The Michael Knowles Show
Episode 1924: Upsets That ROCKED The First Round of Midterm Primaries Explained
Date: March 4, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Michael Knowles dissects the notable upsets and key narratives emerging from the first round of the 2026 midterm primaries, focusing on unexpected results in Texas, significant developments within both Republican and Democratic races, and the evolving coalitional fractures and unity within the GOP. The episode also touches on the foreign policy debate over Iran’s leadership post-Ayatollah, a viral psychedelic science story, and the broader political climate as the nation heads toward the general election.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Major GOP Primary Upsets in Texas

• Crenshaw’s Loss to Toth

  • Seven-year incumbent Dan Crenshaw lost his primary to state legislator Steve Toth, who benefitted from the rare team-up endorsement of Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson.
  • MM:SS 02:00: “Seven year incumbent Dan Crenshaw lost his primary to a candidate endorsed by both Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson. Not a pair that you see working together every day.” – Michael Knowles
  • Knowles reflects on the shifting tides in Republican politics: Crenshaw was once a darling of the conservative movement but now branded as too moderate by parts of the base.

• GOP Fissures and Sudden Unity

  • The Crenshaw-Toth result highlights the usual GOP factionalism (policy on trade, immigration, war, LGBT issues) but surprisingly shows figures (Cruz, Tucker, Trump) united behind one opponent.
  • The GOP base is doubling down on Trump-style populism rather than seeking moderation.

Texas Senate Primary and GOP Dynamics

• Cornyn vs. Paxton

  • Long-term Senator John Cornyn faces a tough runoff against Attorney General Ken Paxton.
  • Despite Cornyn outspending Paxton $71 million to $4.4 million, the race is almost tied, further reflecting the appetite for more right-wing candidates in the GOP.
  • MM:SS 24:44: "Cornyn, 71 million bucks for a Senate seat in Texas, 71 million bucks in a primary. What Paxton, the pro Paxton and the pro Paxton groups, the Super PACS, only spent 4.4 million bucks. That is crazy." – Michael Knowles

• Strategic Lesson

  • The results point to an energized conservative base that isn’t satisfied with the status quo or party moderation.

Democrat Primary Surprises

• Jasmine Crockett’s Defeat

  • Crockett, once heralded as a future star, concedes amid claims of Republican interference, not recognizing that it was a Democratic primary.
  • MM:SS 09:38: (Crockett’s concession) “Unfortunately, this is what Republicans like to do. And so they specifically targeted Dallas county and I think we all know why.”
  • Knowles mocks her confusion, highlighting the absence of Republicans in her primary and the orchestrated campaign to nudge her into an unwinnable race.

• The Rise of James Talarico

  • Talarico, a more radical figure than Crockett, goes viral for comments such as:
    • MM:SS 15:56: (Talarico) “God is both masculine and feminine and everything in between. God is non binary.”
    • MM:SS 17:16: (Talarico) “Our trans community needs abortion care too. Defending trans Texans is something we have to do every day at the state capitol...”
  • Knowles warns that Talarico represents the left’s new strategy: soft-spoken “moderation” masking extreme policies.

2026 General Climate & Voter Priorities

• Shifting Voter Concerns

  • Polling data (Gallup) emphasizes “government dysfunction” as the top issue, now surpassing the economy.
  • Immigration and crime are resurging as leading concerns, which historically advantage Republicans.
  • Democratic edge on economic issues is diminishing as the economy stabilizes.

• GOP Messaging Strategy

  • Knowles argues the GOP should focus campaign messaging on border security, crime, and economic achievements, rather than on government dysfunction or healthcare, traditionally Democratic strengths.

Foreign Policy: The Iran Succession Crisis

• Reza Pahlavi’s Prospects

  • Amid war in Iran, exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi is floated by many as a possible leader.
  • Trump, asked directly, is skeptical:
    • MM:SS 38:43 (Trump): "I guess he is. Some people like him... it would seem to me that somebody from within maybe, would be more appropriate."
  • Knowles interprets Trump’s stance as pragmatic “America First” realism, preferring internal regime continuity over outsider figureheads, paralleling Trump’s Venezuela policy.

• The Neocon vs. Realist Divide

  • Knowles sharply distinguishes between aggressive regime-change approaches and the “restrained, realistic” America First outlook (“We want someone we can work with.”).

Viral Science Segment: DMT and Alien “Communication”

• SETI for the Mind
  • New “retreats” are trying to make contact with DMT-vision-induced entities, some presented as benevolent, some as “dark… evil… horrible things.”
  • Knowles lampoons the idea and connects it to spiritual dangers:
    • MM:SS 48:00: “These things…are either figments of your imagination or real non-physical intelligences—‘That is a demon.’”
  • Warns listeners: seeking spiritual knowledge “on your own terms” by drugs instead of through God is an age-old temptation leading to ruin.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On GOP unity in the primary:
  • "This GOP primary shows the clearest example of GOP unity we’ve seen in years. You just got Ted Cruz, Tucker Carlson and Trump, at least implicitly, all on the same team…when they've all come together, the race wasn't even close." – Michael Knowles (MM:SS 07:00)
• On James Talarico:
  • “This kind of Democrat says, 'No, Christianity is really great. But actually, Christianity is just gay communism.'” – Michael Knowles (MM:SS 18:30)
• On Trump’s foreign policy:
  • “Trump has the best foreign policy record of any president, probably in our lifetimes... what Trump is saying is, I kind of want to go with the playbook that I had in Venezuela.” – Michael Knowles (MM:SS 40:00)
• On DMT & psychedelics:
  • “That is a demon. That's a long way of saying that's a demon.” – Michael Knowles (MM:SS 48:54)

Important Timestamps & Segments

• 00:00 – Introduction; major primary upsets previewed.
• 03:30 – Crenshaw's fall and the significance of Cruz and Tucker's support for Toth.
• 07:00 – Analysis of shifting GOP unity and what it portends.
• 09:38 – Crockett's concession speech blaming Republicans.
• 15:56 – James Talarico’s viral “God is non binary” remark.
• 17:16 – Talarico on abortion rights for transgenders.
• 24:16 – CNN recaps Cornyn-Paxton spending disparity.
• 31:18 – Trump jokes about “killing off” potential Iranian leaders.
• 38:43 – Trump questions Reza Pahlavi's suitability for Iran.
• 41:17 – Comparison to Venezuela and Maria Corina Machado.
• 48:00 – Wired article: DMT trips and attempted communication with “entities.”
• 48:54 – Demons, spirituality, and the dangers of psychedelic exploration.

Additional Highlights

• Satirical Moments: Knowles teases Jasmine Crockett's lack of understanding of primaries, and jokes about Ayatollah Khamenei registering as a Democrat after death (MM:SS 36:00).
• Core Message Reiterated:
  • For both the political and spiritual segments, Knowles suggests staying grounded, not giving into radical fads or “new truths” offered outside traditional frameworks.

Flow and Tone

Michael Knowles maintains his signature sardonic, combative, and sometimes tongue-in-cheek tone throughout. He is sharpest while mocking what he sees as progressive overreach, GOP infighting, and fashionable “pseudo-scientific” spirituality. Soundbites from political figures punctuate his commentary, keeping the pace lively and often provocative.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode provides a brisk, irreverent, but detailed analysis of the 2026 midterm primary shocks, intraparty rifts and alliances, and the evolving playbooks of both major political parties. It combines deep dives into politics with philosophical and theological reflections—plus a splash of science skepticism—making it a must-listen, especially if you want to understand not just the headlines, but the strategic implications for November and beyond.