The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET.
Brad is first joined by White House Correspondent for the Washington Examiner, Mabinty Quarshie, who previews tomorrow's 'State Of The Union' address.
Mabinty says she expects Trump to say that he doesn't need authority from the Supreme Court or from Congress in order to levy tariffs, and that he'll cherry pick any positive economic stats his staff can find.
She and Brad also discuss why voters have soured on Trump's approach to immigration, and how electricity prices have doubled under his watch.
On the subject of tariffs, Congress will have to authorize Trump's 15% tariffs across the board after 150 days, which doesn't look like it'll have the votes in the House or Senate.
Mabinty also highlights how Trump's go to economic policy was tariffs, (and he was using it as a weapons for any world leader that angered him), but now those are likely to be gone soon.
Then, leading progressive strategist and Outreach Director of the Battleground Alliance, Heather Booth, discusses November's upcoming midterm elections in the House and Senate.
Heather highlights the damage that President Trump and congressional Republicans have done by taking away health insurance for millions of Americans, failing to address increases in the cost of living, and killing Americans like Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Next, despite acknowledging positive polling for Democrats heading into the midterm elections, she says that the results will all depend on Democrats organizing and turning out voters beginning now.
Brad and Heather then discuss how the Battleground Alliance brings together Unions, environmental groups and civic groups and are supporting local organizations that are doing the work on the ground to win the midterms for Democratic candidates in over 40 congressional races.
Heather also speaks about her organizing work with the late Rev. Jessie Jackson, and how his work lives on.
She and Brad recap redistricting thus far for the upcoming election cycle, how Democrats have fought back against the Republican efforts to rig the upcoming midterms, the threat the Supreme Court still presents to the Voting Rights Act, and how Americans can fight back if it's struck down.
Finally, Heather highlights how we can turn our anger into action and the 'hurt and hate into hope and heart.'
The website for the Battleground Alliance is www.BattlegroundAlliance.org.
Brad is on the National Journal's panel of political insiders, is an American political analyst for The Times of India TV, and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. Brad also writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.'
You can read his columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon.
His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.
