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With less than two weeks until the midterm elections, Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis and Kurt Bardella debate the Senate races that could determine control of Congress, the future of the Republican Party and President Trump's influence on the election. The discussion begins with the heated exchange between Susan Collins and Troy Jackson in Maine and whether it could affect the Senate race. They also examine Michigan's Senate contest, including the challenges that Abdul El-Sayed is facing in his campaign. Next, they turn to the 2028 Republican presidential race, including speculation about Sen. John Kennedy and whether Vice President JD Vance will run. The conversation leads to three very different predictions about Vance's political future and whether he could enter the race as the sitting president. Finally, they discuss Trump's role in the midterms and the opportunities Democrats may be missing in key governor's races. They close with predictions for Senate races in Texas, Iowa, Ohio, Alaska and Kansas, including whether Republicans could face major losses. Topics Discussed:0:00 Welcome to Practically Political1:13 Midterm Senate Races11:55 The GOP's 2028 Presidential Field and JD Vance17:46 Trump's Midterm Impact and Democratic Governor's Races22:46 Senate Control and Midterm Predictions  Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis and Kurt Bardella debate the final three weeks before the midterm elections, with Senate races in Texas, Michigan, Maine and other states drawing attention. They debate whether candidate debates can still sway voters, the clash between Kristi Noem and country music star Kacey Musgraves, and whether Democrats are missing the mark with voters more concerned about grocery bills than political messaging. The conversation then turns to whether Mike Johnson could remain the party's leader if Republicans lose control of the House. They also discuss the new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia’s failure at her first briefing, whether she'll last in the role, Kimberly Guilfoyle's role as ambassador to Greece, her relationship with Trump Jr. and Newsom and whether Scott Jennings could be a future press secretary. Finally, Dave raises concerns about Trump's Russia diesel deal and what it could mean for Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and America's relationship with its allies. The trio debates whether the deal benefits Russia and its potential impact on the war in Ukraine. Topics Discussed:0:00 Welcome to Practically Political1:13 Kristi Noem vs. Kacey Musgraves: Celebrities in Politics5:00 Midterm Debates and the Senate Races to Watch14:05 Could Mike Johnson Lose His Leadership Role?17:48 White House Shakeup: Katie Zacharia, Kimberly Guilfoyle and Scott Jennings25:35 Trump's Russia Oil Deal and the War in Ukraine Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis and Kurt Bardella discuss the three-year anniversary of October 7, changing attitudes toward Israel and Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership. They also discuss concerns about antisemitism and national security. The conversation then turns to the midterms, including the Texas Senate race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton, whether Latino voters could shift back toward Democrats and the races that could determine control of the Senate. They also look ahead to 2028 and some of the Republicans who could emerge as presidential candidates, including J.D. Vance, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Chris Christie, Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Spencer Cox. Finally, they debate what Republican leadership could look like if Democrats take control of the House, including whether Jim Jordan could become minority leader. Plus, President Trump’s fight with Sen. Tom Cotton leads to a debate over permanent daylight saving time and what happened when the U.S. tried it in the 1970s. Topics Discussed: 0:00 Welcome to Practically Political1:29 October 7 Anniversary, Israel and Netanyahu7:26 Texas Senate Race and the Midterm Battle for the Senate17:52 GOP 2028 Candidates and Jim Jordan as House GOP Leader25:36 Trump, Tom Cotton and Daylight-Saving Time Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis and Kurt Bardella debate the remaining weeks ahead of the midterms, whether Republicans can still make a difference in Congress and why some candidates are distancing themselves from President Trump. They also discuss Trump’s role on the campaign trail and whether his presence helps or hurts Republicans. The conversation then turns to the battle for control of the Senate, the future of the Republican Party and what could happen if Democrats take control of Congress, including whether another impeachment effort against Trump could be on the table. Finally, they debate Trump’s red carpet greeting for Chinese President Xi Jinping, U.S. policy toward China and whether Trump’s approach has been too inconsistent. Topics Discussed: 0:00 Welcome to Practically Political0:57 Congress and the Final Midterm Push 3:57 Republicans Breaking With Trump8:39 Trump’s Role in the Midterms15:50 The Senate and the Future of the GOP24:02 Trump, Xi Jinping and China Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis and Kurt Bardella debate America’s