Tuesday on the RealClearPolitics podcast, Carl Cannon, Tom Bevan, and Andrew Walworth forecast today’s Senate primaries in New Hampshire and discuss the purpose of the Republican Midterm Convention, kicking off in Dallas tomorrow. The group discusses a controversy NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has stepped into ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks, and a protest planned by students at Utah Valley University to mark one year since the assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10. Plus, a look at back-to-school issues, including New York State’s decision not to release data showing students’ performance on Advanced Placement tests, and how much COVID closures boosted support for charter schools and the school choice movements. Listen live weekdays at 11:00 a.m. Eastern on SiriusXM’s Megyn Kelly Channel 111, or on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or other platforms.

00:00 – Opening: Walworth, Cannon, and Bevan discuss New Hampshire’s Senate primaries, where both sides of the aisle are fielding interesting candidates. RCP Average: 2026 New Hampshire Senate – Republican Primary (September 8) RCP Average: 2026 New Hampshire Senate – Democratic Primary (September 8) RCP Average: 2026 New Hampshire Senate Race – Sununu vs. Pappas | Sununu +2 “We talk about border states, and we normally mean the southwestern border,” Carl Cannon said about how the Trump administration is influencing races in New Hampshire. “These states in the north never thought we had to worry about Canada, but Trump has changed that equation… Clearly this is not something Republicans think they needed, a trade war with Canada.” *** 09:15 – “Trump-a-Palooza” in Dallas Tom Bevan reports from Dallas ahead of the unique GOP midterm convention, where President Trump is scheduled to speak both nights. Can this event close the Republican enthusiasm gap, or could a lot of extra focus on Trump energize Democratic opposition? Watch: Night One Of 2026 Republican Midterm Convention In Dallas (Wednesday) “The idea is to give the sort of MAGA base a shot of adrenaline, a shot in the arm here heading down the stretch,” Bevan said. “Midterm elections are typically lower-turnout elections. They are base elections, and right now Republicans are suffering from an enthusiasm gap. Democrats are foaming at the mouth to vote against Trump, while Republicans are a little bit divided.” *** 14:06 – Vance’s 2028 Dress Rehearsal The group speculates about JD Vance’s convention speech as an early preview of a 2028 presidential campaign. “Or maybe it’s a dress rehearsal for when he gives the nominating speech for Marco Rubio or Nikki Haley in 2028,” Cannon said. *** 18:44 – Mamdani’s 9/11 ‘Pen Stunt’ The hosts discuss former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani saying he doesn’t think current Mayor Zohran Mamdani should attend a ceremony for the 25th anniversary of 9/11, criticizing a proclamation written by someone who represented a terrorism defendant. “Is he so tone-deaf that he didn’t understand how this would be perceived, or was it a calculated move?” Walworth asks. “Mamdani has to go… He needs to speak for all of the people,” Cannon said. “Was he trying to send a message or not? I don’t know. But take a step back — 25 years after 3,000 Americans were killed… the demographics of that city have changed. There are probably about as many Muslims now who live in New York as Jews.” *** 28:55 – One Year Without Charlie Kirk Next, commentary about a Turning Point USA memorial at opposition protests planned at Utah Valley University for the one-year anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. “He really was a pretty remarkable guy and deserves to be remembered,” Bevan said about Charlie Kirk. *** 35:40 – New York Hiding School Data? The episode ends with New York’s refusal to provide school performance data to U.S. News & World Report, and what that reveals about teachers’ unions, charter schools, and education reform since COVID. “I think the teachers’ unions understand that charter schools cannot be allowed to flourish and function because if they do, they’ll go from 5% to 15% to 30% to 50%,” Bevan said.

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