El-Sayed's TIGHT Michigan Win, Talarico's Chances, & Tucker Carlson Teases NEW Party, with Halperin

Hey everyone, I'm Megan Kelly. Welcome. to the Megan Kelly Show. We begin with a. political earthquake in the Democratic. Party. Last night Abdul El-Sayed. defeated establishment candidate. Representative Haley Stevens in the. Michigan race. for the Democrat primary. This is for. the US Senate seat out of Michigan. They're trying to figure out who the. Democrat nominee will be to go up. against the Republican nominee who is. now officially Mike Rogers. This is the. race in which we had the weird Chris. Farley lady was down by the river. You.

know, who is saying "I'm going to work. with the Michiganers." That lady, she. lost. But it was actually a much closer. contest than the polls had suggested. The polls had made it look like El-Sayed. was going to crush her by, you know, double digits and it wound up being a. squeaker. Um so there's some cause for. concern amongst Democrats who were just. interested in holding on to this seat. Um cuz this could be this would be a. Republican pick up if Mike Rogers wins.

it. And um. now they have a little reason to worry. because while El-Sayed's popular amongst. Democrats, obviously he just won the. nomination. He is more controversial. than the weird Chris Farley lady and. probably has a better chance of losing. But. by no means is that guaranteed. Um this. is an outsider kind of year. It's really. not a great year for Republicans or at. least expected to be. And so shh, what's.

actually going to happen in November? That's that's anyone's guess right now. We're going to have to watch it. Um so in any event, it looks like it's. official. It was like so close that as. of about 2 hours ago, still multiple. outlets were not calling it. But now the. Associated Press, NBC, CNN, they're all. calling it for El-Sayed. He is a former. health official in Michigan's largest. county. He's 41 years old. He's a Muslim. progressive who is endorsed by AOC and.

the whole squad. Uh Hassan who's this. I don't know how to describe him, controversial very left-wing. podcaster. um as well as Senator Bernie Sanders uh. endorsed him. He's going to take on as I. mentioned Mike Rogers in the general and. um. he Abdul Salah El-Sayed had this to say. last night. Watch. >> And so as folks ask. if and when we win this race, how are. you going.

to beat Mike Rogers and their money? I want you to remind them that if we. come through this, when we come through. this, inshallah. >> [cheering]. >> Speaking Arabic. >> That will have taken $70 million on the. chin and kept fighting back. >> [cheering]. >> Let's come together. to build a movement that's even bigger. That's even stronger. That's even more.

powerful. That reaches into the very depths of. this state. That reminds us the best of who we are. and who we can be. That is the. commitment I want all of us to be making. as we leave here tonight. And so Mike. and I know you're listening, Mike. We are coming for you.

>> El-Sayed sounds quite a bit different. than his. competitor, Haley Stevens, a far more. traditional candidate and. notwithstanding her weirdness, the. favorite of the Democrat establishment. Remember this? >> I am going to be working on our behalf. I am going to be telling the stories on. our behalf. And you better believe I'm. going to be doing when it with a little. bit of joy, a little bit of enthusiasm, a little bit of energy, and a little bit.

of sick it to them. Because that's the. Michigan way. >> Why do all our favorite candidates keep. losing? First, we had to suffer the. defeat of Katie Porter in California, and now this gal goes away in Michigan. All the fun ones get run out of. politics. Um about 80% of the 80 million dollars. $80 million was spent on this race, which is a huge number for a Democratic. primary. Uh about 80% of that went toward helping. that weird lady defeat this guy, but it.

was not enough. Uh she she was just too. weird. I you can't really blame them, can you? You know, it's like, why didn't the. Democrats have somebody who was more. normal to take on this guy El-Sayed if. they really didn't want this one this. one super progressive guy to win? You. should have found somebody who. really didn't remind everyone of Chris. Farley, and not in the best way. Not. that we all love Chris Farley, but you. know, you know what I'm saying. Um again, this guy El-Sayed was said to. have led by over 10 points.

uh in the RealClearPolitics polling. average, and that included polls where. he was way ahead. Um so, look, that didn't wind up being. the case, but what does this say about. the state of now his race against Mike. Rogers and the overall picture. when it comes to blue versus red in. America. We've got the perfect person to. tell us, his name is Mark Halperin. He's. host of Next Up with Mark Halperin on. the MK Media Podcast Network. You should. subscribe right now to get Mark's hot.

takes on all matters uh politics. [music]. Go and subscribe on YouTube and all. podcast platforms at nextuphalperin.com. Don't miss a moment. Subscribe to this. show on YouTube and follow me on Insta, Facebook, and X. When you sign your. insurance policy for some brokers, that's the finish line. Handshake, commission, bye. Then you may not hear. from them again until it's time for. renewal. That's not a real relationship. Your business runs all year, however, and so do the gaps and risk. This is why.

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and genuinely the far left of the. Democrat party, was the choice. You can. see he was more exciting. He was an outsider. He. offered something very different instead. of weird platitudes like she did when it. came to. health care. I mean, he seems much more. willing to go like the Bernie Sanders. route of potentially getting rid of. private health care. And her website, the Wall Street Journal. was just pointing out, it it was really. like, "We need to improve it. We need to do better.

