RealClearPolitics Podcast

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President Donald Trump’s “Reverse Migration" Dec 01, 2025

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Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss whether the recent ambush of two National Guard members by an Afghan national will prompt changes in immigration law, and President Donald Trump’s remarks about Somali immigrants and the need for what he calls “reverse migration". Then, they discuss press reports that the U.S. Military killed two survivors of a September 2nd attack on a drug boat in the Caribbean, and Congressional calls for an investigation into Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s role in the alleged incident. Then finally, they talk about a New Yorker article by Benjamin Wallace-Wells on the effect of rising political violence on Americans’ willingness to participate in politics, and what can be done to lower the temperature of the national debate. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thanksgiving Interviews Nov 27, 2025

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Happy Thanksgiving! Here are some past interviews for you to enjoy on this holiday. Carl Cannon talks to human rights advocate Katrina Lantos Swett about threats to religious liberty here and around the world. Lantos Swett is President of the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, and former Chair and Vice-Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). Tom Bevan talks to John Tillman, the founder of MediaPedia, a new company that hopes to provide transparency when it comes to media bias. The company uses artificial intelligence to rate the ideological leaning of reporters, which it says allows it to “empower news consumers to see the bias behind the bylines of legacy news outlets.” Andrew Walworth talks to war correspondent and former New York Times Pentagon reporter Thom Shanker about singer/songwriter Warren Zevon, whose gimlet-eyed view of world politics endeared him to a generation of foreign policy practitioners and observers. Zevon, who died in 2003 from cancer, was earlier this month inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Is President Donald Trump is Showing His Age? Nov 26, 2025

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Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss this morning’s lengthy New York Times article exploring whether President Donald Trump is showing his age. Also, in what many view as a new low, former MSNBC host Joy Reid advances what she calls a “MAGA fairy tale,” in which Vice President JD Vance will leave his wife Usha to marry Charlie Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, because “he needs a white queen instead of a brown Hindu.” Reid’s MSNBC show was cancelled last February. Next, RCP White House correspondent Phil Wegmann joins the guys to discuss today’s leak of a conversation between Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his Russian counterpart, as well as who might have been the source behind the leak. They also discuss Wegmann’s most recent RCP article on the split within the Republican Party on foreign policy, as revealed by the latest round of negotiations over the war in Ukraine. Then, they talk about new data from Emerson College polling that shows that the upcoming special election in Tennessee’s deep red seventh district is surprisingly close, with Democrat Aftyn Behn now within two points of Republican Matt Van Epps. And finally, they look at annual advice columns on talking politics around the Thanksgiving table. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ceasefire Negotiations in the Ukraine War Nov 25, 2025

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Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss the latest on ceasefire negotiations in the Ukraine War, and whether Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are at odds over how to move forward. Also, a look at the possible court martial of Senator Mark Kelly for his participation in a video that urged service members to refuse unlawful orders from their superiors. And a judge decides to delay the Administration’s case against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Then, Will Rinehart of the American Enterprise Institute joins the guys to discuss the politics of building new, massive data centers across the country and Americans’ attitudes toward artificial intelligence. Then finally, they discuss polling in New Hampshire that shows Pete Buttigieg in first place in the race for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination, and an article in the RealClearPolitics Takeaway newsletter today on new polling from The Pew Research Center concerning voters' feelings about President Trump’s job performance. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

President Donald Trump and New York Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani Meet Nov 24, 2025

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Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss relations between President Donald Trump and New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, and whether the two can find common ground to help make the city more affordable for its residents. Also, Trump is developing his plan to address the high cost of health insurance. Will it be the basis for a compromise that could avoid a government shutdown in January? Then, Dean of the Institute for World Politics - James S. Robbins joins the guys to discuss the latest on ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine, and the rising military pressure on Venezuela, as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan “Raizin” Cain visits troops in the Caribbean. Then lastly, they discuss the news that Rep. Marjorie Tayor Greene (R-GA) will depart Congress in January, and what her political future may hold. Plus, a “teen takeover” of the annual tree-lighting ceremony in Chicago’s Millennium Park in Chicago on Friday night left one 14-year old boy dead from gunfire and many others wounded, raising new questions about the way the city handles crime. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A Question of Loyalty to the Constitution Nov 21, 2025

