The Ed Morrissey Show

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 b...

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 cond...

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 sto...

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 gri...

Have we stopped being a serious people? Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the death penalty, the presidential election, and how Americans largely avoid engaging in either debate in the serious manner required. We also talk about Donald Trump's interview with Maria Bartiromo and his own refusal to engage in the debates.

Has Bidenomics succeeded or failed? Peter Grandich joins us to discuss the question, but Peter worries more about the impact of the BRIC nations as they emerge. We also talk about the crisis in confidence with the DoJ, FBI, and now the Secret Service on the rule of law. Is the biggest divide in American politics really GOP v Democrats or insider v outsider?

Did Maria Bartiromo help Ron DeSantis -- by being a tough journalist? Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the state of the GOP nomination contest, and why it really hasn't yet begun. We also talk about the NYT's stunning decision to disband its sports desk, the surprising (or not) endorsement from Turkey for Sweden's NATO bid, and the risks and necessity of sending cluster bombs to Ukraine.

Does anyone in media actually bother to read Supreme Court opinions? Andrew Malcolm and I review all the ways in which media reported inaccurately and sometimes flat-out falsely on the final decisions of the court's term. We also credit the New York Times for its largely accurate report on a "landmark study" on transgenderism from Denmark. What happened in the Wagner Revolt? And what is happening...

My old pal Rick Ungar returns! Rick is mostly retired these days and enjoying golf, but also loves a great discussion. We talk about the problems facing Democrats in this presidential cycle, and he tells a great story about why Kamala Harris will be a huge headache for Dems. Rick also explains why Gavin Newsom doesn't solve anything for them. Rick turns his eyes on the GOP field and says he doesn'...

Has the media finally turned on the Bidens? Neither Andrew Malcolm nor I think their sudden interest in reporting the facts alleged by two IRS whistleblowers is a sudden case of integrity in the MSM. We also discuss the strange and short-lived rebellion in Russia. Plus, what can we make of the new Fox News prime-time line-up?

"God's children are not for sale!" Millions of people, many of them children, live in slavery and sex trafficking around the world. Tim Ballard, a former Homeland Security investigator and now founder of Operation Underground Railroad, talks about his experiences in helping to find and free those trapped in bondage. Ballard's story has been made into a motion picture starring James Caviezel, "The...

Did the Dobbs decision doom conservatives in elections -- or give them new strength? Michael J. New discusses fresh data from Gallup which shows gains for pro-life and other social-conservative issues, notably on same-sex relationships. Has the radical Left soured the electoral marketplace for Democrats and any moderate pro-choice figures? And what are the next steps in the 2024 election cycle?

Donald Trump decided to discuss his federal indictment with Bret Baier -- and ran into a real journalist. Andrew Malcolm and I talk about Baier's professional approach and why Trump may have miscalculated. We also discuss Hunter Biden's plea deal and the hypocrisy of Joe Biden's gun-control campaign while his own son wiggles out of a felony charge with a "diversion" agreement. And is the national...

Will policy or culture prevail in the 2024 Republican presidential sweepstakes? A.J. Kaufman returns to discuss the newly enlarged field, whether policy will matter, and the impact of the Donald Trump indictment. Mike Pence may be the man most caught in the middle of all these issues, but how much will he matter in the end? We also discuss the LA Dodgers' Pride Night celebration this evening, and...

Will Ireland impose the kind of speech restrictions on itself as the English did for centuries? The Pipeline's Michael Walsh splits his time between the US and County Clare, and he has grave concerns about a new "hate speech" law promulgated by the Irish republic. We also talk about the insanity of Ireland's decision to destroy 10% of its cattle over climate-change fears, the issues facing the Iri...

When Donald Trump slipped on a plane ramp, the national media covered it for days as a potential sign of decline. Joe Biden fell on stage at the Air Force Academy -- and the story disappeared entirely. Andrew Malcolm and I discuss the media's wagon-circling around Biden, their laughable contention that Biden won the debt-ceiling standoff, Biden's serial fabulism about his achievements, and more ab...

Republicans blew their chance to repeal and replace ObamaCare in 2017. Can they still reform health care? Yes, says Dean Clancy of Americans for Prosperity, and the plan already exists. The Healthcare Fairness For All can still lower costs and provide better choices, but Republicans will have to act soon to keep the fight alive.

Can conservative fight and win a culture war against the extremist Left? Peachy Keenan discusses her new book, Domestic Extremist: A Practical Guide to Winning the Culture War, which Regnery will launch on June 6. Peachy -- her pseudonym -- was raised by secular atheists and was a liberal feminist, but changed her views after meeting her husband and having children. She talks about her journey fro...

The entry of Ron DeSantis has kick-started the real primary fight. Is Donald Trump prepared to deal with an opponent that will hit him punch for punch? DeSantis' Never Back Down warroom is not the only new factor for Trump -- facing off against a real and well-funded ground organization will be a new experience as well. It may take weeks or months for that dynamic to play out, but it could be a ga...

Juan Pablo Segura is running for the Virginia State Senate and is discussing the Loudon County parental rights movement which was sparked by a rape scandal two years ago. The Loudon Love Warriors, a Facebook group of radical activists and ideologues, were targeting parents who were speaking out for more safety in schools. Pablo discusses their connections to government officials and power brokers,...