Expand coverage." You know, so if you're. somebody for whom issues like that. matter, he would be very interesting to. you. And he wound up winning. So, if. you're Mike Rogers this morning, how are. you feeling about your new opponent? >> First of all, I'll tell you my chief. concern is if I don't lose a little more. weight, you'll say I'm a little like a. weird Chris Farley. So, that's my That's my top priority now. Um. I I'm going to give you a range of per-. >> accent. It's not the weight. >> Yeah. Um I do. I do wish Chris Farley were still with.

us and not just because he would do a. killer version. >> um of her. Uh I'm going to give you a. varied points of view because in the. last 36 hours, I've gone from saying. that uh this guy would lose to Mike. Rogers to saying he'd be the favorite. against Mike Rogers to now wondering. whether he could actually build a. coalition to win this even in as you. said a very bad year in general for. Republicans. Um. Uh. he won for a lot of reasons. Uh but I think the main reason is found. in the uh very short three-sentence. slogan.

that he repeats nonstop and he will. repeat in the general election. Money. out of politics, money in your pocket, Medicare for all. Uh. people want change and she ran most of. her campaign saying, "I've been voted. the most effective member of Congress.". And I think for a lot of people in the. Democratic Party, uh being the most. effective member of Congress uh doesn't. sound like a good thing. Because. Congress they don't view Congress as. very effective. So, if you're the best. at doing something they think is. horrible, uh that's not very good. Uh.

you need to be an agent of change and. you saw Mike Rogers at the gate this. morning in his first interview since the. nomination saying, "I got to change. Michigan. I'm I'm going to fight to. change." He sounded like he was running. for governor of Michigan. He blamed. everything on Governor Whitmer and the. Democrats who do run the state because. he knows he cannot win saying, "Hey, I. used to be a member of Congress and I. served in the FBI and I know Washington. and I'm I'm rich, so I'm successful.". That's not a winning message in this. cycle. That's not a winning message. I. don't care red, blue, purple. I don't. care house, the Senate, governor. The.

winning candidates for the most part are. going to be people who say, "I'm going. to strap two pieces of dynamite to each. leg. I'm going to go to Washington D.C. or the state capital. I'm going to blow. the place up like you want it blown up. and then we'll figure out what to do. The message Donald Trump ran on in 2016. And so and so I think Mike Rogers is. going to have to diffuse. who the question of who the candidate of. change is, who the candidate of. fundamental radical thorough change is. And if he can do that, I think he's got.

a good chance to win. But this guy is a. talent. Forget his ideology, forget his. position on Israel, forget his position. on on whether he's a socialist or not. He's a talented person. And in politics, like in hosting YouTube programs, talent. usually wins. >> Mhm. Yeah, he was giving Obama vibes. just listening to him there, the way he. was speaking, his affect, his comfort. behind the mic. Um here's just an. example of an AOC ad that was cut for.

him, that'll give you the flavor of what. excited the Michiganders. >> Something special [music] is happening. in Michigan. >> Four wood stops in Detroit. >> Lansing. >> Grand Rapids. >> A new generation of leadership. >> Abdul El-Sayed. >> Helped families out of medical [music]. debt. >> thousands of glasses for kids. >> He's the only candidate who hasn't taken. a corporate paycheck. [music]. >> Billionaires in AIPAC are spending $50. million. to stop Abdul. But they can't stop a. movement. >> Money out of. MONEY IN YOUR.

MEDICARE FOR. >> I'M ABDUL EL-SAYED. I approved this. message to change [music] Washington. >> Mhm. Uh the AIPAC money was a factor. We've. been talking about this on this show and. elsewhere that. he wasn't technically part of DSA, Democratic Socialists for America, and. he didn't officially have their. endorsement. Um but he was aligned in a. lot of their principles. He um. the he shares a lot of their platform as. his platform. And the.

you know, the hatred of. Israeli. influence in American politics is very. real. They don't like Israel, and they. really hate Israel's influence over. American politics. Um. in the certainly in the DSA and and this. guy shares that same view. So, and you. heard them mention of AIPAC money. They. and their affiliated group spent $30. million of that 80 to try to defeat him. It didn't work out, Mark. So, if you're advising Democrats on how not.

to lose the next one, right? Like. how to get a candidate elected who's not. as radical as this guy or DSA candidates. in general, don't you have to tell them you have to. go out against AIPAC, and you certainly. can't take AIPAC money, and you should. not be talking about funding Israel. >> Yeah. Two big of related questions, one. on AIPAC and one on on the future of the. party and their nominees. On AIPAC, they. put out a statement this morning, and.

they don't normally put out any. statements. This basically suggested. they were going to spend money in the. general election, that they were still. determined to stop him. Um I I can't put. a price tag on how much he benefited. from publicizing their spending, but I. bet it's more than worth was worth more. than $30 million to him. than the benefit that she got with the. negative ads against him. Um you know, AIPAC is now like uh Project 20 20 uh of. uh 2020. I'm I'm missing the year. 20 20.

five. >> 2025. >> 2025. Yeah, thank you. 2025. Uh I I when. Democrats told me uh people have heard. of Project 2025. It's a huge issue. It. comes up in focus groups all the time. I. initially was skeptical, but then after. talking to voters and and uh looking at. the research, yeah, so a Heritage. Foundation report that Donald Trump. didn't endorse. uh became a real uh hot button. It. really something really fired people up. AIPAC's the same way. I know what AIPAC.

is, you know what it is, many of your. very well-informed listeners do, but now. a lot of people do. And they associate. it not just with support for Israel. They associate it with what's the. centerpiece of his campaign, rich people, the so-called Epstein class, the the the. millionaires and billionaires. They. spend money in Washington to get their. way and you get screwed. Why do you get. screwed? Because the they spend money. and then your tax dollars go to support. Israel and it doesn't go to building. schools in the United States.

