will refer the resolution to the Justice Department. Number four, federal aviation officials are reportedly investigating an air traffic safety incident on Tuesday in which the Marine One helicopter carrying President Donald Trump may have flown too close to a commercial plane taking off from Reagan National Airport. And five, a federal judge ruled that permit requirements for short barreled guns and suppressors were unconstitutional, finding that Congress had no basis to impose the requirements after it removed a prior $200 tax for a permit.
[04:22]
Narrator/Host
You've been watching now these abuse allegations that have rocked the Capitol, this family drama that spilled out into the open, it's threatening to upend a key House race. And in just the last hour or so, an Ohio Republican accused of abusing his ex wife and daughter is reiterating he is not going to drop out of the race. Of course we're talking about Congressman Max Miller. Remember, his ex wife, Emily Moreno accuses him of things like holding a gun to her head, throwing her against the wall, throwing hot water at her. Police also investigated their two year old daughter's broken collarbone and bruises for possible abuse. Miller denies all these allegations. He has not faced criminal charges.
[04:59]
John Law
Over the past week. Representative Max Miller, the Republican from Ohio, has faced growing calls to resign or drop his bid for reelection amid allegations of domestic abuse. Emily Moreno, Miller's ex wife and the daughter of Senator Bernie Moreno, the Republican from Ohio accused Miller of verbally and physically abusing her and their two year old daughter. Miller denies the allegations. In recent days, Senator Moreno has spoken out against Miller, saying the Representative is unfit to serve in Congress. For context, Miller and Emily Moreno wed in 2022, shortly before Miller was elected to the House and filed for divorce in 2024. In July 2026 mother Jones obtained legal documents detailing allegations that Miller used illegal drugs, verbally abused his wife and acted violently toward multiple women. Moreno claimed that Miller had thrown hot water at her and held a gun to her head, among other aggressive acts. She also told police she suspected Miller may have been responsible for their daughter's broken collarbone. Child Services determined the allegations were unsubstantiated, and a prosecutor declined to pursue them, citing a lack of evidence. Miller Miller was previously accused of physical abuse by former White House press secretary Stephanie Grissom, whom he dated while serving as a Trump administration staffer. On Sunday, Miller issued a statement denying the accusations against him and released recordings of conversations between him and his ex wife, which he claimed supported his version of events and showed Moreno to be mentally unwell. In the documents Miller released to exonerate himself, a family coordinator described the abuse allegations as greatly exaggerated. The documents also included unredacted photos of Miller and Moreno's two year old daughter naked, which Miller's lawyer apologized for. Miller has reaffirmed his intention to continue his reelection campaign. Separately, the congressman requested an ethics investigation into himself in an attempt to clear his name. On Tuesday, the House Ethics Committee said it will investigate following Miller's statement. On Sunday, Senator Moreno wrote on X As a father and husband, I can tell you that the last two years have been pure hell for my wife Bridget, all our daughter Emily, me and our entire family. In the aftermath of Emily's divorce, Max Miller needs serious psychological help. He is a danger to my daughter and I hold my breath every minute he has custody of my granddaughter. President Donald Trump has remained publicly supportive of Miller, but reportedly expressed doubts about his candidacy in private. On Monday, the president said, I know Max. He's a good person. I mean, I always thought he was a very good person and I'm going to let the families figure that out. Today, we'll share views from the left and the right on the allegations against Miller, and then editor Audrey Moorhead will give her take.
[07:42]
Isaac Saul
We'll be right back after this quick break. Hey everyone, quick thought before we get started. If you listen to Tangle, it's probably because you're trying to escape the media echo chamber. But even when you read broadly, it's hard to see which stories are being emphasized and which ones are being ignored. This episode is brought to you by Ground News. Ground News is not a publisher. It's an app and website that gathers reporting on every news story from across the political spectrum and shows you each outlet's bias rating, factuality rating, and who owns it. It's more than just an aggregator. It gives you context on every perspective in one place so that you can make up your own mind. For example, a recent story about a bipartisan border deal collapsing was covered by 50 plus outlets. One left leaning headline read GOP sinks border deal under Trump Pressure while a right leaning one said Democrats block stronger Border enforcement. Same event, very different framing. Ground News lets you compare that instantly and even flags blind spots stories disproportionately covered by one side. If you want unlimited access to these features, subscribe to the vantage plan for 40% off@groundnews.com that's groundnews.com tn promo code tn again groundnews.com tn code tn for 40% off. If you care about seeing the full picture, I think you'll really value this tool.
[09:04]
Sponsor/Advertiser Voice
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[09:32]
John Law
