The Tara Palmeri Show: "Predicting 2026's Political Fortunes — Trump, Erika Kirk, Crockett and More"

Episode Date: January 2, 2026
Host: Tara Palmeri
Guest: Julie Mason, veteran Washington journalist and political forecaster

Episode Overview

Tara Palmeri sits down with Julie Mason, renowned for her sharp political insight and tarot-inspired forecasts, for a lively, irreverent discussion on the emerging fortunes and possible downfalls of America’s political elite as 2026 unfolds. Drawing on both hard reporting and Mason’s intuitive “card pulls,” the two examine key power players from Trump to up-and-coming names, midterm election turmoil, generational change, and the shapes both major parties could soon take.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Julie Mason’s Eerie Predictions Realized

• Tara recaps Mason's remarkable predictions from June 2025, including:
  • Elise Stefanik’s political ambitions ending ("the death card" referencing collapse of her hopes) [01:51]
  • A GOP-created scandal, presaging the Epstein files fallout [02:28]

Julie Mason [01:51]: "It just means, like, the death of your hopes and dreams in this context, basically... she’s not going to get it."

2. The Epstein Files and A Republican Reckoning

• Julie sees the GOP rocked by something “vicious,” adjacent to but not entirely the Epstein matter [02:28–06:13]. Possibilities include...
  • Trump pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, causing uproar [06:07]
  • Susie Wiles’ evasive answers about Maxwell’s treatment stir further intrigue

Julie Mason [06:13]: "Maybe he’s going to pardon her and everyone’s going to go crazy. You could totally see that, couldn’t you?"
Tara [06:19]: "A hundo pay. I mean, I’m surprised hasn’t happened already..."

3. Trump’s Waning Power, Imminent GOP Revolt

• Julie forecasts Trump’s “judgment” and “reckoning” soon, driven from within the GOP [08:10]
• A younger successor will overshadow him; J.D. Vance is a candidate, but perhaps not the heir apparent [09:03–12:09]
• Vance is depicted as disgruntled, focused on losses not gains [12:09–12:58]

Julie Mason [08:10]: "That judgment is coming pretty soon... There will be a reckoning, and it will happen within the GOP." Tara [12:58]: “He’s like a 40 something in that job... basically has the skills of a podcast host. Not—nothing against podcasts.”

4. Elon Musk’s Political Trajectory

• Musk’s failed efforts to be a kingmaker; his ambitions have scaled back to “sugar daddy donor” status [09:15–11:35]
• 2026 brings him more harmony, as he seeks peace and withdraws further from direct politics

Julie Mason [10:24]: "I think the year to come for him is going to be much better… he’s going to be looking for, like, a little bit of peace and stability in his life..."

5. Rising and Waning Stars on the Right

• Erika Kirk: Enterprising, with empire-building ambitions, possibly expanding TPUSA, and media aspirations [13:25–14:14]

Julie Mason [13:46]: "...she’s building an empire. She’s empire building."

• Candace Owens: Her MAGA influence will rebalance—not disappear, but possibly diminish [14:22]
• Thomas Massie: Survives reelection amid dirty tricks and duplicity ("John McCain bad") [15:39–15:58]

6. Democratic Fortunes, New Faces & Losses

• Jasmine Crockett (TX Senate candidate): Both cards and analysis predict a loss, but a potential romantic gain [16:38–18:12]

Julie Mason [17:01]: "This is just the five of cups... only seeing their loss... as a political journalist, I don’t see it. But also as a tarot card reader, I also don’t see it."

• Hakeem Jeffries: Will be a low-key, even dull, Speaker—steady but ill-matched to the current tumultuous moment [19:52]

Julie Mason [19:52]: “He won’t be bad or ineffective... just sort of a dissonant note.”