The the AIPAC has become synonymous with. that. And again, Mike Rogers and and. Democrats are going to have to figure. that out. I'll be so curious to see how. many more Democrats after last night. don't take money from AIPAC. Some who. used to no longer do, but many still do. As for the Democrats, I I I I I I fully. see the rise of the socialists and the. socialist-aligned candidates. I fully. see that Bernie Sanders leads the. movement. I fully see uh, that uh, this. is ascendant. At the same time, look at.

the Democratic nominees in in most of. the other Senate races. North Carolina, Governor Cooper. Ohio, former Senator uh, Brown. Uh, these are not socialists. These are. standard issue very progressive. Democrats. So, it's not like this is. happening everywhere. It's happened in. New York City, it's happened in a in a. congressional race in Colorado, it's. happened in Maine. People forget that. uh, uh, Platner's replacement is is. DSA-aligned, Bernie Sanders endorsed as. well.

What's what's uh, what what is the case. about Maine and Michigan is these are. blue or bluish, purplish places. uh, that um, that uh, we'll have to. [music] see if they win the general. election. >> Hey, thanks for watching today's full. episode. If you're new here, throw us a. subscribe. See what you think. Stay in. touch. There's plenty more goodness. where this one came from. As always, we. really do value your feedback. So, email. me, too. megan@megynkelly.com.

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p l i safe.com/megan. Because there's no safe like SimpliSafe. >> I think the Democratic Party, Leslie, I'll say, they're going to finesse this. fight between now and November. Almost. every Democrat's going to endorse Dr. El. Sayed. They're going to play down the. differences. Where there are. differences, they're going to say, "You know, we don't agree on. everything." But come the presidential. cycle that will begin right after the. midterms, this fight will have to be. joined, and a lot of the evidence will. be, "Does Troy Jackson win in Maine?

Does Dr. El-Sayed win in Michigan?" If. those guys win, AIPAC's going to be in a. lot of trouble, and Democrats who don't. want to nominate a socialist for. president are going to be in a lot of. trouble. >> He This guy is radical. There is no. question. >> Yeah. >> by any traditional standard. He's, among. other things, for gender-affirming care. for America's youth. He um has made some. very crazy statements about J.D. Vance.

By the way, he told Detroit Public Radio. in 2020 that defunding police, uh in his. view, means disinvesting in the means of. incarcerating someone or killing them on. the streets and investing more in the. means of educating and empowering, engaging communities with the means of. being able to take on systemic poverty, which sounds like a bunch of. gobbledygook that translates into, yes, defund and focus on poverty, which is.

not the key to fighting crime. It never. has been. Sorry, you have to lock bad. guys up and put more cops out there. That's what works. Um here's what he. said about J.D. Vance and his kids. This. is a refresher for our audience of who. just won the Michigan Democratic. primary, Slotkin. >> He's got brown kids. At some point, he's going to have to. have a really awkward conversation, right? Kids. You're going to be like, you know, like. you made your career. hating people who are. >> brown kids and PR that look like his.

kids. J.D. Vance has brown kids who. thinks he uh he thinks are less American. than everyone else. Like, that's wild to. look at your own kids and be like, you. don't actually belong as much in this. country that I brought you into. >> Okay, that's sick and not representative. at all of where J.D. Vance is on. immigrants, Muslims, uh brown people in. general, etc. And here's one more. This. one did come up a lot during the course. of this campaign, but was not a deal. breaker for Michigan voters on the Dem.

side. It's leaked audio with him urging. silence on the Khamenei death after we. took him out with Israel in uh. uh late February. Stat 7. >> I also want to let you guys that that. there are a lot of people in Dearborn in. war zone today. >> Mhm. >> So, like I just don't want to comment on. who I need to. Khamenei at all. Like I I I don't think. it's worth even touching that. But, like. we have the whole high ground here. I. think the more we stay out of like. they're going to try and bait us into.

saying, "Yeah, but isn't it justified. now that they took him out?". >> Right. >> And I just say say it's just you. And I'm just going to illustrate it but. I feel you guys frankly. I should go out. and vote for our president. I've decided. that he doesn't like the front page. news, so he decides to take us into. another war. >> Okay, so we're not talking about your. run-of-the-mill, you know, interesting. progressive candidate who just wants. more expanded health care. I mean, like. you won't he won't say anything about. the death of Khamenei Khamenei because. people are sad. Okay, I mean, I realize.

that he's he was a beloved figure within. certain pockets of Islam, but um that's. pretty controversial for an American an. American man seeking the U.S. Senate uh. nomination. So, I mean, what are we going to get, Mark? A lot more of these candidates now? Like. which direction is that party going? Because I think even they don't know. >> Well, I'll just I'll break off the. Khamenei stuff cuz I agree with you that. that uh that is not mainstream. That is. not normal. That is not popular. That is. not acceptable by a very large.

percentage. Most of the other things you. cited, and I've been spending a a of. time reporting on this, he is kind of in the mainstream of what. is now a very far left Democratic Party. Most of the things you cited would be. true of lots of members of the Congress. who are Democrats, lots of leaders. >> Gender care for youth. >> Yeah, these are. >> Defund Defunding police, abolishing ICE, I forgot that one. >> ICE, I mean, Troy Jackson's for. abolishing ICE. It's right on his website. So, uh so, he's not a socialist, he's.