role in the world as wars continue in Iran and Ukraine and U.S. allies look to other countries, including China. They discuss NATO and whether the United States is giving up its international influence.The conversation then turns to AI and whether the federal government needs to step in with regulation. The trio also weighs the idea of an AI “kill switch,” who would have the authority to use it and whether something like that could actually work.Finally, with the midterms approaching, they debate whether Republican messaging around socialism and Hasan Piker will resonate when voters are dealing with gas and grocery prices. They also discuss Trump’s role in the midterms, Republican campaign spending and whether Trump-aligned groups waited too long to start spending heavily in key races.Topics Discussed0:00 Welcome to Practically Political0:52 Trump, NATO and America’s Role in the World11:12 AI Regulation and the Kill Switch Debate21:48 The Midterms, the Economy and Republican Messaging25:57 Trump, Campaign Spending and the Midterm FightPractically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis and Kurt Bardella break down the biggest moments from the last week, including the Republican midterm convention, which included President Trump’s promise of a $5,000 dividend and whether Americans will ever actually see the money. The conversation turns to Sen. John Fetterman after his surprise video appearance at the GOP convention sparked more speculation about his future in the Democratic Party. Could he ever switch parties, or does staying a Democrat actually give him more political power? The trio then turns to the Iran war, gas prices and interest rates before revisiting some of Kurt’s previous political predictions and discussing the latest controversy surrounding FBI Director Kash Patel.   Topics Discussed 0:00 Welcome to Practically Political 0:34 Republican Midterm Convention 4:33 Trump’s $5,000 Dividend 9:31 Will Fetterman Switch Parties? 12:55 Iran War, Gas Prices and Interest Rates 17:40 Kash Patel and the FBI   Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella take another look at President Trump’s Venezuela oil deal and the questions surrounding who will pay to rebuild the country’s oil infrastructure, whether U.S. oil companies will be willing to invest again and how long it could take Americans to see any benefit. The conversation then turns to the midterms as Trump pledges millions to help Republicans. Can Trump still turn out Republican voters by asking them to pretend he is on the ballot? Plus, the Senate races to watch and why Trump’s upcoming midterm convention is going head-to-head with the start of the NFL season. The trio even shares their favorite NFL teams! Topics Discussed 0:00 Welcome to Practically Political1:10 Trump’s Venezuela Oil Deal7:46 Trump’s $500 Million Midterm Pledge15:24 The Senate Races to Watch20:02 Trump Takes on the NFL Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella are joined by Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha to break down the races shaping the midterms, including whether Texas is becoming more competitive and what James Talarico’s momentum could mean for Ken Paxton. They also look at the upcoming Republican midterm convention in Dallas and whether President Trump can get his voters to turn out when he isn’t on the ballot. Plus, Chuck weighs in on key Senate races in Michigan, Massachusetts and Maine and what they could mean for control of the Senate. Topics Discussed 0:00 Welcome to Practically Political 1:12 Chuck Rocha Joins the Show 1:35 James Talarico, Ken Paxton and the Texas Senate Race 9:03 The Texas Governor’s Race and the Midterms 18:01 Michigan, Maine and the Senate Races Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella debate whether President Trump’s new sanctions on Iran can work and whether he is willing to put pressure on China and Russia to truly isolate the Iranian regime. They also weigh Trump’s latest fight with Canada and what it means for America’s relationships with its allies. The conversation gets heated over Natalie Harp, her relationship with President Trump and the personal letters that have put his longtime aide in the spotlight. Finally, with Trump’s approval ratings falling and the midterms approaching, the trio looks at what could happen if Democrats take control of Congress and which Senate races could signal serious trouble for Republicans. Topics Discussed 0:00 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast 0:53 Trump’s New Iran Sanctions 6:50 Trump’s Latest Fight With Canada 11:29 The Natalie Harp Controversy 17:32 Trump’s Approval Ratings and the Midterms Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella break down President Trump’s approach to South Korea, North Korea and America’s alliances, including what an increasingly unpredictable U.S. foreign policy could mean for the country’s role around the world.  