Sep 1, 2026 · 59 min
Listen from 45:08
Listen at 45:08
Trump tests power as Paxton’s Senate campaign falters
1111: Ken Paxton Is Running One of the Worst Campaigns in America
The episode connects executive overreach, media intimidation, partisan smears, and electoral maneuvering to the durability of Trumpism and Democrats’ midterm opportunities.
- 1The Supreme Court’s ballroom ruling raises questions about congressional authority and how future presidents should handle Trump-era projects.
- 2Trump’s pressure on Kristen Welker and a misleading Abdul El-Sayed headline expose uneven media standards and escalating political intimidation.
- 3Ken Paxton’s weak Texas Senate campaign highlights Republican vulnerabilities alongside stranger candidates and spoiler tactics shaping the midterms.
Don't miss
The hosts’ critique of the headline linking Abdul El-Sayed to September 11 crystallizes their argument about racist framing and media accountability.
The brief
The Supreme Court’s temporary approval of Trump’s proposed ballroom opens a broader fight over standing, congressional authority, and whether a future Democratic president should dismantle or repurpose his projects.
Trump’s threat to report Kristen Welker to the FCC becomes a test of authoritarian pressure, Brendan Carr’s role, and the media’s uneven treatment of political extremism.
The hosts condemn a CBS headline linking Abdul El-Sayed to September 11, arguing that misleading framing, false equivalence, and media consolidation demand a more aggressive Democratic response.
The discussion turns to whether Trumpism’s antagonism toward Canada reflects durable Republican commitments or personal performance, before landing on Ken Paxton’s weak Texas Senate campaign.
Paxton’s limited support, poor fundraising, and lack of charisma sit alongside bizarre candidacies and spoiler tactics, revealing how electoral rules can reshape the midterm map.
Books & mentions
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