invariably not a socialist, he's not a. member of the DSA, and with the some. exceptions that I don't minimize and and. his relationship with Hasan. he he is kind of a mainstream Democrat. now because the party's moved so far. left. Now, that doesn't mean he'll win, it doesn't mean he'll lose against Mike. Rogers. What it does mean is I think uh. we need to be uh uh. uh. meticulous about not defining him as. something that's an aberration. So, when. you say, "What does this mean for the. future of the Democratic Party?" In that.

respect, it's the present of the. Democratic Party. He's a lot like a lot. of Democrats who are already in. Congress. He's a lot like a lot of. Democratic senators who, because of the. ideological change in the party and. because of uh Trump Derangement. Syndrome, they they they're, you know, saying, "We need fewer cops and more. social workers." That's that's. mainstream for the Democratic Party now. And by the way, it's believed by tens of. millions of people. It's not going to. win you a lot of general elections if. that's what it's decided on, but it's. it's it's where the party's gone.

They've gone to be a far left party for. the most part. >> Here's what's crazy in in and it's. underpinning a lot of these Democrat. races, Mark. They're they're getting. ahead, people like this guy, El Sayed, by saying, "We need Medicare for all. That's what we need." And with they. don't mean Medicare for all. Uh they. they what they really mean is Medicaid. for all. >> Yep. >> Because Medicare has a bunch of nice. options that seniors enjoy. You can. upgrade that plan. You don't have to. wait. two days to be seen if you have some.

catastrophic fall here in America as a. senior, that's not a thing here. Um but. it will be if we switch to a Canadian. type system along the lines of what else. I had and some of these other Democrats. want. It's not Medicare for all, it's. Medicaid for all where you have the. lowest rung of coverage and. the the irony of it is. it was the Democrats who switched the. system to Obamacare back in 2010 after. Barack Obama got uh. elected and they put in these enormous.

subsidies to try to make it so that. people didn't feel the pain of that new. system right away and we are just now. getting to the point where Republicans. have said we're we're done paying those. subsidies and the truth of Obamacare is. coming out which is it's enormously. expensive and actually quite unpopular. And now they've gone back to those same. voters to say the system sucks, what we. really need is Medicare for all which. again secretly is Medicaid for all and. without acknowledging you're the ones. who got us into this mess when it comes.

to the health care system. to begin with. >> Um. really well framed. Uh I think some. people use Medicare for all to mean. optional and anybody who wants can be in. a program like Medicare. But some people. as you rightly say mean it as mandatory. single payer health care. There's a. health care crisis in America now. There. has been on a low grade or a higher. grade for decades. The Affordable Care. Act did not solve it as you rightly say. But in Michigan as in most states,

probably all states, all states there's. a health care crisis. People are not. happy with their current coverage and. don't have enough coverage, have too. much out of pocket expenses, have too. many things that aren't covered, high. deductibles. uh high co-pays. and so while uh many Americans look at. that phrase which again it's his core. it's Medicare for all is in his core. phrase. He saw it in the video you. played. money out of politics, money in your. pocket, Medicare for all. I've never seen a candidate this. disciplined, I say parenthetically. He's.

just Yeah, you ask him anything and. they'll tell you those three things. He's. >> smart. >> Yeah. He's He's offering. He's offering something on health care, right? It It's It's It's something a lot. of people don't want, but he's offering. something. Mike Rogers is going to have to offer. something, or he's going to lose on the. question of. >> Well, that's very interesting. Now Now. we're into it, because the the. Republicans don't want to touch this. with a 10-ft pole, because they have no. alternative. >> Correct. That's the problem Mike Rogers.

is. It Because don't count on the. Michigan press corps to say to the guy, "When you say Medicare for all, who's. paying for that? What. How does that How does that interact. with Obamacare? What do you. >> By the way, Medicare for all is. elimination of private insurance. Bernie. Sanders has made that clear. Bernie. Sanders wrote the forward to El Sayed's. book. >> There it and about this issue. Okay? So, it This Medicare for all pie in the sky. really means Medicaid for all, and it.

means you can kiss your private. insurance goodbye. We're Canada. >> Right. So, late primary, right? August, September, October. There's 3 months to. go. If you think the main the Michigan. press corps is going to get this guy to. explain what he means. But for a lot of Michigan voters, Mike. Rogers, like President Trump, like Mike. Johnson, they they're not offering. anything. They're not saying to people. in Michigan We had somebody on two-way. the other day who lives uh near the. Canadian border. She said, "If you want. to have a baby now, because our hospital. closed, if you want to have a baby, you.

got to drive hours hours and hours to. have a baby, okay? I'm not saying it's Donald Trump's. fault. I'm not saying it's the fault of. the Affordable Care Act. There's a lot. of blame to go around. What I'm saying. is, this guy's making part of his core. argument Medicare, which is a very. popular program with a lot of people, even though it's got flaws. This guy's. saying, "I'm a doctor, and I'm going to give everybody. Medicare.". And then you got Mike Rogers saying, "Hummina hummina hummina." So, >> Yeah. >> So, it's a it's a it's an issue and and. and I'd be curious I'm I'm trying to get.

a poll done in Michigan. One of the. questions I want to ask is, "Who do you. trust more to help your family with. healthcare costs, Mike Rogers or Dr. El. Sayed?". And I bet you. that Mike Rogers wouldn't do well on. that question today. >> Yeah, that's right. Well, that's this guy's got the other, you know, veneer of being a doctor. He. has a degree. He has an MD, but he never. completed He's not He's He's not Doesn't. He's not licensed to practice. He didn't. do an internship or a fellowship or any.

