Friday on the RealClearPolitics podcast, Tom Bevan, Andrew Walworth, and Carl Cannon discuss the latest developments in U.S. negotiations with Iran, the administration’s increasingly religious framing of the conflict, and two setbacks for the president in Congress that raise questions about how much control he still has over House Republicans. They also look at reports that Gov. Gavin Newsom is the number one buyer of his book, another possible sex scandal brewing among House Democrats, and Saudi Arabia backing out of its sponsorship for the LIV golf tournament. Plus, is the “Arc de Trump” in Arlington really happening? And our weekly 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 latest developments in the U.S. war with Iran, as President Trump announces the Strait of Hormuz is “open” and Secretary Pete Hegseth gets biblical while criticizing the media’s portrayal of the war. “This could be the jiu-jitsu move of all time, Trump initiating this blockade and basically making Iran come to the table and cry uncle,” Tom Bevan said. Watch: Hegseth: “Our Press Are Just Like The Pharisees,” Your Hatred For Trump Blinds You To “Miraculous” War Success “The Pharisees were the people in power — they weren’t the scribes,” Carl Cannon commented. “Journalism is a secular profession, and until recently, so was being Secretary of Defense.” *** At minute 9:30, the panel turns to two recent developments on Capitol Hill, where Republicans were unable to reauthorize FISA surveillance or continue the deportation of Haitian refugees. Is Trump’s power over the Republican caucus waning? “It’s a reflection of the fact that there are such slim margins in the House that it only takes a couple to scuttle things–it only took three to block the FISA reauthorization,” Tom Bevan said. *** At minute 16, the group laughs at Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has apparently spent more than $ 1.5 million in campaign funds buying up extra copies of his own book. That accounts for two-thirds of his total sales… “The New York Times wrote this story, and I guess they think it’s maybe-would you say gaming the system a little bit for the Times bestseller list?” Carl Cannon said. “Remember, 30,000 gets you on the bestseller list.” “His donors are paying for it!” Bevan quipped. “It’s not quite the Quality Learing Center, but it’s close.” *** At minute 26, Florida GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is accusing Sen. Ruben Gallego, the “self-proclaimed best friend” of recently disgraced Rep. Eric Swalwell, of a similar scandal. Gallego calls it a “fringe right-wing conspiracy theory.” “At the end of the day, this stuff almost always comes out into full light,” Bevan said. “I have a feeling this is not going to end well for him. He looked like a deer in the headlights the other day.” Watch: Sen. Gallego on Swalwell: I Had No Knowledge Of Sexual Assault, Friendship “Clouded My Judgment” “Let’s be precise here, in what we’re talking about. Eric Swalwell is not being accused of being a player, to use a word from another generation. He’s accused of being a predator,” Cannon said. “If you’re going to accuse him of wrongdoing in the context of Eric Swalwell, you’re accusing him of preying on younger staff members — drugging and raping.” *** At minute 32, the panel discusses President Trump’s apparently-real plans for a 250-foot arch on the Virginia side of the Potomac near the Lincoln Memorial, and the Saudi government is planning to pull support for the LIV golf tournament “It’s a monstrosity,” Carl Cannon declared. “Dogs piss on fire hydrants, and we don’t blame them because they’re dogs, but I don’t know what Trump is trying to do here.” “They were spending a lot on this golf league — $ 5 billion can buy a lot of drones,” he added. *** Finally, 43 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 daily radio show – subscribe at Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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