In our last show before Christmas, Joe and Alex break down, one final time, who's been naughty and nice this year. Why are we hopeful for 2026? Who are the humbugs Trippi thinks needs to work extra hard to avoid coal on 2026? And what were the best gifts of the year? Happy holidays to all. 

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Joe made waves a few weeks ago when he suggested Democrats could win 258 seats next year. For real? For real, for real. Joe explains how the numbers show that while it might not be 258 - everywhere could be in play. And Alex shows how bad the economic numbers have gotten - again - with a new Marist poll explaining a lot. And why does Susie Wiles' bashing Trump in Vanity Fair matter? What does it mean? Get ready for a huge 2026, folks. 

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Trump is desperately trying to get you to not think about your prices being higher. Why this lie is so much harder to believe than all the others - and Joe explains why the numbers keep getting worse for Trump. His "weave" ain't working this time, folks.  And why is this week's Supreme Court ruling so scary - now that Trump can fire "independent" federal regulators? And what's the most corrupt thing that's happened this year? Why Joe thinks it's so much more than the crypto thing...

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Look, we're not saying the Democrats will win 258 House seats... but if the math keeps up like it has been, it's not... totally out of the question? Joe explains why the Tennessee math and recent national polling is even more bad news for MAGA. And speaking of bad news, what do Joe and Alex think is the worst scandal of the year? What about the biggest win? And what shouldn't be a thing (but is?)

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Is Donald Trump a lame duck? Reed Galen joins Joe Trippi to discuss what that could mean for the GOP and whether other Republican members of Congress will follow Marjorie Taylor Greene’s footsteps and resign. How will Democrats take advantage amidst the chaos? Reed breaks down the two types of people in the Trump Administration: the incompetent and the evil. What should we keep our eyes on going into 2026, and how should Democrats appeal to Republican voters going into the midterms?
Follow Reed’s substack at https://reedgalen.substack.com/

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Is technology moving faster than we can evolve? Joe Costello joins Joe Trippi today to discuss how technology has impacted our politics and how it will continue to impact our world. Joe Costello breaks down how to find a more connected political landscape in 2026 - and how everything is intertwined. What happened to the Ward Leaders in our communities and where did those connections go? And Joe Trippi and Joe Costello dive into how AI and social media are dividing America. Do hate campaigns keep people using social media platforms? Then, they discuss how their work in Tanzania and Nigeria inspired them to keep fighting for Democracy in America. How has the phone replaced the book? How do we climb out of the Skinner box?
Find Joe Costello’s book “The Politics of Ape and Machine: Power as Organization” 

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How bad are things for the Republican Party, and are Democrats taking advantage? Trygve Olson joins Joe Trippi today to discuss how the Epstein files are impacting polls, especially with independents. Why does Trgyve think the public is being gaslit by Trump, especially aging adults. Then, Joe and Trygve break down how AI is impacting entry-level jobs - and how you can use AI to empower yourself. Do the downsides outweigh the upsides?

Follow Trygve’s Substack at https://substack.com/@trygveolson

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Writer Tim Wu joins Joe and Alex to discuss the "Age of Extraction" - how Big Tech seems intent on sucking as much out of you as possible. How do we break the cycle - and get back to an Internet where everyone can thrive? Where do Joe and Tim think the future of tech is going - and how will it impact our politics? Turns out you have more power than you think. 

Read "The Age of Extraction" here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/691177/the-age-of-extraction-by-tim-wu/

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Why Tuesday wasn't just a blowout for Democrats - it's rocket fuel for 2026. Senator Doug Jones joins Joe and Alex to discuss big wins in Virginia, New Jersey, California - and don't forget about Georgia and Mississippi. Why Doug thinks Georgia and Mississippi are a bigger deal than most folks realize. And Joe and Alex dive into the numbers - why Tuesday night was a clear sign that most of Trump's gains in 2024 were a mirage - and why Republicans ought to be very worried headed into 2026.

Follow Doug's Substack at https://senatordougjones.substack.com/.

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Three gigantic postmortems came out this week - why did Democrats lose in 2024? Joe and Alex break down the highlights - and what really matters going into 2026. The most important thing we have to fix - and fix now. What one force matters most when moving an entire party in one direction? And why is the Republican Party so vulnerable to authoritarianism? Read the SVF report Joe's talking about here: https://medium.com/@scottandersonsvf/how-democrats-can-win-again-9d1cbaffcc19

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