of the training you need to become an. attending physician. >> agree he's more of a doctor than Dr. Joe. Biden? Can we agree on that? >> He's more of a doctor than Dr. Jill. So. am I. So, for that matter. I actually. have a Juris Doctorate, which definitely. beats the degree she has. >> [laughter]. >> But, I I don't think the GOP should be. feeling all that comfortable. I actually. think I'd be I'd be a little bit. more worried about this guy than I would. about the weird Haley Stevens. I just. think I know she was more mainstream,

but he's. in a take it for what it's worth a. sexier candidate. >> And he's he's sexier and the candidate. of change in a cycle where. candidate of change is going to beat. experience in most races if that's if. all other things being roughly equal. So, I agree with you. I think she I. think she would have struggled against. Mike Rogers because. she's a Washington creature of. Washington. Being a creature of. Washington is not unvogue. >> Um here's a little bit what I mentioned.

Katie Porter earlier. It's very sad both. she and Haley Stevens are gone. Here's. one uh clip that marries the two. together. Mark, my team gives me what I. want. Here it is. >> Yeah, I mean I think you saw so much. enthusiasm on the internet for Abdul El. Sayed. He's very charismatic. Um he's. been running a podcast. He's let's face. it, he's good looking. He's he's. enthusiastic. He's new to he's new in. office. You know, Katie Porter has been. in Congress eight years and she's being. styled here. She started with me and. she's being styled here as the the. establishment like career politician.

Um, and so I think you know, you saw a. lot of enthusiasm about El Sayed as a. new voice and that is I think good for. the Democratic Party. >> Okay, she did she thinks he's good. looking Mark. She I I didn't mean sexy. physically, but I think Katie Porter. would say that maybe that way. >> Yeah. Uh, she that seemed to have a little. extra verb on that on that rhetorical. point. >> [laughter]. >> I mean, this is the mindset. Katie. Porter's of the establishment even.

though she would tell you she's an. outsider. This is the mindset. She says. she's not a Washington insider. She's. only been in Congress for eight years. That that's [laughter] the mindset of. the Democratic establishment. The the. question I keep asking people in the. establishment and I asked this when I. asked the Republican establishment in. 2016 and 2017. Don't don't be so angry. at the outsider who won. Don't don't make excuses. Jab was a bad. candidate. Uh, uh, uh, Haley Stevens is a bad candidate. Ask yourself why.

in a in a in a job interview with the. voters, the the one with no experience. is winning. They're not winning despite. having no experience. They're winning because they have no. experience. And for for for Katie Porter. to say, "Oh, she's not a Washington. insider, only eight years." That's the. mindset of the establishment and that's. why the Democrats don't quite. understand. Even as they embrace El. Sayed today and say, "Yeah, we're all. for him." They don't really understand. why he won. >> Well, even last night on CNN, there was.

a debate between Axelrod and uh, Van. Jones about the AIPAC issue. And you like I can't believe Van Jones. is still holding on it cuz like the. Republican Party is still pro-Israel by. the numbers, though far less than it. used to be. But the Democrat Party has. entirely turned on Israel, so have the. independents. I was actually surprised. to hear Van Jones holding on to the. vestiges of how they used to be, you. know, 15 years ago." Axelrod, I think, has got his finger on the pulse, and.

here it's embodied in the following. exchange. Let's watch. >> Uh it's a legitimate question. Should a. Should essentially an agent of any. foreign government, whether it's Israel. or any other, be able to spend uh or is. it healthy for them to spend $30 million. in a race like this to influence. uh the outcome of that race? I think. that's that's a legitimate issue. >> I don't think that they're an agent of. foreign power. I think they're American. Jews, as you said. >> Their mission is to support the policies.

of the Israeli government. >> Well, I think their issue is to protect. um Israel, but. >> Why is AIPAC so mad? This guy is saying. that the United States government can't. even sell defensive. weapons to Israel, which would make. Israel completely defenseless. Now, that. would be a reason for a group of people. who cares about Israelis to say this is. not our guy. >> Mhm. >> Get Van a yarmulke. >> like. Yeah, that that issue is settled in. their party. I'm not sure why they're. still arguing over it because it if I.

were a Democrat who wanted to continue. to win in any state, the first thing I'd. say, if I were in chief of all. Democrats, the first thing I would tell. them is you cannot take any AIPAC money. You should not talk about Israel on the. campaign trail. If the question is put. directly to you, you should say, "We've. given them enough. They They say. themselves that they can stand on their. own two feet, and they should be allowed. to." You will not get elected as a. Democrat nine times out of 10 if you. don't say those things in 2026 America. Am I wrong? >> You're not wrong in the current.

environment, and you saw that with Joe. Biden, very pro-Israel Democrat for. decades, uh when he was running for. president, uh he was doing everything he. could to avoid supporting Netanyahu. publicly. And when he felt compelled to. and did after Jan after October 7th, he was he he got a huge blowback. Huge. blowback. That's after October 7th. So, you're. absolutely right. And I think again in. this in this period from now to. November, that will be finessed. The.

the the anti-Israel position will be the. dominant position. >> The primaries are almost over. >> Mhm. >> But after that in the presidential. context, someone like Josh Shapiro, governor. Pennsylvania, some presidential. candidate is going to draw a line in the. sand on this. Not all the way back to. where it used to be. Probably not. celebrating AIPAC, but still being a. defender of Israel. And and and I think. it's it's it's the JD Vance position. JD. Vance with with with. his interview Joe with Joe Rogan uh.

said, "I'm the moderate on this. I'm not. I'm not reflexively pro-Israel. I'm not. reflexively anti-Israel. I'm for what's. in the interest of the United States, which is. that position. Being aligned with Israel. when it's in the interest of the United. States and supporting a long time ally. I think some Democrat can move the party. back there, but not all the way back. And I'll be curious AIPAC has a big. annual fundraiser. I'll be curious to. see how many Democrats go to that thing. when it comes up. >> Mhm. I don't I feel like JD Vance.

he's he's basically going to say, "We like Israel, but we're keeping. Israel at arm's length. We don't do Israel's bidding." Which is. which is different than where Trump is. and. even where the Republican Party used to. be. There is We've mentioned this guy Hasan. a lot. I don't think a lot of our. audience. knows or consumes Hasan content, but he is. pretty radical. in his leftism and really seems to me.

like straight out of the DSA playbook. Uh But he's been a leader on a lot of. these issues over on the in the Democrat. Party and he got out there last night in. his live stream and went off on. El-Sayed's detractors. Take a listen to. stop five. >> Like everyone being like Abdul has a. ton of work to do mending bridges. Here's the take nuke for you, okay? You are all unbelievably. Islamophobic pieces of okay?

[laughter] You literally called the dude. a terrorist for months on end. and like called him a sexist, misogynist, terrorist, bad candidate, doesn't fake doctor when he has like two. degrees and now you're going to. sit there and be like, well, you know, you really got to come to me now. Like. what are you talking about? Do you want. to win or not? Lock the in, okay? Lock the in. That guy has a That guy has a favorite. word. Definitely has a favorite word.

>> Colorful commentary there, Mark, but. does he have a point that like now going. forward El-Sayed doesn't have to reach. out to the Haley Stevens voters that if. they want to defeat Donald Trump, they. really have no other option and they. need to get in line notwithstanding all. the terrible things they said about this. guy. >> Not if they want to win the general. election. Having this guy, he hung out with him. the day before the election on Monday. He had him at his victory party last. night. This would be like a Barack Obama. having Reverend Wright do the.

benediction at his convention in 2008. This guy is bad news and many of the. people in the Democratic Party who have. swallowed hard and endorsed Dr. El-Sayed. today. are expecting him to distance himself. from going forward. It doesn't. look to me like he will and I have to. say you're right, a lot of people don't. know who he is. I've only learned who he. is in the last year or two, but I would. say if he does not distance himself from. this guy or at least cut off his. physical presence. I really do think it. will meaningfully impact his chances of.

winning against Mike Rogers. This This. guy is It's not just a hot button. He's. not just a symbol. He He espouses things. that are far more out of the mainstream. than his friend. the doctor. >> America deserved 9/11. >> yeah. So, I'll be curious to see, like. literally, how many days are there till. the election? There's like 88 or. something. I want to know how many of. those 88 days, or whatever it is, he. spends the two of them spend together. Cuz I've a funny feeling it's going to. be more than the traffic will bear for a.

lot of Democrats and independents. >> Mhm. Uh well, there is a response here on the. question of unity by Dr. Dr. Abdul. El-Sayed. It just He just posted it. Um. Haley Stevens had posted, "I love. Michigan. I'm so proud to have put up my. hand to serve. I spoke with Abdul a few. moments ago to offer him my full support. as we work to defeat Mike Rogers this. November." Sayed responded, "Putting. your hand up to participate in democracy. is no easy thing. Thanks for running, Congresswoman. Looking forward to. uniting this fall to beat Mike Rogers.

because what unites us is so much bigger. than what divides us." So, there it is, the olive branch to the. um Haley Stevens crew. Now, I I want to. I want to get to. what's happening on on the Republican. side, too, with this meeting with. Tucker, Marjorie Taylor Greene. But let. let let me just put that over to the. side for 1 second because, while we're. on the subject of. um what's going to happen in November. with these. what what may seem like pretty far out. there candidates to us. against what seem like, you know,

winnable Republican races. Um. the Ken Paxton James Talarico race down. in Texas, I would say is causing some concern. within Republican circles right now. because. not only is it tight, but the last the. latest three polls show Talarico winning. over Ken Paxton. Now, this could be. fool's gold, you know, just like Beto. O'Rourke thought he could beat Ted Cruz, but he never did.

But Harry Enten, um everyone's favorite. data analyst over on CNN, is pointing. out that Ted Cruz was in a very. different position than um. than than Ken Paxton is. Um he's. actually a lot. he was better better positioned, he was. better liked. Uh Harry Enten is pointing. out Ted Cruz, who's like kind of. infamous for not being that well liked. I like him, but very few others do. >> [laughter]. >> And uh. he was pulling much better on the. favorability scale than Ken Paxton,

who's had a lot of scandals down in. Texas. And I have to ask you, Mark, what you. think because while the betting markets, Polymarket, and Kalshi still have Paxton. eking out a win in this race, the last. three polls that to come out down there. show Talarico ahead of the Republican. Ken Paxton. Whoa. What do you make of. it? >> I'm second to no political analyst for. the last 20 years in laughing at. Democrats wasting money trying to win. races in Texas. I have been consistent.

in looking at the demographics and. saying, "Maybe someday, but not now.". Because of the climate, because of how. unpopular President Trump is, and because of Ken Paxton's. unpopularity, if the election were held. today, I believe Talarico would win. But that's true of a lot of other races. It's true in Ohio, Alaska, Iowa. Uh. the the Republican Party's going to have. to turn this around. If they turn around. Texas, uh. they which they can, uh Paxton will win.

But they have to turn it around, and. Paxton's having trouble raising money. Talarico is not. And I'll say this, the. the biggest single variable that we. don't know the answer to, which will. determine whether Ken Paxton can come. back and win, cuz it's not just public. media polls, private Republican polls. show him behind. Is this, Republicans. will have a greater money advantage in. this election than any election in. American history, a midterm election in. American history. I believe their their. advantage, not their total money, will.

be over a billion and a half dollars. And so, they're. >> about beyond Texas here. You're talking. about midterms. >> and a half. Some of that will go to. Texas. And and Paxton will take the. money and his supporters and they'll. spend it and they'll say, "Do you want common sense or do you want. a communist? Do you want common sense or do you want. kooky?". And. if they can do that and turn things. around, they'll win. But, they must. execute. In other words, on the current. trajectory, as as as as long as it's.

been since a Democrat has won a. statewide race in Texas, as much as. Talarico has said many things that would. in a normal cycle disqualify him for. Texas voters. >> Yes. >> He will win unless the Republicans can. change the current trajectory of the. race. And that's true in a lot of other. races right now too. >> That's stunning. >> It is. And again, I'm not I you can go. check my record. I have There's not been. a single cycle, presidential or or. midterm, where I have given Democrats a. chance to win a statewide race in Texas.

Not a chance. What wasn't even open to. it. But, it's happening now unless the. Republicans fix it. >> So, Engine gets into I have two. soundbites from him that I want I want. to play both. Here he is, uh, first of. all, on why Ted Cruz was pulling better, um, versus Ken Paxton now. This is sound 20. >> So, 26 different than 2018. Ted Cruz, again, who won, but it was very, very. close. >> less than three points. >> Ted Cruz different than Paxton? >> How was Ted Cruz different than Ken.

Paxton? Simply put, Ted Cruz is popular, Ken Paxton is not popular at all. That. is, I think, one of the biggest. differences in this race. Take a look. here, the GOP nominee's net. favorability. In July of 2018, Ted Cruz. was eight points above water. His. favorable was eight points above his. unfavorable rating. Look at this side of. the screen. Very different indeed. Ken. Paxton six points underwater with get. this among independents 47 points. underwater. No wonder no wonder that. you're seeing major issues for Ken.

Paxton in this race so far. >> It's the independents. So the. Republicans pushed. Paxton through. They were over John. Cornyn for a bunch of reasons. They. thought he was kind of a rhino, you. know, type. And John Thune and others of. the establishment said don't do this. This you're going to cost us so much. money down in Texas if you get rid of. Cornyn. But they did it and I understand. why they did it, but. the independents are the ones who John. Thune was thinking about. Here's just a.

little bit more from Harry Enten on. them. Sat 19. >> The polling is different. The polling is. different. This is the best looking. polling for Democrats in the Senate race. since really the 20th century. You're. going to have to go back probably to. late '80s the last time they won a. Senate race out there when it was Lloyd. Bentsen winning in 1988 because just. take a look here. This polling looks so. much different than it did eight years. ago. You take a look here James Talarico. in the latest poll against Ken Paxton. He's actually up by three points. Look. at where the race was between Beto.

O'Rourke and Ted Cruz at this point in. the 2018 cycle. Ted Cruz was ahead by. six. This is very different. The. Democrat here is doing nine points. better and what is supercharging look at. this. Independents move from tie to plus. 39 points for James Talarico. Independents the name of the game. shifting significantly to the left camp. and supercharging James Talarico. It. could be real. Every single time I look. at the poll I'm going this can't be. right. This could be very very real. Democrats have a real shot in Texas.

>> Okay, so you agree with that? >> But can you explain how because I know. Ken Paxton has scandals, but James. Talarico thinks God is non-binary. He's. a vegan, even though he claims he's not. a vegan, but he clearly was a vegan up. until very recently. He's said some. bizarre things about trans kids and so. on. Like, how would Texas vote that guy. into the US Senate? >> It's a great question. This is another.

another thing I want to do is a focus. group in Texas amongst. regular independent independents who. regularly vote Republican and why. they're voting for Talarico or open to. him because I don't really understand. how they're. setting aside. all those things cuz they know about all. those things cuz there's already been. money spent on television to tell them. those things. I can't really answer the. question for you how they're setting. them aside except by saying this. The. very reason as you laid out that the. Paxton at the Cornyn folks said, "Don't. nominate this guy.".

are all true. He has won statewide. races, but since he's won statewide. races, he's done a lot of things that. are morally challenged, ethically. questionable, and he's not handling that. well. He's his dealings with the press. have been awkward. He's clearly. uncomfortable. He's also continues. apparently to do things in his personal. life that he allows TMZ to take pictures. of that are just part of why he's got. trouble. And I will say Democrats even.

in Texas, Democrats normally do better. with women than Republicans do with. female voters. I think the gender gap in this in this. race will be massive because a lot of. the things people don't like about Ken. Paxton, a lot of women and moderate. independents, moderate Republican women. do not like about the guy. I know that. from lots of friends in Texas. So, Ken Paxton needs a comeback. This is not. a case of coasting. This is not a case. of well, the Republican always wins in. the end. If they're going to hold that. seat, they need a comeback, and he's going to.

have to raise more money, and he's going. to have to figure out a way to make the. race more about Tal Reco than it is. about him. >> Oh my lord. I mean, that is just that is. that is some bad ass news, but it's only. August what? 4th, 5th today? So, there. is some time. I do want to point out. that Corey Bush was defeated. So, that's. some good news that came out last night. She tried to make a comeback for her. state her her seat in St. Louis, Missouri. She was defeated by. Representative Wesley Bell. They were.