Alright, first let's start with some agreement. Writers across the political spectrum view the allegations against Miller as credible and most think he should not seek re election. Alright, and now for what the left is saying. Many on the left question whether Republicans will demand Miller step down. Some argue that Trump has caused the GOP to doubt women's allegations. Others contend Bernie Moreno should have spoken about his daughter sooner. In the Hill, Laurie A. Watkins asked, how will Republicans handle Max Miller? I criticized Graham Platner because if character is going to mean anything in our politics, it has to mean something. Even when the person under scrutiny is on your own side. I still believe that, watkins wrote on Sunday. Moreno said publicly that his former son in law should not serve in Congress. That is not a Democratic strategist's opinion. That is a sitting Republican United States Senator telling voters that a member of his own party in his own state is not fit for the office he holds because of what the man allegedly did to the senator's own daughter and granddaughter. The allegations have been public for months. The pattern behind them goes back two decades. And still Miller stayed in the race with the quiet cover of a party that spent the summer telling Democrats exactly how seriously character should be taken, watkins said. Here is what I would say directly to the Republican Party. You have spent years telling the country that you are the party that protects women and children, the party of family values, the party that will not look away from abuse. I believe many of you mean it, so mean it now, even when it costs you something. In the Atlantic, Ashley Parker said Republicans have been slow to call for an Ohio congressman to end his reelection campaign. Once upon a time, it was practically de minimis for either political party to disavow a candidate facing allegations of domestic violence. But now is not that time. Which might help explain why Republicans have been reluctant to say that an alleged domestic abuser, especially one facing allegations from two women, is probably a poor choice to represent their party this November, parker wrote. I'm referring, of course, to Miller, whom Emily Moreno has accused of scalding her with hot water, holding a gun to her head and throwing her against a wall. All allegations he has denied. But this is now a party whose leader has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women. Perhaps only in President Trump's Republican Party does believing all women, or even some women some of the time become politically fraught, parker said. I am not unsympathetic to Bernie Moreno. I am the stepmom in a blended family, and I understand a key Tenet of Divorce 101, especially when there are kids, is to never speak ill of anyone involved. Moreno seemed to be trying to abide by that ideal. In Slate, Jill Filipovic described as Senator Bernie Moreno's too late attempt to stand up for his daughter. For weeks now, journalists, Democrats and plenty of American voters have been pushing powerful Ohio senator Bernie Moreno to say something, anything, in defense of his daughter and granddaughter. For weeks, Bernie Moreno stayed silent even as Miller went on a crusade of character assassination against Emily Moreno, saying she was mentally ill with untreated bipolar disorder, filipovic wrote. It's good that Moreno has finally come to the defense of his own daughter and granddaughter after weeks of silence and dithering. But it's reasonable to ask what took him so long. And given that the deadline for Miller to pull out of the race is Wednesday, where are all the other Republicans, especially those who called on Democrats to force Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner to resign? In demanding that Miller step aside, Filipovic asked traditionalist conservatives, those who push a nuclear family model with a male lead of household and a female carer for home and children. Make women a clear pledge. Acquiesce to your husband's authority and you will be protected and provided for. Your children will be as well. The Miller Moreno saga is a textbook example of how this promise of patriarchal protection is a myth. Alright, that is it for what the left is saying. Which brings us to what the right is saying. Many on the right say Republicans must disavow Miller. Some criticize Miller's attempts to defend himself in the media. Others note the political implications of Miller staying in the race. In the New York Post, Bethany Mandel argued Republicans must draw a line. Rumors have reverberated on Capitol Hill for years that domestic violence allegations against a two term Ohio Republican would soon explode. Now they've hit the fan in the ugliest imaginable way and Republicans must choose between principles and party loyalties, mandel wrote in Sunday's video statement. Miller tried to brush off his ex wife's claims by saying that she offered to cook him dinner just days after one alleged physical altercation. Anyone familiar with domestic violence recognized that as a tell. It's an unfortunate reality that victims often try to placate an abuser as a means of defusing tensions. Republicans know and have known that Miller is problematic at best. Now they're faced with the same calculation Democrats were forced to make just weeks ago, which when their hopes for control of the Senate hung in the balance of their moral computations, Mandel said. A political party cannot credibly ask Americans to take its values seriously if it refuses to uphold those values when doing so is inconvenient. Republicans now have a chance to show that family values describes a standard they're willing to enforce, not merely a slogan they're willing to campaign on. In the Bulwark, Andrew Egger wrote, things are quickly going from terrible to unsustainable for Max Miller. The congressman who has long faced serious, troubling allegations of domestic abuse became a national spectacle this week after he tried to refute the allegations in a bizarre livestream, Egger said incomprehensibly he decided to take another bite of the apple yesterday afternoon, going on CNN for a lengthy interview with Jake