Abdul El-Sayed’s narrow victory in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary is raising major questions about the future of the Democratic Party. In this episode of Power, Policy & Progress, Madison Maynard breaks down how El-Sayed defeated Rep. Haley Stevens, the coalition of voters that powered his campaign, and what the results reveal about the growing divide between progressives and moderates.

We also examine AIPAC’s record-breaking spending in the race, the possibility of increased outside spending in the general election, and why Michigan’s Senate contest could play a crucial role in determining control of the U.S. Senate.

Plus, we explore what this primary could signal about the Democratic Party’s direction heading into the 2028 presidential election.

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Welcome to Part 2 of our Political Ad Reaction Series on Power, Policy & Progress with Madison Maynard!

Do political campaign ads actually change minds during presidential primaries, or do they just reinforce what voters already think? Today, Madison is joined by two special guests, her mom Charlene and auntie Erika, for a honest, cross-generational look back at 16 years of iconic Democratic presidential ads.

From Barack Obama’s historic 2008 launch to Kamala Harris’s 2024 messaging, we break down how political storytelling, tone, and strategy have evolved over the last two decades.

In this episode, we react to:• Barack Obama (2008)• Hillary Clinton (2008 & 2016)• Bernie Sanders (2016 & 2020)• Joe Biden (2020)• Kamala Harris (2024)

In this episode of Power, Policy & Progress, Madison Maynard breaks down three major stories exposing the widening rift between the party establishment and its progressive wing heading into the midterms and 2028.What We’re Covering:Chaos at DNC HQ: Inside a party apparatus drowning in debt, deferring vendor bills, and led by Chair Ken Martin, whose cash troubles and paranoia culminated in an outburst where he allegedly threw a phone at a junior staffer's desk. Plus, the internal fight is brewing over the 2028 primary calendar.The Michigan Primary Showdown: Highlights from the heated debate between progressive Dr. Abdul El-Sayed and moderate Rep. Haley Stevens, including clashes over $30 million in AIPAC super PAC funding, calls to abolish ICE, and El-Sayed's "ogre on a pike" comment.The DSA Fox News Standoff: Reacting to the Fox News Sunday interview where DSA Co-Chair Megan Romer doubled down on abolishing the U.S. Senate and public ownership of corporations.

"WHCD 2.0" was supposed to be a night celebrating the First Amendment. Instead, President Trump turned it into an hour-long, cringe-inducing roast of the very press corps sitting right in front of him.

In this episode, Cameron Phillips and I sit down to break down what was easily one of the most awkward, uncomfortable, and bizarre White House Correspondents' Dinners in recent memory. From personal insults aimed directly at award-winning journalists in the room to rambling, off-script rants and flat scripted jokes, we're watching the tape and dissecting how a formal gala completely devolved.

Welcome to the launch of a brand-new series right here on Power, Policy & Progress! In this premiere episode, host Madison Maynard is diving deep into the beating heart of modern political messaging: campaign ads.

We are breaking down exactly how candidates sell their vision, build their brands, and launch sharp attacks against their rivals. Today, we’re reacting to U.S. Senate campaigns from across the country, reviewing two ads per candidate, their original launch ad versus a more recent campaign spot, to analyze how their strategy and messaging evolved under pressure.

The Lineup We're Reacting To:

• Texas: The stylistically polarized battle between James Talarico and Jasmine Crockett.

• Georgia: Jon Ossoff holding the line in a critical battleground.

• Ohio: Sherrod Brown’s populist, blue-collar strategy.

• Michigan: The high-stakes proxy war between Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens.

On this episode of Power, Policy & Progress, host Madison Maynard explains why she identifies as a Democratic Capitalist. She breaks down the core differences between democratic capitalism and democratic socialism, and why being fiscally moderate doesn’t mean you have to be socially conservative.From healthcare and housing to policing and reproductive freedom, she is laying out concrete, realistic policies that use a well-regulated capitalist economy to build a truly free and equal society.

In this episode of Power, Policy & Progress, host Madison Maynard breaks down three massive stories that prove the political rules of Washington have fundamentally changed.

What We’re Covering:

• The Historic House Split: We break down the seismic roll call where nearly half of all House Democrats voted to completely eliminate $3.3 billion in U.S. aid to Israel. We dissect the massive split in top Democratic leadership, Hakeem Jeffries’ sudden call for a "major reset," .

• The War for Michigan: We pivot to the frontlines of this political battle in Michigan. We unpack the high-stakes, multi-million-dollar Democratic Senate primary between establishment moderate Haley Stevens, backed by over $15 million in pro-Israel dark money, and progressive health advocate Abdul El-Sayed.

• Ro Khanna Detained in the West Bank: We zoom in on a terrifying escalation where California Representative Ro Khanna was blocked and detained for 90 minutes by armed Israeli settlers and complicit IDF soldiers. We discuss how this chilling firsthand experience proves that West Bank human rights will be a defining litmus test for the 2028 Democratic primary.

With the 2026 midterms four months away, the political landscape is in total chaos. In this episode of Power, Policy & Progress, host Madison Maynard breaks down a week of critical shifting data, political transitions, and deep-seated community outrage.

First, we cover the explosive fallout from back-to-back fatal ICE shootings of the wrong targets in Houston and Maine, sparking demands for federal accountability. Next, we examine the complicated legacy of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham following his sudden passing, and look at how Mitch McConnell’s health update leaves Senate Republicans down two critical votes. We also break down The New York Times polling forecast showing a massive Democratic lead for the House, balanced against the GOP's tough Senate defense.

Finally, we pivot away from Washington to address a heart-wrenching tragedy: the deeply suspicious death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells on a Mississippi island. From deleted texts to conflicting timelines and a phone left on the boat, we look at why the official story simply does not add up for Nolan’s family.

Maine’s high-stakes U.S. Senate race has been thrown into complete chaos. In this mini-podcast episode, Madison Maynard reacts to the late-breaking news that Democratic nominee Graham Platner has officially suspended his campaign following a devastating accusation of sexual assault.

We play and break down Platner’s angry video statement, where he vehemently denies the rape allegation and instead lashes out at the Democratic establishment for cutting off his funding.

Plus, we look at the breaking updates as of today, July 9th, as a crowded field of high-profile candidates, including Troy Jackson, Dr. Nirav Shah, and Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, race to secure the nomination before the state's strict July 27th convention deadline to challenge incumbent Republican Susan Collins.

As the U.S. marks its 250th Independence Day, Madison Maynard and guest Cameron Phillips breaks down a week of political chaos in Washington.

Capitol Hill Standoff: Masked white nationalists march through local D.C. neighborhoods during the holiday weekend, exposing the country's deepening internal fractures.

A Campaign in Ruins: Maine's progressive Senate nominee Graham Platner faces total abandonment from his closest allies following devastating sexual assault allegations.

The McConnell Silence: Former Republican Leader Mitch McConnell remains hospitalized three weeks after a medical emergency. Why are aides keeping a strict wall of silence despite alarming 911 dispatch calls?