Practically Political

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, Kurt Bardella
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

Pragmatism is Patriotism. The goal of Practically Political is to engage and motivate citizens who are fact- and issue-oriented, invite conversation, respect differences of opinion, believe in compromise and put sound policy before partisanship. Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat or Independent, if your bottom line is to get our government working again to serve the best interests of all Americans, then please join us in making our voices heard. This is not the time to give into hopelessness, anger or despair; it’s a critical opportunity to redefine what democracy really means.

  1. 5d ago

    California Primaries, FISA Reauthorization, and Media Bias

    Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, and Kurt Bardella break down the latest California primary results, the ongoing debate over election counting, and what the results mean for Steve Hilton, Spencer Pratt, and the upcoming runoff races. The conversation then turns to FISA reauthorization, the debate surrounding Section 702, and President Trump's decision to appoint Bill Pulte as acting Director of National Intelligence. The trio discusses congressional opposition, intelligence oversight, and whether lawmakers can reach an agreement before the current authorization expires. Later in the episode, the trio brings back "Grade the Bias," reviewing media coverage of California election investigations, immigration policy and Donald Trump's recent Meet the Press interview. Topics Discussed: 0:56 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast 1:44 California Primary Results and Election Counting Debate 15:11 FISA Reauthorization and Bill Pulte's DNI Role 22:07 Grade the Bias: California Election Headlines 25:17 Grade the Bias: Immigration and Sanctuary Cities 27:18 Grade the Bias: Trump Walks off Meet the Press Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

    32 min

  2. Jun 3

    Iran Negotiations, Ken Paxton, and California Politics

    The conversation then turns to America 250, including the plans for the UFC event at the White House, artists backing out of scheduled performances, and the political controversy surrounding the festivities. The group also discusses Ken Paxton’s decisive victory over John Cornyn in the Texas Senate primary, James Talarico’s potential in a statewide race, whether Democrats can make the race competitive in 2026, and the outlook for several key races. Finally, the trio examines California’s governor and Los Angeles mayoral races, including the crowded gubernatorial field, Steve Hilton’s chances of advancing, and celebrity candidate Spencer Pratt’s bid for mayor. 0:52 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast 2:52 Will Trump Get an Iran Deal? 12:03 America 250, UFC, and the White House 18:32 What Ken Paxton's Win Means for Republicans 24:52 Graham Platner, Susan Collins, and 2026 Senate Races 30:23 California Governor and Los Angeles Mayor Races Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

    34 min

  3. May 29

    Latino Voters, Texas and California Politics, and America’s Political Realignment

    Dave Spencer and Kurt Bardella are joined by political strategist Mike Madrid for a special episode breaking down Latino voter shifts, the growing volatility in Texas and California politics, and why both parties are struggling to connect with frustrated voters heading into the midterms. In this episode, the group discusses whether Texas is becoming more competitive than Republicans want to admit, how tariffs and rising costs are reshaping Latino voter sentiment, and why Mike Madrid believes both parties are struggling to understand where voters are politically right now. They also discuss Ken Paxton’s political rise, whether James Talarico could emerge as a serious statewide Democratic contender, and how Trump may have damaged Republican momentum with working-class Latino voters. The conversation then turns to California politics, including the governor’s race, Gavin Newsom’s political future, and whether Democrats are struggling to define what the party stands for beyond opposition to Trump. Mike Madrid also explains why populism continues reshaping American politics and why he believes the country’s political realignment is far from over. 1:26 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast – Special Episode 2:14 Mike Madrid on Why Texas Is Back in Play 5:29 Latino Voters, Tariffs, and Trump’s Economic Problem 16:13 James Talarico and the Texas Senate Race 19:24 California’s Governor Race and the Democratic Identity Crisis 25:37 Gavin Newsom, California, and the Democratic Future Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