Tapper. It couldn't have gone worse. Miller was utterly unconvincing in his denials, strange and off putting in his tone and approach, and seemed unable to speak in complete sentences, stringing together semi related fragments of talking points at random. Any half sane person who found himself in this situation would go straight off the air and into monastic life or the witness protection program. Miller, on the other hand, says he's determined to stay in the race and the only people who could perhaps change his mind, House Speaker Mike Johnson and President Donald Trump seem determined not to force the issue, egger wrote. The trajectory of the next few months thus seems basically he will run and lose and that will be the end of it, including the House Ethics Committee investigation. These obscene humiliations will last a few more months at most. The stain on Trump and Johnson, however, will remain In PJ Media, Scott Pinsker said that the Republican Party should swap Miller with someone else. Some very nasty allegations of spousal abuse and breaking his daughter's collarbone were made. Miller vehemently denies all accusations of wrongdoing. What's muddying the political waters is where the allegations originate. The ex wife who accused Miller of abuse is the daughter of Senator Bernie Moreno, a MAGA favorite. Unsurprisingly, Senator Moreno is on his daughter's side, pinsker wrote. Had his accuser been a left wing activist, it would have been easier for Miller to dismiss it as a political smear. Yet he still played that card. This is high stakes big league politics. With control of the House coming down to just a handful of districts, destroying Miller's career raises the question of cui bono. Be naive as to deny the possibility, but it's also true that this is the second pro Trump MAGA member who's accused Miller of physical abuse, Pinsker said. Is it possible that Representative Miller was wrongfully accused not once but twice? You betcha. But at this point, that's an awful lot of smoke. Miller is also a junior player in D.C. he's not irreplaceable. And given the nastiness of the allegations as well as the quantity, it's in the best interest of the Republican Party to swap Miller with someone else. All right, let's head over to Audrey for her take.
[17:25]
Audrey Moorhead
Thanks, John. This is editor Audrey Moorhead, and I'm back for my take. It is hard to really put into words just how horrific all this is. Just last month you heard me talk about the sexual assault allegations that ultimately sunk Maine Democrat Graham Plattner's Senate campaign. While Platner's scandals were reaching a crescendo, the Tangle team was also watching the Max Miller story build across the aisle. In May, the Daily Mail published photos of Emily Moreno's alleged injuries. Further updates came in a slow drip until Mother Jones comprehensive reporting on Moreno's allegations against Miller in mid July. But even then, media coverage of Miller has been nowhere near as ubiquitous as coverage of Platner was. I remember feeling indignation as the story slowly came out with why weren't people talking about this? Why wasn't anyone taking this seriously? I mean, this was a senator's daughter filing for a restraining order against a sitting congressman, accusing him of slamming her into walls and pouring steaming water on her, fearing that he had broken their Toddler daughter's collarbone. Where was the coverage? We wanted to cover this topic as our main story on Tuesday, but we couldn't even find sufficient commentary on the story to make it the main topic until yesterday. Stepping back, I can see why the situations are a little bit different. For one thing, Miller's situation is quite a bit more complicated. Platner's accusers faced great personal risk in speaking up, but they were no longer attached to Platner directly. Emily Moreno, however, is permanently linked to Miller through their daughter, and she has to consider what's best for their child as she navigates her legal battles with a national political figure. Graham Platner's story got so much coverage because his accusers went directly to the media, but the Moreno family has not, saying they wanted to keep their story out of the public eye for as long as possible. Even now, Emily Moreno hasn't spoken to the media herself, instead releasing statements through her spokesperson and legal team. And most of the allegations have only come out through public records of their legal proceedings. For his part, Emily Moreno's father, Senator Bernie Moreno, affirmed their story when he broke his silence on Sunday, saying, quote, if there are any basic standards of character required to hold elected office, Max Miller fails them. In a subsequent interview, Moreno said his daughter had asked him to keep things private to lower the temperature because of Miller's volatility. Sources close to the Moreno's confirmed the story to the Atlantic's Ashley Parker. If that is indeed the case, I don't fault Emily Moreno for her silence. And I have a hard time faulting Senator Moreno for his. That includes the moment when he told reporters he didn't know if Miller should continue running for Congress as his daughter's abuse allegations went public. At first I thought Bernie Moreno's silence was cowardly. But now that he has spoken up, I really think he was trying to do right by his daughter and granddaughter until his hand was forced. And I'm even somewhat ashamed that I didn't give him that benefit of the doubt to begin with. With all that said, the context only explains why none of the Morenos have yet sat down for a full media interview. It does not explain why it's taken so long for the story to gain traction among the commentariat. And that slowness I'm much more cynical about. I don't want to rank levels of trauma, but the accusations against Miller demand every bit as much scrutiny as the ones against Platner. They've also been building up publicly for