Monday on the RealClearPolitics radio show — weeknights at 6:00 p.m. on SiriusXM’s POTUS Channel 124 and then on Apple, Spotify, and here on our website — Andrew Walworth, Carl Cannon, and Tom Bevan run down some of the biggest stories in politics today. In the first segment, the gang discusses President Trump’s new proposal to offer a $ 1,000 “stipend” and free plane tickets to any illegal alien willing to “self-deport” and go home. Is this a passable solution for America’s completely broken immigration system? “If you take advantage of this, you will have the opportunity to come back legally if you go through the proper channels. Conversely, if you do not, you will never be allowed back in under any circumstances,” Tom Bevan reported. “I think that makes it an attractive option for some people. If it costs $ 17,000 to find, arrest, detain, and deport someone, this would save the country a ton of money and move along the process.” *** In the second segment, starting at minute 13, Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp has decided not to challenge vulnerable Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff next year. Michigan Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Kentucky Democrat Gov. Andy Beshear, and former N.H. Republican Gov. Chris Sununu are also reportedly passing on Senate runs in 2026. Why don’t governors seem to want to participate in the world’s greatest deliberative body anymore? “I think if you asked any governor, they would say being governor is a way better job than being in the Senate. You actually get to accomplish things and do things as opposed to sitting around and talking,” Tom Bevan commented. “But Brian Kemp is a blow to the Republicans, he was by far the strongest candidate for them and the only one in recent polls who was leading against Jon Ossoff.” “The Senate is no longer the stepping stone to the White House that it once was… You’re forced to take positions that are hard to defend, you don’t really get to run on your own record,” Carl Cannon said. “If you run from the Senate, you’re running on Mitch McConnell or Chuck Schumer’s record, or whatever the president forces you to do at knife-point.” Later, at timestamp 20:30, President Trump and HHS Secretary Kennedy just announced new restrictions on controversial “gain-of-function” research funding in “countries of concern” like China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. Bevan quipped: “But Fauci swore under oath before Congress that we did not do gain-of-function research, so are you saying he lied? St. Anthony lied?” *** After that, starting at about minute 25, the post-9/11 “Real ID” program finally goes into effect, 20 years later. Will failing to get an updated driving license keep you from boarding an airplane? Where else will the new ID be required, and how much privacy are you giving up? Tom Bevan told a story: “I just got back from a trip, and one of the TSA agents told me I have to get one. They said if you have a regular ID or an expired passport, you will be able to fly, but they’ll have to do a background check, and that could take more than 30 minutes. That’s obviously not great.” “I would worry about privacy, but the national ID card has already come. It’s called the Apple iPhone and they know everywhere you’ve been,” Cannon said. “A whole generation of Americans surrendered their privacy about 20 years ago.” Next, at minute 31, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is implementing a new program to create “less Generals, more GIs.” Is that what a modern military needs right now? *** Finally, starting at timestamp 35:30, RCP Contributor Maggie Miller talks to RealClearInvestigations author David Swindle about his latest article on antisemitism. Swindle wrote for RealClearInvestigations: “Antisemitism: The Modern Forces Fueling an Ancient Scourge” *** 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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