Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis and Kurt Bardella debate America’s role in the world as wars continue in Iran and Ukraine and U.S. allies look to other countries, including China. They discuss NATO and whether the United States is giving up its international influence.

The conversation then turns to AI and whether the federal government needs to step in with regulation. The trio also weighs the idea of an AI “kill switch,” who would have the authority to use it and whether something like that could actually work.

Finally, with the midterms approaching, they debate whether Republican messaging around socialism and Hasan Piker will resonate when voters are dealing with gas and grocery prices. They also discuss Trump’s role in the midterms, Republican campaign spending and whether Trump-aligned groups waited too long to start spending heavily in key races.

Topics Discussed
0:00 Welcome to Practically Political
0:52 Trump, NATO and America’s Role in the World
11:12 AI Regulation and the Kill Switch Debate
21:48 The Midterms, the Economy and Republican Messaging
25:57 Trump, Campaign Spending and the Midterm Fight

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Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis and Kurt Bardella break down the biggest moments from the last week, including the Republican midterm convention, which included President Trump’s promise of a $5,000 dividend and whether Americans will ever actually see the money. The conversation turns to Sen. John Fetterman after his surprise video appearance at the GOP convention sparked more speculation about his future in the Democratic Party. Could he ever switch parties, or does staying a Democrat actually give him more political power?

The trio then turns to the Iran war, gas prices and interest rates before revisiting some of Kurt’s previous political predictions and discussing the latest controversy surrounding FBI Director Kash Patel.

Topics Discussed

0:00 Welcome to Practically Political

0:34 Republican Midterm Convention

4:33 Trump’s $5,000 Dividend

9:31 Will Fetterman Switch Parties?

12:55 Iran War, Gas Prices and Interest Rates

17:40 Kash Patel and the FBI

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Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella take another look at President Trump’s Venezuela oil deal and the questions surrounding who will pay to rebuild the country’s oil infrastructure, whether U.S. oil companies will be willing to invest again and how long it could take Americans to see any benefit.

The conversation then turns to the midterms as Trump pledges millions to help Republicans. Can Trump still turn out Republican voters by asking them to pretend he is on the ballot? Plus, the Senate races to watch and why Trump’s upcoming midterm convention is going head-to-head with the start of the NFL season. The trio even shares their favorite NFL teams!

Topics Discussed

0:00 Welcome to Practically Political
1:10 Trump’s Venezuela Oil Deal
7:46 Trump’s $500 Million Midterm Pledge
15:24 The Senate Races to Watch
20:02 Trump Takes on the NFL

Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.
 

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella are joined by Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha to break down the races shaping the midterms, including whether Texas is becoming more competitive and what James Talarico’s momentum could mean for Ken Paxton.

They also look at the upcoming Republican midterm convention in Dallas and whether President Trump can get his voters to turn out when he isn’t on the ballot. Plus, Chuck weighs in on key Senate races in Michigan, Massachusetts and Maine and what they could mean for control of the Senate.

Topics Discussed

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella debate whether President Trump’s new sanctions on Iran can work and whether he is willing to put pressure on China and Russia to truly isolate the Iranian regime. They also weigh Trump’s latest fight with Canada and what it means for America’s relationships with its allies. The conversation gets heated over Natalie Harp, her relationship with President Trump and the personal letters that have put his longtime aide in the spotlight.

Finally, with Trump’s approval ratings falling and the midterms approaching, the trio looks at what could happen if Democrats take control of Congress and which Senate races could signal serious trouble for Republicans.

Topics Discussed

0:00 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast

Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella break down President Trump’s approach to South Korea, North Korea and America’s alliances, including what an increasingly unpredictable U.S. foreign policy could mean for the country’s role around the world.  They also debate the war in Iran, rising gas prices, and whether economic pressure could ultimately bring Iran back to the negotiating table. Plus, who should replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary? The trio weighs Scott Jennings, Jason Miller and Spencer Pratt before taking on one final question: Why does political polling keep getting it wrong?

Topics Discussed

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Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella discuss Republican senators Bill Cassidy, Thom Tillis, and John Cornyn, whether they have sacrificed ethics for political survival, and why pushing back against President Trump remains so difficult within the Republican Party.

The conversation then turns to President Trump's approach to Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices, and whether economic pressure rather than further military action could ultimately bring Iran back to the negotiating table.

Finally, the trio discusses Judge Jeanine Pirro and the dismissal of the Reflecting Pool vandalism case.

Topics Discussed

0:49 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast

11:59 Trump, Iran, and the Strait of Hormuz

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Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella break down Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, including Abdul El-Sayed's rise, what it could mean for the future of the Democratic Party, and whether the race offers an early preview of the 2026 midterm elections. 

The conversation then turns to Dr. Anthony Fauci's Senate hearing, political lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether Republicans are making a mistake by continuing to focus on 2020.

Later, the trio discusses the dismissal of the Reflecting Pool vandalism case, President Trump's new Truth Social subscription service, and whether the SEC should be involved.

Topics Discussed:

0:37 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast

2:23 Michigan's Democratic Socialists and Abdul El-Sayed

9:04 Anthony Fauci and the Politics of COVID

16:32 The Reflecting Pool Investigation

18:59 Trump's $100,000 Truth Social Plan and the SEC

21:30 Grade the Bias

Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella break down President Trump's appearance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, debate whether the event has outlived its purpose, and discuss Trump's relationship with the media.

The conversation then turns to the 2026 midterm elections, including which party has the advantage in the House and Senate, key races in Michigan, Maine, Iowa and New Hampshire, and whether Republicans or Democrats are better positioned heading into the final 100 days before the midterm elections.

Later, the trio discusses the Democratic Party's 2028 primary calendar, Kamala Harris' political future, the Democratic National Committee's fundraising challenges, and whether the new primary calendar favors establishment candidates.

In Face Off with Dave and Carrie, Dave Spencer and Carrie Sheffield debate President Trump's White House Correspondents' Dinner appearance, the conflict with Iran, and election integrity.

Topics Discussed:

0:22 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast

1:06 Trump's White House Correspondents' Dinner

5:32 The Midterms: Who Wins the House and Senate?

15:57 The 2028 Democratic Primary and Kamala Harris

25:44 The DNC's Fundraising Problems

28:57 Face Off with Dave and Carrie

30:37 Face Off: Trump's White House Correspondents' Dinner

32:47 Face Off: Iran and U.S. Foreign Policy

44:06 Face Off: Election Integrity and the SAVE Act

Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella break down President Trump's latest speech revisiting the 2020 election, debate whether Republicans benefit from continuing to focus on election claims, and discuss what it could mean heading into the 2026 midterm elections.

The conversation then turns to the race for Lindsey Graham's Senate seat, including the breaking news that Darline Graham plans to run, Susan Collins' reelection campaign in Maine, Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, and how shifting views on Israel and Ukraine could reshape American politics.

Topics Discussed: 

0:49 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast 

1:14 Trump's Election Speech and the 2020 Election Debate 

4:00 Lindsey Graham's Senate Seat and South Carolina's Race

10:10 Maine, Susan Collins, Michigan, and the 2026 Senate Races

18:20 Israel, Ukraine, and America's Foreign Policy

22:45 Breaking News: Darline Graham Enters the Senate Race 

25:20 World Cup and Trump's Photo Bomb

Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics