Two years after the Taliban takeover, ISIS is now also resurgent -- and insurgent in Afghanistan. Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the failures of American policy and execution that led to these outcomes and the silence of the media. We also discuss a new essay at the Free Press that exposes the Academia-Media corruption around climate change. Plus, Andrew discusses his beautiful essay at Red State about his father and the quiet connection that keeps unexpectedly returning.

Should we focus on who won or lost the debate? Or should we focus on what strategies the candidates used, and what those reveal? Andrew argues that both DeSantis and the GOP primary electorate need to take the "long road" approach, and more or less agree about Ramaswamy. I also regale Andrew with the harrowing tales of my jury duty this week, and more!

The Biden administration has announced its first ten prescription medicines to qualify for their price "negotiation" with manufacturers. This isn't much of a negotiation, as American Commitment president Phil Kerpen reveals. The new authority for price "negotiation" includes draconian tax penalties for those companies that refuse to allow Medicare/Medicaid to set price caps. The end result won't be cheaper medicines, Phil explains, but scarcity.

Who scored and who didn't at the first GOP presidential debate? A.J. Kaufman and I take a look at some fresh polling data and try to game out what comes next. Did Trump make a mistake in skipping the debate, or did he hit a home run in his Tucker Carlson interview?

Donald Trump announced that he won't do primary debates. Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the tactic and the strategy. Will this allow the other candidates to break past the media focus on Trump and his legal fights? We also discuss the rise of Vivek Ramaswamy from the tertiary pack, and what that might mean.

Did Joe Biden blow a hole in his media-generated empathy persona? Or did he just expose his cognitive issues? It might be both in Biden's "no comment" answer regarding the Maui fires, Andrew Malcolm and I suggest. We also analyze the latest in the Hunter Biden probe, and take another critical look at the lack of media interest in the corruption surrounding Biden Inc. We also try to ketchup on condiment choices, and confess our french-fry sins.

The pro-abortion lobby won a constitutional-process initiative in Ohio this week. Does that mean they'll win on an abortion-rights amendment in November? Michael J. New says not so fast. A midsummer special election is different than a November election -- and Michael has some precedents for his optimism as well.

Can a boy battle through physical infirmity to grasp his dreams of professional sports stardom? Can a father find enough faith to leave his son in God's hands? A new film about the true story of baseball star Rickey Hill gives us a look at those questions, as does "The Hill" director/producer Jeff Celentano. We talk about faith, about the film, and about the long road both traveled to get this story to the big screen on August 25th.

Do revisionists have a point about the Japanese surrender? Andrew Malcolm spent years in Japan and offers his own unique perspective on the annual August debate, made more acute by the release of Oppenheimer. We also talk about NBC News' latest "Republicans pounce!" narrative, and discuss the strange new direction taken by the New York Times.

Where else but Washington DC can a man come to town with only a suitcase and a briefcase -- and leave with four homes and a fortune?  Matt Lewis discusses his new book Filthy Rich Politicians, and how many different ways exist for our governing class to make their fortunes at our expense. Can a new bill in the Senate put a stop to it, or will voters have to muscle up and put an end to the grifts?