    29 min

  4. May 27

    Trump’s $1.776 Billion Slush Fund, Ken Paxton, and the DNC Autopsy

    Dave Spencer and Kurt Bardella are joined by special co-host Carrie Sheffield to break down the growing backlash to Trump’s proposed $1.776 billion fund, the political fallout surrounding Ken Paxton’s rise inside the Republican Party, and the debate over what Democrats still are not learning from the 2024 election. Is anything in this inferred or not true or does it sound like AI: In this episode, the group debates conservative distrust of the DOJ and FBI, whether Trump’s endorsement of Ken Paxton is creating new divisions inside the Republican Party, and why Trump’s indictments may have strengthened his support with the Republican base. They also discuss congressional gridlock, the filibuster, rising energy prices, and whether Republican divisions are making Trump’s agenda harder to move through Congress. The conversation then turns to the DNC “autopsy” report, including rare agreement between Dave, Kurt, and Carrie over criticism of Democratic leadership and messaging. They also debate whether Democrats are honestly addressing mistakes like Biden staying in the race too long that contributed to Trump’s return to the White House. Topics Discussed:  0:00 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast 1:07 Trump’s $1.776 Billion Fund 8:32 Why Trump’s Base Distrusts the DOJ 12:04 Trump, Paxton, and Republican Infighting 17:40 Congressional Gridlock and Trump’s Agenda 18:59 The DNC Autopsy and Democratic Strategy Practically Political releases new episodes weekly, featuring debate and conversation from voices across politics.

    25 min

  5. May 20

    Gas Prices, Redistricting Battles, and the Democratic Fight for Working-Class Voters

    Dave Spencer and co-hosts Kurt Bardella and Ashley Davis are joined by Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha to break down the latest redistricting battles, rising gas prices, shifting voter trends, and the growing frustration voters are feeling heading into the midterms.  In this episode, the group debates whether Texas redistricting could backfire for Republicans, how Latino voters are responding to the economy and immigration politics, and why both parties are struggling to connect with working-class voters frustrated over rising costs. The conversation also looks at why voters continue looking for something different and whether Democrats are learning the wrong lessons from recent election wins. They also discuss Donald Trump’s latest comments on the economy, the political risks surrounding rising gas prices, and whether Trump’s trip to China accomplished anything meaningful for American voters. The episode includes a broader conversation about energy prices, foreign policy, Cuba’s growing crisis, and speculation around Kash Patel’s future at the FBI. Later in the episode, Chuck Rocha shares his perspective on California’s governor race, the future of the Democratic Party, and why he believes Democrats need to reconnect with working-class voters before 2028. Topics Discussed:  0:00 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast 0:37 Political Gaffes and Trump’s Economic Comments 4:35 Trump’s China Trip and Rising Gas Prices 8:37 Cuba’s Energy Crisis and Marco Rubio 11:02 Kash Patel, SNL, and FBI Speculation 12:25 Prediction: Will Kash Patel Survive the Midterms? 14:30: Chuck Rocha on Redistricting, Texas Politics and Working-Class Voters 21:38: Who Wins the Texas Senate Primary? 27:08 Are Voters Looking for Something Different? 30:37 California’s Governor Race and the Jungle Primary 34:52 Chuck Rocha on What Democrats Need to Change Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Subscribe for more conversations on the biggest stories shaping politics.

    37 min

  6. May 13

    Gas Prices, Kash Patel, and the Growing 2028 Republican Fight

    Dave Spencer and co-hosts Kurt Bardella and Ashley Davis break down the latest battles over redistricting, rising gas prices, growing questions around Kash Patel’s future at the FBI, and the early conversations shaping the 2028 presidential race. In this episode, the trio debates the fallout from Virginia’s overturned redistricting initiative, whether Donald Trump is tightening his grip on the Republican Party, and what the latest court rulings could mean for control of Congress heading into the midterms. They also discuss rising gas prices, frustration from voters, and whether the White House can avoid political damage if prices continue climbing through the summer. The conversation includes predictions on whether gas prices could reach $5 a gallon and what that could mean politically as we head into the midterms. The discussion then turns to Kash Patel, including controversy around polygraphs inside the FBI and growing speculation about whether he remains politically secure through the election cycle. Finally, the trio debates Spencer Pratt’s surprise emergence in California politics, the state of California’s governor race, whether Tucker Carlson is positioning himself for a presidential run, and the broader Republican conversation around 2028 involving JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and Donald Trump. Topics Discussed:  0:00 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast 1:39 Redistricting Chaos and the Fight for Control 8:17 Gas Prices and Voter Frustration 13:10 Prediction: Will Gas Prices Reach $5 by Summer 15:05 Kash Patel, Polygraphs, and FBI Turmoil 17:16 Spencer Pratt and California’s Unpredictable Governor Race 21:53 Prediction: Will Tucker Carlson Run in 2028? 23:37 The Republican Fight for 2028 Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Make sure to like and subscribe.

