This week, could Republicans be in a worse position for the fast-approaching midterms? Let S.E. count the ways. Because this is -- ahead of schedule and in a bigger way than expected -- Trump's lame duck presidency. S.E. puts this moment into context and what it means for Republicans. And stay tuned for an interview with Karen Finney -- CNN contributor and Democratic strategist -- who weighs in on some of the Democratic primary results from this week and whether Dems can get themselves across the finish line in the midterms. Plus, a lightning round and mental health break.

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SE sits down with her colleague Van Jones to discuss what is coming next for both parties ahead of 2028, and what voters actually are looking for. But first, she breaks down a doozy of an election in Texas, where Sen. John Cornyn, a four-term incumbent, popular and liked by his constituents, and who voted with Trump 100% of the time, nevertheless lost his primary to the more MAGA candidate. Cornyn led Ken Paxton, the scandal-ridden sitting State Attorney General, in the initial votes of the primary, but neither candidate cleared 50% so it went to a runoff. A week before the finish line, Trump endorsed Paxton, and he clinched the nomination. But while MAGA celebrates “Trump the Kingmaker” once again, this could turn out to be a major self-own for Trump’s party. Not only does Paxton’s nomination give a major boost to the underdog Democrat in the race James Talarico come November, but Cornyn is also still in office until the general election winner is sworn in, and now he is joining the ranks of other targets of Trump’s ire: beleaguered Republicans on the outs with Trump like Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky and Bill Cassidy in Louisiana. These Republicans could be thorns in Trump's side through the rest of their terms. They could prevent him from passing legislation, getting war and ballroom funding, or confirming judges and cabinet appointments. SE’s advice to them? Be assholes. They don’t owe Trump anything. And there are more of them than Republicans can afford to lose on a vote. This could get interesting!

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S.E. delivers a fresh batch of all the news that’s fit to sip with her producers Lauren and Derrick. This is a packed week with not one but two taste-tests (!), as well news about Switzerland’s surprising connection to coffee, coffee products fit for a gym bro, and coffee…video games? Are we iPad kids now?

If you have any thoughts about coffee, the news, or mental health, reach out to us at [email protected], and your message could be read on a future show!

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S.E. traces her own arc back to her conservative awakening in college (what young mind doesn’t find fiscal responsibility exciting?) and explains how Reagan’s “party of ideas” appealed to her. Pre-Trump, she hoped to inject some new ideas into the GOP platform, but instead, the Republican Party went the opposite way from ideas when it molded itself in Trump’s image. How do we get back to an America where you can count on free elections, free press, free speech, freedom of assembly, no matter what you look like or what you believe in, and a government that won't attack those institutions for its own personal gain or self-survival? Journalist John Avlon also joins to weigh in, including reflecting on his own arc – he came to a political consciousness from the other side than S.E., but now considers himself a proud “fighting centrist.” Finally, a listener asks S.E. a relevant question about the fallout she has experienced critiquing her own side since 2016.

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The Hantavirus headlines are giving 2020. So if you’re failing to suppress your COVID flashbacks or swallow the eerie feeling that we’re “here again,” S.E. has some leveled guidance. Dr. Jeremy Faust is an ER physician in Boston, an editor in chief of MedPage Today, and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, and he is here to break down the Hantavirus - how it compares to Covid, what we should really be worried about, and the unfortunate politics wrapped up in it. But first, S.E. shares her hot takes on Trump’s self-interest and advice for Democrats on how to play this redistricting mess.

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People sometimes draw comparisons between reality-TV-star-turned-politician Spencer Pratt and another certain figure who managed to spin reality show stardom into political power. And the comparisons are worth exploring – in this conversation with Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt, SE asks him about his relationship to MAGA. But there’s more than that to his story, which started as a “villain” on the early 2000s MTV reality series The Hills. In this conversation, SE discusses with Pratt his plans to improve the quality of life in Los Angeles. But first, she offers some reflections on “platforming” people who aspire to power with whom SE or some in the audience may disagree.

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It’s a welcomed return to Talkin’ Coffee. After a never-ending news week … month … year(s) for S.E., she’s ready to dive into all the news that’s fit to sip with her producers Lauren and Derrick. This week, they return to a previous coffee story about a product called “Pocket Coffee” and actually try it. S.E. also shares some new, exciting studies, curious Gen Z habits (that S.E. might have influenced), the best grocery store beans, and why Trader Joe’s better watch its back. And stay-tuned for listener mail! A listener introduces S.E. to some coffee news that just might blow her mind. If you have any thoughts about coffee, the news, or mental health, reach out to us at [email protected], and your message could be read on a future show!

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As usual, it’s been a big week. S.E. shares her thoughts on and experience with the Correspondents Dinner shooting and the importance of the press and press freedom. Then she digs into both the Left and the Right. First, with the DOJ's embarrassing second indictment of James Comey over his beach art and what it says about Trump and his desire to lose. Then S.E. digs into the Democratic Party's 2024 autopsy — or the one DNC chair Ken Martin promised and never delivered (Watch the heated interview between Jon Favreau and Ken Martin if you're into uncomfortable confrontations). S.E. also talks to Democratic political strategist and current executive director of Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service, Mo Elleithee. Mo has a banger of a perspective on what's different about today's politics vs even 10 years ago — and if anyone's listening, it's the winning formula for getting elected, whether you're a Democrat or Republican. Pay Attention!

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Change - reinvention - it's a topic that has come up a lot on Off the Cupp. Sometimes it's a big event that changes us (Listen: Ricki Lake), sometimes it's a societal wave we're riding (Listen: Michael Chiklis), other times it's a deliberate shift to gain control of our lives (Listen: Jennie Garth). Change feels inevitable, but also scary, sometimes beautiful, and much more complicated than we know. This week, S.E. talks to her friend and longtime New York Times Magazine writer, Benoit Denizet-Lewis, about his new book (and this surprisingly nuanced topic), "You've Changed: The Promise and Price of Self-Transformation." Benoit discusses why he thinks we're in a unique moment of reinvention, why we change, how our beliefs shift, and what influence outside perception has on our reinvention.

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This week on Talkin' Politics: Tucker Carlson apologized to his public for his role in bringing Trump to power. And plenty of people on the Hill and in media are applauding him for his and giving him a lot of credit. But that's not where S.E. is at. S.E. knows Tucker and knows that he didn't just mislead the public, he openly lied to them. S.E. also gets into the news in Virginia that voters approved a shift in their district map that would give Democrats four more House seats. Democrats are celebrating this as a win. S.E. is not. And stay tuned for an interview with Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Atlanta mayor who is running for Governor of Georgia. They talk about the midterms, the Dems' strategy and what she learned by putting herself out there in her raw new memoir, The Rough Side of the Mountain.

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