much longer as outlets began reporting on Moreno filing for a restraining order at the end of July. Why did public figures take so long to comment directly on the allegations in Miller's House race? Unfortunately, I think they've been silent because the Miller allegations just weren't as salacious. Platner was a charismatic rising star gunning for a high profile Senate seat. Miller has, as far as I can tell, been a largely milquetoast MAGA representative from a usually safe Republican district. Disgusting as it may be to say, it makes sense to me that pundits are more interested in sifting through the dirt on Platner. But now that the Miller allegations are finally being discussed publicly, they're subject to all sorts of scrutiny. And they should be. Scrutiny is a vital part of public adjudication of claims like this against political figures. I'm perversely grateful for figures like Michael Tracy who seem to never believe claims of abuse and impropriety because they provide a good measuring stick to determine the veracity of these allegations. And as Traci notes, some of the evidence points to a more complicated situation than just Max Miller is a bad guy. Family psychologist Deborah Karicki did say in court that she thought the abuse allegations were exaggerated, though she also confirmed Emily Moreno's story about hot water. Emily Moreno did swear that she had never seen definitive evidence that Miller had harmed their daughter, though this statement predated the collarbone incident and investigations into Miller have never resulted in him losing custody of his daughter. Indeed, Child Services said the allegations he abused his daughter were unsubstantiated and Emily Moreno never formally brought charges. Miller himself has been trying to fight the allegations against him on social media and on the broadcast media circuit. Miller claims the hot water incident was just play. He also said that in the time after the incident, Moreno offered to cook dinner for him and invited him to playgrounds to spend time with their daughter. He denied that his daughter told Moreno daddy kill you, and told CNN's Jake Tapper that their daughter was scared to go to her mother's house, although to Tapper's credit, live on the air, he asked how Miller could claim his daughter was too young to make the statement about her dad, but old enough to make the statement about her mom. And finally, Miller asked for a House Ethics Committee investigation into the claims against him to prove his innocence. Traci and Miller can build a strong argument that the congressman isn't necessarily a significant threat to his ex wife and child, but they can't sufficiently disprove that Max Miller is abus Domestic abuse experts and survivors will tell you that abuse doesn't always look like a deadly threat. It can come in the form of volatility or fear of occasional violence, followed by attempts to obfuscate and deny and paper over with love. Responses to abuse, too, can range wildly from pretending nothing's wrong to reconciliation attempts for the sake of the children caught in the middle. Most of all, Miller's own history and his conduct throughout this situation have only indicted his character. Further, former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham has accused Miller of abuse during their relationship in the first Trump administration and filed for a restraining order. An unnamed high school girlfriend claims Miller pushed her out of a door and downstairs during their relationship. Miller has a history of drunk and disorderly behavior. Meanwhile, in interview after interview, he appears volatile and defensive. When interviewers push back on his claims, like Jake Tapper did, Miller slips and slides, going from defending himself to levying counterclaims against his ex wife to invoking due process rights. I don't deny that he has a right to due process in the courts, but he should know that public scrutiny of a political figure is different. The courts may decide that he should keep partial custody over his daughter, but voters still have a right to decide whether a man accused of this sort of personal conduct by multiple women is really fit to serve in one of the highest offices in the country. All of this, then, leaves me with just one more consideration how Miller and Republicans will respond to these abuse allegations. So far, I have cause for despondency, as Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that he won't intervene. Senator Moreno said Miller was unfit to serve in Congress, but most congressional Republicans aren't making strong statements on the matter, and President Trump appears content to stay on the sidelines, too. Miller himself has refused to back down, and if it weren't so horrible, I'd find it laughably fitting that he did so by invoking President Trump's electoral victory through a storm of scandal in 2016. I think Miller is banking on something that we all fear to be true. Character matters less and less to certain voters. Privately, at least, Republicans do seem worried about Miller's candidacy. President Trump reportedly called Miller to express doubts about the upcoming election. Prominent pollsters also seem to think that the allegations will hurt Miller, as many of them have downgraded the seat from solid R to likely R or even lean R. As more news has come out, and maybe as Senator Moreno takes a public stand, the House Ethics Committee begins its investigation and Miller himself continues digging holes in his public appearances, Republicans will see reason to abandon him and push Miller out as Democrats eventually did with Platner. I admit I'm not very confident in the gop, but if Republican leadership won't draw the line, I hope Ohio voters will. That's it for my take, so I'll pass it back to John for the rest of the podcast. Thanks so much for listening.
[25:40]
Isaac Saul
Foreign. We'll be right back after this quick break.
[25:52]