They also debate the war in Iran, rising gas prices, and whether economic pressure could ultimately bring Iran back to the negotiating table. Plus, who should replace Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary? The trio weighs Scott Jennings, Jason Miller and Spencer Pratt before taking on one final question: Why does political polling keep getting it wrong? Topics Discussed 0:39 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast 1:12 South Korea and America’s Changing Alliances 10:18 Trump, Iran and Rising Gas Prices 16:54 Karoline Leavitt's Replacement 26:22 Primaries and the Problem With Political Polling Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella discuss Republican senators Bill Cassidy, Thom Tillis, and John Cornyn, whether they have sacrificed ethics for political survival, and why pushing back against President Trump remains so difficult within the Republican Party. The conversation then turns to President Trump's approach to Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices, and whether economic pressure rather than further military action could ultimately bring Iran back to the negotiating table. Finally, the trio discusses Judge Jeanine Pirro and the dismissal of the Reflecting Pool vandalism case. Topics Discussed 0:49 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast 1:10 Republicans, Trump, and Political Loyalty 9:04 Trump, Political Polling, and Voter Priorities 11:59 Trump, Iran, and the Strait of Hormuz 19:32 Pirro and the Reflecting Pool Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella break down Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, including Abdul El-Sayed's rise, what it could mean for the future of the Democratic Party, and whether the race offers an early preview of the 2026 midterm elections.  The conversation then turns to Dr. Anthony Fauci's Senate hearing, political lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether Republicans are making a mistake by continuing to focus on 2020. Later, the trio discusses the dismissal of the Reflecting Pool vandalism case, President Trump's new Truth Social subscription service, and whether the SEC should be involved. Topics Discussed: 0:37 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast 2:23 Michigan's Democratic Socialists and Abdul El-Sayed 9:04 Anthony Fauci and the Politics of COVID 16:32 The Reflecting Pool Investigation 18:59 Trump's $100,000 Truth Social Plan and the SEC 21:30 Grade the Bias Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella break down President Trump's appearance at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, debate whether the event has outlived its purpose, and discuss Trump's relationship with the media. The conversation then turns to the 2026 midterm elections, including which party has the advantage in the House and Senate, key races in Michigan, Maine, Iowa and New Hampshire, and whether Republicans or Democrats are better positioned heading into the final 100 days before the midterm elections. Later, the trio discusses the Democratic Party's 2028 primary calendar, Kamala Harris' political future, the Democratic National Committee's fundraising challenges, and whether the new primary calendar favors establishment candidates. In Face Off with Dave and Carrie, Dave Spencer and Carrie Sheffield debate President Trump's White House Correspondents' Dinner appearance, the conflict with Iran, and election integrity. Topics Discussed: 0:22 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast 1:06 Trump's White House Correspondents' Dinner 5:32 The Midterms: Who Wins the House and Senate? 15:57 The 2028 Democratic Primary and Kamala Harris 25:44 The DNC's Fundraising Problems 28:57 Face Off with Dave and Carrie 30:37 Face Off: Trump's White House Correspondents' Dinner 32:47 Face Off: Iran and U.S. Foreign Policy 44:06 Face Off: Election Integrity and the SAVE Act Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella break down President Trump's latest speech revisiting the 2020 election, debate whether Republicans benefit from continuing to focus on election claims, and discuss what it could mean heading into the 2026 midterm elections. The conversation then turns to the race for Lindsey Graham's Senate seat, including the breaking news that Darline Graham plans to run, Susan Collins' reelection campaign in Maine, Michigan's Democratic Senate primary, and how shifting views on Israel and Ukraine could reshape American politics. Topics Discussed:  0:49 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast  1:14 Trump's Election Speech and the 2020 Election Debate  4:00 Lindsey Graham's Senate Seat and South Carolina's Race 10:10 Maine, Susan Collins, Michigan, and the 2026 Senate Races 18:20 Israel, Ukraine, and America's Foreign Policy 22:45 Breaking News: Darline Graham Enters the Senate Race  25:20 World Cup and Trump's Photo Bomb Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella break down this week's political headlines, including the SAVE Act, voter ID, President Trump's reported $2.2 billion fortune, cryptocurrency, and the ongoing debate over Trump and Biden family finances and corruption claims. Later, the hosts are joined by Ryan Clancy, chief strategist for No Labels, for a conversation about why bipartisanship continues to break down, whether today's primary system rewards political extremes, and if reforms like a national primary day could help create a more functional government. Topics Discussed:    0:33 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast 4:28 Trump's SAVE Act and the Fight Over Voter ID 14:23 Trump's $2.2 Billion and the Corruption Debate 26:28 Ryan Clancy on Why Bipartisanship Is Breaking Down 40:48 Should America Have a National Primary Day? Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.