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consider. All right? Check it out for. yourself by texting MK to 989898. I do want to ask you about what's. happening on team red because. it was. one of those things everybody was like, "What What's that?" On the internet, MTG. put out a picture of Marjorie Taylor. Greene, uh Joe Kent, Tucker, uh and who was the other one? Oh, Thomas. Massie, meeting at Tucker's home. And. clearly they were discussing what to do. about Republican politics and whether.

there should be a new party. And we know. that now because Joe Kent went on Piers. Morgan, among other places like The. Young Turks, and said the following, sought 21. >> You know, things are in the initial. phases right now, but there is a growing. consensus on I think both the right and. the left of people who are sick and. tired of the Republican Party. They're. sick and tired of the Democrat Party. They want us out of these foolish wars. that we're just sitting here talking. about right now. Most Americans have no. idea what we're talking about. They. don't know about Gaza. They don't know. about the Straits of Hormuz. They just.

know that billions of their taxpayer. dollars, their blood, their treasure, their sons and their daughters continue. to get sent overseas. Our best and. brightest get killed. Our taxpayer. dollars get spent over there while. things continue to decay here in. America. And so, what we're trying to do. is just build a coalition of people who. say we're finally going to put. first. We're not going to focus on the. next foreign war. We're not going to. listen to foreign lobbies like AIPAC and. like the Israelis. We're going to focus. on the issues that matter here to the. American people. >> Just to be clear though, before we we we.

close things, could this involve establishing a new. party? >> Look, it certainly could. I mean, if you. talk to most Americans out there, they're sick of the Republican Party. They're sick of the Democratic Party. They do want something that actually. represents their interests. >> It absolutely could involve a new party. A party called America First is. reportedly the consideration. And he. also said that they all urged Tucker to. run as the candidate. And on top of.

that, when asked by Cenk Uygur of The. Young Turks, what would this mean for. J.D. Vance? He basically said, we like. him, but he's too tainted. He supported. the Iran war. And no. So, I'm very. interested in what you think this. would mean. Like, what what would it. mean for the Republican Party? >> Um. Well, Tucker's as likely to run for. president as I am to move to India and. start my cricket career. I just don't think it's going to happen. I just.

I just. >> don't think he Well, he might do it as a. lark, but it but as a credible campaign, I don't believe it. I don't believe the. support's there for it. >> to tell you, I disagree. I I haven't. talked to him directly about it, but. >> What would the. >> I believe Tucker's so disgusted and the, you know, the neocons and what's. happened within the Republican Party. that for the first time he actually. would consider it. >> I just I just don't see a practical base. of support. There There There's tens of. millions of people who who like that. point of view of that group, but it's. not enough to overcome the obstacles to.

a a path to a presidency either within. the Republican Party or starting a third. party. I spent a lot of time on this and. starting a third party is is nearly. impossible in our system. It takes a lot. a lot of stuff that that group doesn't. have sitting around Tucker's house. chatting in flannel. Um. >> I should point out that there he's. making an announcement about it live on. his YouTube feed tonight at 6:00 p.m. So, we'll learn more, but what what.

would it do, Mark, because. let's say that is 10 to 20 million votes. that you know, people who are very. anti-the Iran war and just the. neocon hawkish nature of the Republican. Party even after 20 years of war. I mean, that. that actually could be a problem. All. right, if the Republican Party no party. can afford to lose that many voters in a. general election. >> Yeah. Getting ballot access is really. difficult. Determining a process by which you.

select your nominee is really difficult. So, if if magically they could be on the. general election ballot and in the. debates, yeah, that'd be doomed for the. Republican Party. Doomed. I mean, unequivocal. >> can get in the debates. >> No. >> They can get in the debate. I mean, why not? The. The Commission on Presidential Debates. no longer runs the thing. Trump put an. end to that. >> Right. And the Republican nominee would. no sooner step on the debate stage than. they would eat a bag of tacks. They're just not They're just not going. to let [laughter] them They're just not.

going to let them in the debates. If If. the commission wouldn't let them in the. debates unless they met some threshold. And if the commission's not in doing it. and we don't really know if the. commission's doing it or not. I They. They've They've They've had some bad. cycles here, but they may come back. But. if they don't, no Republican. presidential nominee is going to agree. to debate Tucker. They're just not. In. addition, I'll just say regarding. Tucker, uh. whatever other variables there are, if. J.D. Vance is a Republican nominee, Tucker's not going to stop him. So, I just don't see it. In terms of.

what that group represents, uh they have. a lot of grievance. I know they're. against a lot of stuff, but I don't. really know what they're for. And again, you don't start a political party. without standing for something. So, mark me down as. >> more tonight at 6:00. >> Mark me down as skeptical that Tucker. wants to give up the great life he has. now for a fool's errand. Skeptical. >> we'll know soon enough, and if uh. >> if you're If you're right, we'll rerun. the clip. >> Well, he might say He might say he's. doing something, but I don't think he'll. follow through.

How's that? >> I just I mean, I think you're. underestimating the extent of his. disgust in what's happened within the. Republican Party. >> like I don't like the new season. >> It would be altruistic on his part. >> [laughter]. >> You don't have true disgust. I mean, talk to the people about the last. episode and season of Game of Thrones. It's that level disgust, Mark Halperin.