Audrey Moorhead
Hi, this is Kim and Penn Holderness from the Laugh Lines podcast.
[25:55]
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[26:00]
Audrey Moorhead
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[27:51]
John Law
Thanks Audrey on this day in history, months after Germany surrendered to Ally forces, fighting between the United States and Japan dragged on in the Second World War's Pacific theater, the toll was high after Japan attacked Pearl harbor in December 1941. Roughly 416,000American soldiers and 2.1 million Japanese would die in the war, with hundreds of thousands more wounded on both sides at the Potsdam Conference in the summer of 1945 Allied heads of state called for Japan's unconditional surrender, issuing a terse warning of prompt and utter destruction if the country failed to do so. Japan refused. On August 6, the Enola Gay B29 Superfortress bomber dropped an atomic bomb christened Little Boy on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in the first use of a nuclear weapon in active combat. As many as 80,000 people died instantly or within the first 24 hours of the blast, and the death toll rose to about 140,000 by the end of 1945. The city's population was roughly 300,000 people at the time of the attack. Three days later, on August 9, the United States used a nuclear weapon for the second time when the B29 bockscar dropped Fat man, an atomic bomb with a yield of 21 kilotons, six more than Little Boy on Nagasaki, population 263,000. Japan surrendered on August 15. By the end of 1945, the death toll in Nagasaki had reached about 70,000. In the years to come, thousands more would suffer and die from radiation exposure. A nuclear weapon has not been used in combat since. Debates on the merits, ethics and legality of the bombings continue to present day. The bombings were undeniably devastating man made humanitarian disasters, and many historians consider their usage to mark the beginning of the Cold War. Historians also credit the atomic bomb as a key contributor to the long peace and weigh its usage against the lives that could have been lost through protracted conventional warfare. Today, museums and memorials stand in Hiroshima and Nagasaki for visitors to learn about and reflect on the bombings and fallout carrying an ongoing warning against future nuclear warfare. And now for the road not taken. Throughout the week, we considered covering Todd Blanche's Attorney General nomination as our main topic. The story evolved as the week went on. Blanche's status was uncertain coming out of the weekend, but he appeared back on track. After striking a deal with Republican Senate holdouts and advancing through committee, we decided to hold on coverage to see how his nomination fares in the full Senate. With Senator Susan Collins saying she'll vote no and Senator Mitch McConnell still unable to return to work, Blanche's status is again uncertain. We're planning to dedicate a full edition to the story when the confirmation vote is held. And last but not least, our have a nice day story. In the 1980s, Karl Lackey was a one man team responsible for stewarding the black bear population for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Black bears once lived throughout the state, but habitat loss reduced their total number to about 30. At the time Lackey took charge as the population rebounded, Lackey realized he needed help preventing confrontations between humans and bears, particularly in the Tahoe area. That help came from Karelian Bear Dogs, a breed that specializes in confronting bears to teach them to avoid areas where people live. Today, Badger and Banjo are two of NDOW's most valuable employees, keeping up to 700 bears across Western Nevada away from humans. They really add a level of comfort and safety for us, ndow employee Becca Carneello said. This can be a really challenging job and it's really cool to have someone with you who adores you. Tahoe Daily Tribune has this story and you can check it out with the link in today's episode Description alright everybody, that is it for today's episode. As always, if you'd like to support our work, please go to readtangle.com for where you can sign up for a newsletter membership, podcast membership, or a bundled membership that gets you a discount on both. Our latest episode of Suspension of the Rules is up on Apple Music, Spotify and your favorite podcast platform. You can also check out the full episode on our YouTube channel, which has additional footage for your viewing pleasure. And while you're there, please do us a big hit. Subscribe, click like and turn on notifications. All of those things help us get noticed in the algorithm, which helps us get seen by more and more viewers. We are off next week folks. We're going to be taking a little bit of time to get refreshed, relaxed and prepped for the rest of the year, and during that time we'll be releasing the video of our West Virginia event where we talked with Cat Rosenfield, Andy Mills and Camille Foster about the future of AI and other current political events. So stay tuned for that. We'll be back in your ears on August 17th. Until then folks, for Isaac, Audrey and the rest of the crew, this is John Law signing off. Haven't absolutely wonderful weekend, y'. All. Peace.
[32:40]
Isaac Saul
Our Executive Editor and founder is me, Isaac Saul and our Executive Producer is John Wall. Today's episode was edited and engineered by Dewey Thomas. Our editorial staff is led by Managing Editor Ari Weitzman with Senior Editor Will Kaback and Associate Editors Audrey Moorhead, Lindsey Knuth and Bailey Saul. Music for the podcast was produced by Diane Style. To learn more about Tango and to sign up for a membership, please visit our website@retangle.com.
[33:19]
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[33:50]
Audrey Moorhead
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The abuse allegations against Rep. Max Miller.

