On this week's podcast conversation, Charlie Sykes and Matt discuss:

— Abdul El-Sayed’s association with Hasan Piker derails Michigan Senate unity after Piker’s comments blaming American Jews for antisemitism and violence

— Democratic critics (including Jeremy Moss) refuse to endorse; Republican Mike Rogers capitalizes

— Cultural landmines: Transgender issues in girls’ sports (close to an 80-20 public opinion), Seth Moulton’s apology, and the risk of learning the wrong lessons from a strong midterm

— Economic populism that works (Medicare for All, taxing billionaires) vs. toxic cultural/“socialism” branding that turns off middle America

— Trump administration rolling back protections for military families — arrest of a Nicaraguan father of a sailor on the USS Abraham Lincoln and similar cases

— Are data centers the sleeper 2026 issue Republicans own while Trump cheers them on?

— Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic minority leader, met privately with Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and top outside adviser. But why???

— And MUCH more!

Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A

– Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians.

Buy Matt's books:

FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937

Copyright © 2026, BBL & BWL, LLC

On today's podcast, Bill Scher and Matt discuss El-Sayed's challenges in Michigan, the internecine GOP battle between Marco Rubio and JD Vance, and Natalie Harp's "Love Letters" to Donald Trump.

Next, Matt talks with Jackie Gingrich Cushman about the need for a John Adams memorial in Washington, DC.

Read Bill Scher's columns in The Washington Monthly https://washingtonmonthly.com/author/bill-scher/

And help support a John Adams memorial here https://www.theadamsmemorial.org/

Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A

– Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians.

Buy Matt's books:

FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937

Copyright © 2026, BBL & BWL, LLC

On today's podcast, Chris Cillizz and Matt discuss:

— Sen. Jon Ossoff’s comment about Trump and Natalie Harp (the “human printer”), the viral speculation, her unusual rise, the fawning notes, and why her role as gatekeeper of information is more consequential than pure personal gossip.

— The debt is out of control. Why doesn’t anybody care???

— The Florida primary results, including Alex Vindman’s surprise loss and what it says about the limits of NeverTrump celebrity candidates, the rise of DSA energy in Dem primaries, and the need for more than just anti-Trump messaging.

— Darlene Graham’s South China Sea / national-security gaffe in the South Carolina Senate runoff and how timing plus pre-existing doubts can turn a moment into a real problem.

— Bill Clinton turning 80, his complicated legacy, how his scandals and the political response helped shape later norms around character.

— And MUCH more!

Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A

– Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians.

Buy Matt's books:

FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937

Copyright © 2026, BBL & BWL, LLC

On today’s podcast, Charlie Sykes and Matt discuss:

— Reuters poll: Trump approval sinks to 33%, disapproval 64% — lowest of current term, matching December 2017 low

— Sen. John Ossoff’s sharp speeches: calls out golfing, stock trading, Qatar “flying palace,” and Natalie Harp, while the U.S.S. Lincoln fights his war

— The one big Democratic warning: Abdul El-Sayed underwater in Michigan (Fox poll)

— Foreign-policy chaos: Trump scales back South Korea joint exercises, cites “good relationship” with Kim Jong-un (who supplies missiles to Iran and Russia)— Simultaneously withdraws the last U.S. carrier from the Pacific and threatens to “bomb the shit out of” ally Oman if it interferes with Iran talks

— Closing question for 2026/2028: Do Democrats choose electable fighters like Ossoff who win swing states, or ideological purity that loses independents?

— And MUCH more!Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A

– Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians.

Buy Matt's books:

FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937

Copyright © 2026, BBL & BWL, LLC

Washington Monthly writer Bill Scher returns to the pod to talk about what's up with the poll misses in recent Democratic primaries. Then, the new film, “The Brink of War,” in theaters August 14 (today!) and I sit down with Michael Russell Gunn (writer/director/producer) and John Logan Pierson (producer) to talk Ronald Reagan and the making of the movie.

Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A

– Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians.

Buy Matt's books:

FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937

Copyright © 2026, BBL & BWL, LLC

On today’s podcast conversation, Chris Cillizza and Matt discuss:

— Massive polling misses in Michigan and Wisconsin. One reason this happened?: Under-sampling middle-aged Black voters and rural Democrats

— Clear evidence that DSA and DSA-aligned candidates are underperforming with Black voters — the same coalition that blocked Bernie Sanders

— Why 2026 is likely a referendum on Trump and the economy, but 2028 could see the “socialism” label stick and drive voters back to Republicans

— Trump’s recent endorsement flops (Darlene Graham runoff, Mike Lindell, Tennessee) are signs his iron grip on the GOP is loosening (or are they???)

