Politics War Room with James Carville & Al Hunt

James and Al explain the impact of Hunter Biden’s conviction, emphasize the political power of falling crime rates, and welcome Lisa Lerer, author of The Fall of Roe .  They expose the right-wing movement that gave us Dobbs, call out Supreme Court corruption, debate the role of role of Alito’s leaked decision, discuss the failures of the progressive movement, and empahsize the need for pro-Roe for...

James and Al defend Dr. Fauci and analyze Biden’s improving electoral prospects after the Trump trial verdict and the recent primaries before welcoming propaganda expert Peter Pomerantsev.  They discuss how the successful British information campaign against the Nazis broadcast from an in-group and absurdist perspective to undermine the party’s leadership and create a safe space for dissenters to...

James and Al preview Trump’s imminent Manhattan verdict, call for the SCOTUS to be on the ballot, demand a higher minimum wage, and welcome the Financial Times’ Ed Luce.  They discuss Labor’s prospects in the upcoming British elections, how the conservatives have decimated the country, the rising radicalism of the Right, Europe’s leadership post-Brexit, and the budding alliance between MAGA and th...

James and Al lay out the hard choices facing the Biden campaign, blast corruption on the Supreme Court, and welcome Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi to dive into geopolitics.  They start by exploring US-Sino relations, covering President Xi’s governing philosophy, the enslavement of the Uighurs, what a successful trade policy looks like, how to bolster our regional alliances, and the need to protect Taiwa...

James and Al tear into Trump for seeking bribes from Big Oil, blast the MSM for failing to cover what matters, share their take on the recent polls and primaries, and welcome historian Heather Cox Richardson.  They draw parallels between contemporary politics and the Civil War era, exploring MAGA’s regressive roots, our democracy’s war with demagoguery, the electorate’s disillusionment, and why J6...

James and Al reflect on Trump’s ongoing trial, the need for Biden to run a focused campaign, and the future of Gaza before welcoming author and journalist Katherine Stewart.  They discuss the rise of the Christian nationalism movement in the USA, exploring how it relates to popular Christianity, its exploitation of the culture war and other political strategies it uses, and its tendency towards hi...

Guest host Paul Begala joins Al to analyze the factors driving the ‘24 election and the dangers of another Trump term before speaking with UC President Emeritus Mark Yudof.  They discuss where the pro-Palestine protests fit in the history of campus movements, how an oppressor/oppressed schema contributes to anti-Israel and anti-Semetic sentiment, why support for Israel is a liberal position, and w...

James and Al game out Trump’s prosecution, reluctantly give credit to Speaker Johnson, and castigate the SCOTUS, before welcoming retired General John Allen to discuss our place in world affairs.  They look at the effects of the foreign aid package, how to continue to support our allies, and the next phase of the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars.  Their analysis also dives into the evolving du...

James and Al dive into Congress’ handling of the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and analyze the politically transformative effects of Dobbs on the Republican party.  Then they welcome legal expert Fred Wertheimer to discuss the progression of Trump’s first criminal trial, how the charges can be proven, and developments in the other legal challenges confronting him.  They also are joined...

James and Al decry Islamophobia and welcome MN Senator Tina Smith to discuss foreign relations and the Dobbs decision’s role in our politics.  Following anti-abortion revanchism under the Comstock Act and extreme restrictions in red states, they analyze how to fight back by enacting legislation to secure women’s rights, the policies that will energize young voters, and what it will take to win sta...

James and Al critique coastal elitism, explore how the Israel-Gaza war ends, and welcome Justice Breyer to discuss the role of the Supreme Court and its judges.  They compare textualism and pragmatism using Justice Scalia as a foil, weigh the factors that go into reading the Constitution, debate politics’ place on the bench, review the ethics governing the court, and look at why public approval of...

James and Al take Rep. Jim Jordan to task for continuing to spew lies about the 2020 election and review the status of Trump’s many trials, their possible outcomes, and their effect on the race.  They also debate what NBC’s firing of Ronna McDaniel says about the state of network journalism, and weigh how RFK Jr. affects the election after his vice presidential pick.  Author and sports journalist...

James and Al tear into the Orban government and analyze Trump’s influence on the Ohio Senate race before welcoming Admiral James Stavridis to discuss the global military landscape.  They explore strategies for success in the Ukraine-Russia and Israel-Hamas conflicts, game out an effective response to threats against Taiwan, and look at how war fighting will evolve in the future.  Then, they are jo...