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Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss a video released by six Democratic lawmakers with military and national security backgrounds that urges American service members to not follow illegal orders from their superiors, and President Donald Trump’s response. They also talk about Senator Eric Swalwell (D.CA) declaring his candidacy in the governor’s race in California, and Trump critic George Conway saying he may enter the Democratic primary for Rep. Jerry Nadler’s congressional seat in mid-town Manhattan. Next, they discuss front page stories in The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal about the growing involvement of billionaires in American politics, and the struggle of middleclass Americans to make ends meet. Then, Rep. Gosh Gottheimer (D-NJ) joins the guys to discuss whether Democrats and Republicans can devise a compromise on health insurance costs that will avoid another government shutdown in January. And finally, a look ahead at today’s Oval Office meeting between President Donald Trump and mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and they give their “You Cannot Be Serious” stories of the week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani Will Meet Face to Face Nov 20, 2025

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Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss the announcement that President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will meet for the first time face-to-face tomorrow in the Oval Office. And, they talk about Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent telling Fox News that taxpayers may receive a $2,000 “tariff dividend” next year, but he hopes they won’t spend it. Then, they discuss today’s funeral in Washington DC for former Vice President Dick Cheney. Plus, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) has been indicted on charges of stealing $5 million from FEMA during the Covid 19 crisis, funds she allegedly largely used to run for a seat in the House of Representatives, and hedge fund billionaire Tom Steyers announces his candidacy for the governor’s race in California. Then finally, Nick Troiano, executive director of Unite America and the author of the book "The Primary Solution", joins the guys to discuss his proposal to create open primaries, a reform that he says will make politicians more responsive to all their constituents, not just the party faithful who vote in closed primary elections. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A “Secret” Peace Plan for Ukraine? Nov 19, 2025

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Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss reports of a “secret” peace plan that is being negotiated by President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his Russian counterparts without input from Ukraine. Then, they talk about fallout from yesterday’s Oval Office comments by President Trump and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the murder of Saudi dissident and journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Next, RCP White House reporter Phil Wegmann joins the guys to discuss what's next in the efforts to compel the Justice Department to release documents related to the Epstein case. And, they chat about Trump’s relations with the press: he insults Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey, calling her “piggy” on Air Force One, and during yesterday’s Oval Office press opportunity, he tells ABC News White House reporter Mary Bruce that the FCC should revoke the network’s license. Then finally, they discuss the state of the redistricting battle across the country, including Texas where Republicans have filed an appeal to the Supreme Court challenging a federal three-judge panel’s rejection of the most recent remapping of the state’s congressional districts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What the FBI Knew About Thomas Crooks Nov 18, 2025

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Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss new revelations from Tucker Carlson and Miranda Devine of the New York Post that raise questions about what the FBI knew about Thomas Crooks, the would-be assassin who fired 8 shots at a Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania last summer, wounding Trump and one other and killing Corey Comperatore. And they talk about, FBI Director Kash Patel coming under fire from within the agency for his use of the FBI’s plane and for providing a security detail to his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins. Next, they discuss today’s White House visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and yesterday’s vote by the United Nations Security Council endorsing Trump’s peace plan for Gaza. Then finally, the Director of the Chicago Policy Center, Austin Berg, joins the guys to discuss the politics behind the alarming hikes in property taxes in Cook County, and whether higher property taxes will lead to a tax revolt. Plus, they talk about the House of Representatives advancing a resolution to condemn Chicago Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García for timing his retirement announcement to ensure his chief of staff would be the only candidate able to register for the Democratic primary ballot in the race to succeed him. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Trump Reverses Course on Epstein Files Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and Carl Cannon discuss President Donald Trump’s changing position on: the release of the Epstein files, reciprocal tariffs on key grocery items, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). They also discuss recent developments in Latin America including riots in Mexico City over the weekend, Sunday’s presidential election results in Chile, and comments from President Donald Trump that President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela is seeking a dialogue with the United States. Then, they talk about Axios’ reporting that New York Times columnist Ezra Klein is raising concerns at the paper that he is providing advice to key players in the Democratic Party, including 2028 presidential hopefuls. Plus, Disney stock is down 9 percent in recent days. They wonder what's behind the price drop, and are streaming services becoming too expensive? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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