Following the historic ousting of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, Tara sits down with fellow Puck writer Abby Livingston to examine the chain reaction that led to this monumental decision in the House, theorize what could have kept McCarthy in office, and discuss what exactly happens next. Plus, Tara and producer Conor discuss a recent poll showing Nikki Haley pulling well ahead of Ron DeSantis in New Hampshire.
For more of Tara's reporting, please sign up for her newsletter 'The Best & The Brightest' at puck.news/tarapalmeri and use the discount code TARA20
Host: Tara Palmeri
Guest: Abby Livingston
Producers: Devon Manze and Conor Nevins
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What the Hell Just Happened to Kevin McCarthy?

Puck senior political correspondent Tara Palmeri is here to help you get through what may be the most chaotic and consequential presidential election cycle of our lifetime. With 15 years covering politics, Tara speaks with the smartest political brains to discuss what is happening behind the scenes in Washington D.C., and on the campaign trail.

News

Tara is joined by CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig, and they begin their conversation by sharing their reactions to the newly announced Trump-Biden debates coming later this year. They then dissect this week’s developments in the Donald Trump hush money trial and speculate on its outcome.
For more of Tara's reporting, please sign up for her newsletter, ‘The Best and the Brightest,’ at puck.news/tarapalmeri and use the discount code TARA20
Host: Tara Palmeri
Guest: Elie Honig
Producer: Chris Sutton
Production Supervision: Conor Nevins
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Predicting the Trump Verdict With Elie Honig

Tara is joined by Puck’s own Teddy Schleifer and they begin their conversation by examining the icy relationship between the Nikki Haley and Donald Trump camps, and debating the viability of them joining forces on a 2024 election ticket. They then dive into myriad hot-button topics, including Melinda Gates severing ties with the influential Gates Foundation, the right-wing TikTok phenomenon, and much more.
For more of Tara's reporting, please sign up for her newsletter, ‘The Best and the Brightest,’ at puck.news/tarapalmeri and use the discount code TARA20
Host: Tara Palmeri
Guest: Teddy Schleifer
Producer: Chris Sutton
Production Supervision: Conor Nevins
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Measuring the Nikki Haley Trial Balloon

Tara is joined by Republican consultant and former chief of staff to Mitch McConnell, Josh Holmes, and they begin their conversation by discussing Donald Trump’s current standing within the GOP and what the party has done to streamline the somewhat mercurial relationship with its presumptive nominee. They then dive into all of the tight senate races around the U.S. and shine a light on the Republicans' path to regain the majority in the chamber.﻿
For more of Tara's reporting, please sign up for her newsletter, ‘The Best and the Brightest,’ at puck.news/tarapalmeri and use the discount code TARA20
Host: Tara Palmeri
Guest: Josh Holmes
Producer: Chris Sutton
Production Supervision: Conor Nevins
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Mitch McConnell’s Advisor Predicts the Senate Map

Tara starts the pod by sharing her reporting on Ivanka Trump's possible return to the world of politics and, more importantly, her dad’s inner circle. She’s then joined by Democratic pollster Evan Roth Smith to discuss the obstacles that are keeping Joe Biden’s approval numbers low, examine the ways he can get them back up, and debate the influence of the "double hater" voter base in the upcoming election.
For more of Tara's reporting, please sign up for her newsletter, ‘The Best and the Brightest,’ at puck.news/tarapalmeri and use the discount code TARA20
Host: Tara Palmeri
Guest: Evan Roth Smith
Producer: Chris Sutton
Production Supervision: Conor Nevins
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How Chaos Helps Donald Trump, Plus the Return of "Javanka"?

Tara is joined by journalist and MSNBC news anchor Ali Velshi to discuss his forthcoming book, ‘Small Acts of Courage: A Legacy of Endurance and the Fight for Democracy,’ which publishes May 7. Throughout their wide-ranging conversation, they talk about Velshi’s family connection to social activism, immigration politics, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and much more.
For more of Tara's reporting, please sign up for her newsletter, ‘The Best and the Brightest,’ at puck.news/tarapalmeri and use the discount code TARA20
Host: Tara Palmeri
Guest: Ali Velshi
Producer: Chris Sutton
Production Supervision: Conor Nevins
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What the Hell Just Happened to Kevin McCarthy?

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