The abuse allegations against Rep. Max Miller.

Tangle Podcast: The Abuse Allegations Against Rep. Max Miller

Date: August 6, 2026
Host: Audrey Moorhead (Editor), with contributions from John Law and Isaac Saul

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background of the Case

2. Media & Political Party Reactions

The Left’s Perspective

The Right’s Perspective

3. Editorial Reflection: Audrey Moorhead’s Take

4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

5. Timestamps for Key Segments

6. Takeaways & Podcast Tone

Tangle Podcast: The Abuse Allegations Against Rep. Max Miller

Date: August 6, 2026
Host: Audrey Moorhead (Editor), with contributions from John Law and Isaac Saul

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background of the Case

2. Media & Political Party Reactions

The Left’s Perspective

The Right’s Perspective

3. Editorial Reflection: Audrey Moorhead’s Take

4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

5. Timestamps for Key Segments

6. Takeaways & Podcast Tone

Tangle Podcast: The Abuse Allegations Against Rep. Max Miller

Date: August 6, 2026 Host: Audrey Moorhead (Editor), with contributions from John Law and Isaac Saul

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background of the Case

2. Media & Political Party Reactions

The Left’s Perspective

The Right’s Perspective

3. Editorial Reflection: Audrey Moorhead’s Take

4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

5. Timestamps for Key Segments

6. Takeaways & Podcast Tone

Tangle Podcast: The Abuse Allegations Against Rep. Max Miller

Date: August 6, 2026 Host: Audrey Moorhead (Editor), with contributions from John Law and Isaac Saul

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background of the Case

2. Media & Political Party Reactions

The Left’s Perspective

The Right’s Perspective

3. Editorial Reflection: Audrey Moorhead’s Take

4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

5. Timestamps for Key Segments

6. Takeaways & Podcast Tone

Date: August 6, 2026
Host: Audrey Moorhead (Editor), with contributions from John Law and Isaac Saul

Date: August 6, 2026
Host: Audrey Moorhead (Editor), with contributions from John Law and Isaac Saul