Lanny Davis joins the show! Together, Lanny and Joe break down how presidential politics have changed throughout the years. What is Lanny’s third way to reignite a political party? Is there a way to reframe compromise between the Republicans and Democrats? Lanny shares what inspired him to write “Finding the Third Way: Lessons in the Politics of Civility from My Journey through History” and what it means to compromise. How does Bill Clinton’s State of the Union address on border security land today? Joe shares his admiration for Lanny’s ability to engage in civil discourse, and they discuss how to talk to a Trump voter in today’s climate.

Find Lanny’s book “Finding the Third Way” here: https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Third-Way-Politics-Civility/dp/B0G318P334

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Alexander Theodoridis joins the show and shares his findings on his latest poll. Alexander and Joe dive deeper into what it means for the United States as it approaches its 250th birthday. What does it really mean to be an American? Is the GOP really more American than the Dems? Do people want to believe in the American experiment? How do the different parties view crimes and their severity? Is it possible to see a bipartisan shift in the future?
Find the UMASS Amherst poll here: https://www.umass.edu/political-science/about/reports/2026-4

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Joe's been talking about it since at least last November - what critical cohort that decided 2016, 2024, and the 2022 midterms is very, very mad at Trump? And they're a growing percentage of the electorate, too. Plus - why did Melania drop a surprise Epstein press conference on Thursday? Is Iran going that poorly? (Yes!) And can Dems make any gains on the ridiculous trading corruption that's happening on prediction markets right now? Joe explains why we have to keep our eye on the prize.

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Pam Bondi's out - why Joe thinks this might reopen the Epstein Pandora's Box Trump is so desperately trying to hide. (Todd Blanche, come on down!) More evidence saying the Iran quagmire isn't going away for Trump - and Joe points out the underreported "war tax" Americans are already paying. Trump saying the quiet part out loud (cutting health care to pay for the war) won't help either. Will winning back Trump voters matter for 2026? And what about AI fears? Read Stan Greenberg's piece Joe and Alex discuss here: https://prospect.org/2026/03/26/trumps-working-class-buyers-remorse-republicans-polling/

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Iran turned into a quagmire for Trump in a matter of days. Gas prices are skyrocketing. And there's still no clear plan. The number Joe has never seen before with independent voters - is there a way out for Trump in Iran? No. How bad can it get? Why Joe thinks Trump's one magic bullet here just won't cut it anymore. Plus - a look at new data shows that the turning point moment Trump and MAGA were hoping for looks more like the beginning of a civil war than a way out.

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It's March Madness - we might as well call it Trippi Madness. Joe picks his way through a special bracket... then blows the rest of it up. What's the most likely thing to happen in 2026? Why Joe thinks Trump is just as busted as this bracket. Where are Democrats going to make the biggest gains this year? And what races might surprise everyone, but not Joe! What year is 2026 most likely looking like - and why is that bad news for incumbents everywhere?

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Fresh off a trip to a Midwestern battleground, Joe pumps the brakes on the "turnout doesn't win anymore" narrative. Who might surprise this year? What matters most in midterms? And why don't more candidates run as Independents? Joe and Alex peel back the curtain on the realities many candidates face. And now that we are seeing the short-term impacts of Trump's Iran boondoggle, what are the long term effects going to look like for Americans?

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What's going on in Iran isn't the only reason MAGA has a mutiny on their hands. What one number does Alex think is the worst one he's seen for Trump in a while? And how fired is Kristi Noem? Very, as it turns out. How about Tuesday's primaries? Joe and Alex look at Texas and why one side ought to feel much better than the other...

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The only State of the Union reactions that matter... and they aren't ours! What the data says - and why Alex thinks the vibes are irreparable at this point. If you're a Republican running for office this year, you've got a BIG problem. Trippi explains why. And with Trump looking more like a very large cornered orange rat, why Joe thinks he's going to intensify his efforts to steal 2026. And why you should be very, very concerned about the recent AI news... what can we do about "Agents of Chaos?" Read the white paper Joe and Alex discuss here: https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.20021

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Rest in peace to a true civil rights pioneer, Jesse Jackson. Joe explains why his impact on Democratic politics - and the country - is so lasting. Which Presidents owe their elections to Jesse Jackson? And what lessons can we take from how he reshaped the party in the 80s and 90s that apply to 2028? Plus - Prince Andrew got arrested, but Howard Lutnick's closer to Trump than ever. Why we aren't shocked. What's going on with Iran? And isn't it just terrible strategy to announce you're bombing someone before you do it? 

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