James and Al destroy the RNC and Senator Katie Britt’s SOTU response, before welcoming authors of “White Rural Rage” Tom Schaller and Paul Waldman for a demographic deep dive.  They expose the disproportionate influence of rural White voters, analyze the factors driving their regional decline, and explain how Republicans have leveraged their grievances to win a larger share of their vote.  Then, t...

James and Al give their take on Super Tuesday and the impact of a Trump conviction, before welcoming journalist Evan Osnos.  They analyze Biden’s electoral prospects and the validity of the polls, looking at how his personality has changed, whether he is fit to serve, and how to win over the doubters.  Then, they preview the potential and peril of the upcoming SOTU and evaluate the arguments drivi...

James and Al expose the hypocrisy of Jim Jordan and Matt Schlapp and welcome PA Senator Bob Casey.  They discuss the role of President Biden in down ballot elections, what it will take to win in PA, and the issues most important to voters.  They cover how Republican obstruction is exacerbating the border crisis and undermining national security, laying out how support for Ukraine and Israel makes...

James and Al skewer the radical Republicans complicit in the events of J6 and welcome former presidential advisor and Lincoln biographer Sidney Blumenthal.  They shut down the corruption allegations targeting President Biden, discuss the capture of MAGA by Putin and propaganda, and lay out the threat Russia poses to our elections and allies.  Then, they dive into the life and times of Abraham Linc...

James and Al celebrate the Democrats win of George Santos’ seat, blast Republicans for stopping the border bill, take on Robert Hur, and welcome law professor Pam Karlan.  They discuss what will go into the SCOTUS rulings on Trump’s immunity and ballot cases and whether the justices will attempt to “split the baby”.  Then they debate Judge Cannon’s impartiality in the Mar-A-Lago documents case and...

James and Al fire off on the continuing MAGA takeover of the Republican Party that led to the scuttling of the Democrats’ national security and immigration bill, and welcome NYT journalist Adam Nagourney.  They discuss the role of The New York Times as a media institution, its mission, its leadership, and the scandals and financial challenges it has overcome to deliver us the news.  Adam gives an...

James and Al break down the border battle and skewer Republican attacks on Taylor Swift, before welcoming historian Sean Wilentz.  They discuss the best media practices for covering Trump, recent parallels to the Civil War, the role the SCOTUS plays in maintaining our democracy, and how to put an end to Trump’s rolling coup.  Then, James and Al are joined by AP’s Global Enterprise Editor Indira La...

James and Al analyze the New Hampshire primary results and lay out the evidence of the Republican Party’s capitulation to Trump.  Then, they welcome journalist Joshua Green to explore how the combination of the 2008 financial crisis and pandemic’s economic effects led to the rebellion on the Democratic Left, represented by Elizabeth Warren, AOC, and Bernie Sanders.  They discuss the electoral viab...

James and Al dive into the state of the race after the Iowa caucus by examining the performances of the candidates and the role of third parties before welcoming Rep. Rosa DeLauro.  They game out the upcoming budget battle facing the divided Congress, explain why we’re stuck with continuing resolutions, and weigh the potential replacement of Speaker Johnson.  With essential services supporting vul...

James and Al dive into the upcoming primaries, the budget battle being waged by Speaker Johnson, and the intensifying debate around border policy.  Then, they welcome former executive editor of The New York Times, Jill Abramson, to consider the implications of Claudine Gay’s firing and discuss how the media is dealing with Trump ahead of the Iowa caucus.  Between the free coverage Trump can harnes...

James and Al skewer so-called family values Republicans after recent scandals and welcome polling experts Fred Yang and Jim Gerstein.  They dive into the weak numbers being put up by the Biden campaign, analyzing what’s bringing them down, the composition of the electorate, the role of 3rd party candidates, the messaging challenges ahead, and how to take the lead.  They cover the effects of inflat...

James and Al welcome Stanford Law’s Pam Karlan, academy member George Stevens, and economic maven Roger Altman to get their takes on the year ahead in their field of expertise. In the financial arena, they cover the importance of the economy to a Democratic victory in 2024, the factors driving inflation, and how we managed to avoid the predicted recession.  Legally, they look ahead to the coming d...