• Chuck Schumer: Political survivor with strong instincts and staying power [20:49–21:07]

7. Personal Ambitions and Flaws — Newsom, Harris, AOC

• Gavin Newsom: If not president, will be “rich as hell;” money is a clear motivator [21:16–21:57]
• Kamala Harris: Will reemerge, but colder, more austere; no longer effusive or emotive [22:02–22:55]

Julie Mason [22:02]: “She’s not going to be as emotive... a woman, the queen of swords. Not in touch with her feelings. Pretty cold. She’s cold.”

• AOC: Remains a GOP foil; continues to generate headlines and drama [23:25–24:15]

8. 2026 Midterms: Chaotic Shake-Up

• Everything changes—“throwing all the sticks up in the air”—with both parties in flux [24:15–24:45]
• The GOP will not snap back to a “gentleman’s party” model (Bush-era); the party is reshaping with “dark elements” in ascendance (Nick Fuentes mention) [25:02–25:58]
• The so-called "gripers" won’t win in the end; instead, a strong, charismatic, older male leader emerges to steer the GOP away from them [26:04–26:31]

9. Key Individuals: Troubles and Transitions

Marco Rubio: Faces “upheaval and chaos,” a “thousand headaches”; possibly war tribunal-related blowback [27:05–28:20]
Pam Bondi: Is “fine”—buoyed by love, possibly protected by her loyalty to Trump [29:16–29:51]
Kristi Noem: Facing a “fresh start,” possibly forced to “try something new” post-cabinet [30:05–30:36]
Cash Patel: Experiences job loss or an ending; instability beneath the cabinet surface [30:42–31:45]
Wes Moore: Could be the new Democratic face; comparisons to Obama will shadow him, though he is his own man [33:01–33:44]
Mike Johnson: In a strong position now, but faces more battles and will experience a significant rupture in a key relationship [34:10–35:09]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Julie [06:13]: “Maybe he’s going to pardon [Ghislaine] and everyone’s going to go crazy. You could totally see that, couldn’t you?”
• Tara [07:30]: “He’s in the bubble. He’s in the White House bubble.”
• Julie [08:10]: “That judgment is coming pretty soon… There will be a reckoning, and it will happen within the GOP.”
• Julie [13:46]: “She’s building an empire. She’s empire building.”
• Julie [19:52]: “He won’t be bad or ineffective...just sort of a dissonant note.”
• Julie [22:02]: “She’s not going to be as emotive...pretty cold. She’s cold.”
• Julie [24:30]: “Everything’s changing. Everything, everything. It’s almost like throwing all the sticks up in the air and everyone gets a fresh start.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Trump’s Power & Pardons: [06:07] – [09:03]
• Elon Musk’s Political Withdrawal: [09:15] – [11:35]
• J.D. Vance’s Position: [12:09] – [12:58]
• Erika Kirk’s Rise: [13:25] – [14:14]
• Democratic Prospects (Jeffries, Schumer, Crockett, Newsom, Harris, AOC): [16:29] – [24:15]
• Midterm Chaos / Party Shifts: [24:15] – [26:31]
• Rubio/Cabinet/GOP Personalities: [27:05] – [31:45]
• Wes Moore as Democratic Newcomer: [33:01] – [33:44]
• Mike Johnson’s Upcoming Battles: [34:10] – [35:09]

Tone and Language

Conversational, sharp, unsparing, and infused with humor. Both Tara and Julie blend seasoned reporting with playful mysticism, never shying from calling out political weaknesses and power plays. Julie’s tarot pulls lend color and a sense of “future shock” to otherwise hard-nosed Beltway analysis.

Summary Takeaway

Listeners get an unvarnished, sometimes satirical look at Washington machinations in 2026. Julie Mason’s uncanny track record for predictions underpins her bold claims about political collapses, resurgences, and scandals to come. Both major parties are in for turbulent transformations, and the characters at the top—Trump, Musk, Harris, Kirk, AOC, et al.—will have to adapt, vanish, or reinvent themselves as the political winds shift.

For detailed segments, specific gossip, or to hear Julie’s tarot methodology in real-time, start at [04:32] for the predictions proper.