Aug 26, 2026 · 42 min
Trump’s endorsement power faces new tests at home and abroad
Hayes: Trump’s ‘unshakable’ Republican base just got shakier
The episode connects Republican unease, Canadian resistance, and the Iran war’s costs to a broader question about American power and political control.
- 1A South Carolina Republican runoff offers an early test of whether Trump can still deliver candidates to victory.
- 2Canada’s refusal to accommodate Trump’s trade pressure shows how threats can harden resistance rather than secure compliance.
- 3The Iran war exposes the human, economic, military, and diplomatic costs of sidelining government expertise.
Don't miss
The discussion of Canada rejecting Trump’s proposed arrangement and choosing retaliation over accommodation crystallizes the episode’s argument about weakening leverage.
The brief
A South Carolina runoff to replace Lindsey Graham becomes a test of Trump’s endorsement power, as Darlene Graham’s campaign confronts debate missteps and early returns against Ralph Norman.
Hayes examines signs that Republican candidates and officials are distancing themselves from Trump, while resistance from Texas and pressure from Canada challenge his political reach.
Dolly Parton’s death prompts a reflection on the rare cultural figure whose generosity, musical skill, and public persona crossed political and cultural divides.
Canada rejects Trump’s proposed arrangement and retaliates against escalating trade threats, defending its sovereignty rather than rewarding pressure with accommodation.
Senator Chris Van Hollen discusses the Iran war’s predictable costs, from harm to consumers and troops to weakened alliances and diminished U.S. credibility.
The episode closes by previewing a competitive Georgia Democratic race, including the gubernatorial contest involving Keisha Lance Bottoms.