— Jeff Flake’s arc from pure conservative to endorsing a Democrat Jon Ossoff, and the death of the anti-Trump lane in GOP primaries

— Hunter Biden’s Tucker Carlson interview, fathers-and-sons dynamics, and the complicated human side of political families

— Trump’s secret catering-truck plane switch amid Iran threat concerns: security necessity vs. bad optics and press deception

— Speculation on the next White House press secretary (Kari Lake, Spencer Pratt, or Scott Jennings?)

— And MUCH more!

Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A

– Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians.

Buy Matt's books: FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937

Copyright © 2026, BBL & BWL, LLC

On today's podcast, Charlie Sykes and Matt discuss:

—Why DSA member and failed Wisconsin candidate Francesca Hong was an “absurdly bad candidate” (and why Bernie and AOC stayed away)

— How Dems realized they were about to blow a winnable race and hand Wisconsin to an election-denier, so they voted for David Crowley, a candidate who had previously dropped out of the race

— Charlie says there are three things every candidate must prove to voters (Hong went 0-for-3)

— Matt says 2026 is largely “baked in the cake” as a blue-wave year driven by Trump fatigue, overreach, tariffs, ICE, etc. But! Dems better not take 2028 for granted.

— An Independent / Centrist / Unity-Ticket surge has Katie Hobbs (Arizona Democratic governor) picking a Republican running mate, and David Jolly (former Republican Never Trumper congressman) picking a prominent Democrat as running mate in Florida.

— Can we trust the polls?

— Plus: Trump’s catering-truck Air Force One escape, the independent/unity-ticket surge, Minnesota, Michigan, and more.

— And MUCH more!

Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A

– Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians.

Buy Matt's books:

FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937

Copyright © 2026, BBL & BWL, LLC

What if you could go back in time and kill baby Hitler? Michael Tomasky’s new satirical novel Killing Baby Hitler explores nature vs. nurture, time travel gone wrong, and whether one monster really explains the world’s evil.

In this conversation with Matt and Tomasky (editor of The New Republic) discuss:

• Why democratic socialism is rising (and what popular policies like child care and data-center limits have to do with it)

• Rooting for a young Adolf Hitler in fiction

• How tragedy can create monsters

• The hilarious botched kidnapping scene

• Alternate history where there’s no Holocaust… but human nature still produces plenty of darkness

• Literary influences (Milan Kundera, Kurt Vonnegut) and writing a political novel in today’s publishing world

Get the book: Killing Baby Hitler by Michael Tomasky https://www.amazon.com/dp/1682194752?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewisFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A– Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians.Buy Matt's books: FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937

Copyright © 2026, BBL & BWL, LLC

On this week's podcast, Chris Cillizza and Matt discuss:

— Abdul El-Sayed’s Democratic primary win in Michigan despite being outspent roughly 9-to-1

— The growing power of Democratic Socialist (or DSA-adjacent) candidates

— Controversies around Hassan Piker, guilt-by-association risks, and how they could hurt progressive nominees in general elections

— Multiple House Republican scandals — and whether Trump has permanently lowered the bar for character in politics

— Speculating on the 2028 Republican field — JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Tucker Carlson’s potential run, and the rise of the attention economy over traditional campaign metrics

— A candid digression on the MLB trade-deadline deals, and why analytics culture is draining the fun from both baseball and politics

— And MUCH more!

In a deep and thought provoking conversation, veteran journalist Ron Fournier explains why Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary between Rep. Haley Stevens and Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is the true bellwether of 2026 politics — and a microcosm of the Democratic Party’s identity crisis.

According to Ron, there are six important dynamics currently playing out in this race:

1. Status Quo vs. Change

2. Moderate vs. Liberal

3. Israel vs. Palestine

4. Christian vs. Muslim

5. Women vs. Men

6. Grit vs. Charisma

   
   

We spent time on all six!

Don’t miss this terrific conversation.

Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewis

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A

– Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians.

Buy Matt's books:

FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937

Copyright © 2026, BBL & BWL, LLC