Trial Balloon - Free Version

Kevin McCarthy is losing power quickly. And why so many Republicans are running for president. A few links we discussed: Pence Tries to Thread a Needle An Extremely Weak Speaker  Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter   Politics Extra

Gov. Ron DeSantis' campaign launch on Twitter Spaces had all the appeal of a glitchy conference call. And the debt ceiling looms. Some links: DeSantis Blows Up on the Launch Pad The Headlines Are Brutal DeSantis Flip-Flops on How to Pronounce His Own Name Conservatives Rebel Against Emerging Deal Who Would Be Blamed for a Debt Default? Debt Ceiling Deal Takes Shape Some more links:  Taegan Goddard...

Donald Trump's town hall and how abortion rights and immigration will play in the suburbs.  Some links: Why Team Biden Was ‘Positively Giddy’ Last Night CNN Tried to Make News, Not Cover It Some Thoughts on Trump’s Town Hall Event Some more links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter   Politics Extra

We take questions on the debt ceiling showdown, the possibility of a John Roberts power move at the Supreme Court and whether there is a modern day Rosa Parks out there. Some links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter   Politics Extra

Donald Trump, the Republican Party and Fox News have one thing in common: They're all boxed in.  Some links we discuss: How to Make Trump Go Away Trump Desperately Tries to Run Out the Clock Boxed In Other links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter   Politics Extra

Before Political Wire and before Chris Riback's Newsletter -- in the very early days of the internet -- there was Political Insider . Meanwhile, an economic civil war has broken out in the states. Links we discussed: Screenshot of Political Insider just after the 2000 presidential election. Other links:  Taegan Goddard's Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter  

We evaluate the odds that a third party "Unity Ticket” might finally break through in 2024. And we look at the Chicago mayoral primary results and what they say about the politics of crime in America. Links for items we discussed: When Sen. Howell Heflin (D-AL) saw this photo of Sen. Ted Kennedy in a boat, he quipped : "Well Teddy, I see you've changed your position on offshore drilling." And a Ha...

President Biden makes a surprise visit to Ukraine, a grand juror talks too much and Fox News hosts text too much.  Other links:  Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter   Politics Extra

We review President Biden's challenge to Republicans at the State of the Union address, the GOP's focus on schools and the power to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Links:  Political Wire Chris Riback's Newsletter   Politics Extra