    29 min

  7. Apr 29

    White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting, Gun Policy, and Political Fallout

    Dave Spencer and co-hosts Kurt Bardella and Ashley Davis break down the fallout from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting and what it says about security, the political response, and whether anything in Washington will actually change. You’ll hear firsthand from Ashley, who was at the event and seated with FBI Director Kash Patel, including why even the highest-profile gatherings have real security limits and why moments like this rarely lead to lasting shifts in behavior or policy. They also dig into the broader gun policy debate, including why past tragedies have failed to move legislation and what it would actually take for Congress to act. The conversation then turns to the Trump cabinet, including whether Kash Patel can hold on to his role and who could be out by Labor Day as pressure builds around the economy, foreign policy, and public opinion. Finally, they discuss the latest redistricting battles across key states, and whether late-stage efforts to redraw maps will backfire and what that could mean for control of Congress heading into the midterms. Topics Discussed:  0:00 Welcome to the Practically Political Podcast 1:20 White House Correspondents Dinner Shooting 16:23 Will This Change Anything on Gun Policy? 17:29 Prediction: Who Could Actually Pass Gun Control? 19:50 Will This Change Anything in Washington? 21:32 How long will Kash Patel Survive in Trump’s Cabinet? 23:37 Prediction: A Cabinet Member Will Be Gone by Labor Day 26:18 Redistricting Battles and the Fight for Control Practically Political releases new episodes weekly. Follow along, or as Kurt would say, make sure to like and subscribe.

    31 min

  8. Apr 22

    Scandal, Power, and a Week of Political Fallout

    Dave Spencer, Kurt Bardella, and Ashley Davis break down a week of major political fallout, from Eric Swalwell’s exit to broader questions about misconduct, power, and accountability in Washington. In this episode, the trio discusses how the Swalwell controversy is playing out, whether Congress needs stronger independent oversight, and what it reveals about power and accountability in politics and the workplace. They also debate whether Donald Trump’s recent comments and actions have crossed a line and how his base is reacting. The conversation then turns to JD Vance’s evolving role on the global stage, the implications of Orbán’s defeat, and what it says about voter frustration and political leadership. It also touches on the economy, including tensions around Jerome Powell, tariffs, and whether political distractions are overshadowing the issues voters care about most. Finally, the trio brings back their “Grade the Bias” segment, breaking down how major media outlets are covering the biggest headlines. Topics covered 0:00 Eric Swalwell and the Fallout 2:15: Power, Politics, and Misconduct in Washington 9:00 Should Congress Have an Independent Ethics Watchdog? 10:50 Has Trump Gone Too Far This Time? 14:28 Vance, Faith, and Political Risk? 16:20 What Orban’s Loss Means for the U.S. 21:11 Grade the Bias The Practically Political podcast brings together top strategists from both sides to break down the biggest stories shaping politics.

    33 min
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About

Pragmatism is Patriotism. The goal of Practically Political is to engage and motivate citizens who are fact- and issue-oriented, invite conversation, respect differences of opinion, believe in compromise and put sound policy before partisanship. Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat or Independent, if your bottom line is to get our government working again to serve the best interests of all Americans, then please join us in making our voices heard. This is not the time to give into hopelessness, anger or despair; it’s a critical opportunity to redefine what democracy really means.

Information

  • Creator
    Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, Kurt Bardella
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    130
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Practically Political

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