Friday on the RealClearPolitics podcast, Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, and White House reporter Phil Wegmann discuss the president’s latest comments about how the “cowards” of NATO responded to the war in Iran, and a new study predicting dire economic impacts and political disaster for Republicans if the war continues for too long. RCP contributor Richard Porter joins the show to talk about “Project 2029,” a plan from Gov. JB Pritzker for Democrats after Trump. Plus, a conversation about the Treasury taking over student loan management from the Department of Education. Finally, the panel gives their picks for the weekly “You Cannot Be Serious?!” roundup of entertaining headlines. You can listen to the show live, weekdays at 11:00 a.m. on SiriusXM’s Megyn Kelly Channel 111, and then on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and here on our website. *** The show opens with the president’s recent comments about NATO’s support, or lack thereof, for the U.S. war in Iran, as reports come in that some will finally help reopen the Strait of Hormuz. “It sounds like the president was viewing this as a test, and I wonder if the allies have already failed, no matter what they do now,” Walworth added. “This latest episode has solidified in his mind the lesson that NATO won’t be there for the U.S., despite the fact that the US spends a tremendous amount on defense when our allies are doing the minimum. That’s his view here,” Wegmann said. “And perhaps Donald Trump has learned once again that if you complain loud enough, eventually the world is going to let you get your way.” “So that was sort of a truth bomb, which is kind of obvious, but again, in diplomatic speak and diplomatic circles, it doesn’t often get said as openly and as bluntly as Trump just said it,” Bevan said. *** At minute 8, they turn to a political risk analysis from Morgan Stanley warning that rising oil prices, inflation, and spending on the war in Iran would be bad for Republicans in November. “Trump promised to solve that problem. And he was working on it, not terribly effectively. And then he engaged in this excursion, as he calls it,” Bevan said. “Even after three weeks, we can see the effects. And if it lasts four more weeks, or even a couple of months, I think that’s going to have a real impact-negative impact for Republicans in the midterms.” “I think the staff that focuses on domestic issues are probably pretty disappointed that the foreign policy side of the building has made their life more difficult,” Wegmann added. “The economy isn’t a spreadsheet; if voters get a bigger tax return but all that money goes to gas, they’re going to be pretty disappointed, and I imagine they’ll vote accordingly.” *** At minute 19, RCP contributor Richard Porter joins the show to talk about Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker raising a trial balloon for a Democratic “Project 2029 agenda,” including prosecuting people who worked for the Trump administration. “First, JB looks pretty good now that he’s taking Ozempic, right?” Porter joked. “But I looked at this Project 2029. What else is there besides prosecuting your enemies? “The second policy they published was ‘creating economic opportunity,’ and the first bullet there is ‘make sure everyone pays their fair share of taxes.’ So here’s a guy whose wealth is literally in a tax haven offshore-how do they exist with such hypocrisy? It blows my mind.” “We’re living in Orwell’s world, you know, where they say one thing and they’re exactly the opposite. Whatever they’re saying, they are the opposite. It’s breathtaking.” “He’s basically buying this process. The guy’s only at 2%, right? So he’s got to do something to get noticed,” Porter said. “He’s trying to get out there first and craziest. He’s putting a stake in the ground.” “If you’re polling 2% with several billion dollars, most of it offshore, and you want to make a splash, it’s not a bad play. That and losing the weight.” *** At minute 38, the group breaks down the federal government’s new plan for managing student loans — now topping $ 1.7 trillion, with 9 million people in default — handing custody from the Department of Education to the Treasury. “This is something the administration has wanted for a long time,” Wegmann reported. “The question is whether this can be done smoothly in a way that doesn’t affect borrowers too much, because any confusion among the folks who owe this money could be a political liability for the administration.” “Could there be some unintended consequences that have political effects? Sure,” Bevan said. “But the administration says Treasury will be more effective at this than the Department of Education-we’ll see whether that turns out to be true.” *** Finally, 45 minutes into the show, the panel gives their weekly “You Cannot Be Serious?!” roundup of entertaining headlines. *** Don’t miss a single episode of the RealClearPolitics weeknight radio show – subscribe at Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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