The episode opens with Abdul El-Sayed’s victory in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary. El-Sayed calls for supporters of the different Democratic candidates to mend fences and unite against Republican nominee Mike Rogers and Donald Trump in November. He says outside interests spent approximately $70 million in the primary and outspent his campaign by roughly 11 to 1. Ebro, Laura and Rosenberg explain why the Michigan contest could affect the balance of power in Washington. They review the current Senate numbers and discuss the 33 regularly scheduled Senate races, along with two special elections. The hosts argue that Democratic gains in the House and Senate could restrict Trump’s power and create greater opportunities for oversight and investigations. The crew then reacts to conservative and centrist commentary portraying El-Sayed as a communist, a dangerous socialist and a radical because of his support for single-payer healthcare, reduced military spending and abolishing ICE. They also criticize attempts to compare him with Zohran Mamdani primarily because both men are Muslim and have been associated with progressive politics. A central part of the conversation concerns Israel and campaign funding. El-Sayed’s critics point to his support for a military embargo on Israel, while voters in the segment say they supported him because he refused money from AIPAC and other corporate political action committees. The hosts question whether establishment Democrats will support El-Sayed in the general election or continue emphasizing internal ideological divisions. Rosenberg argues that the Democratic Socialists of America function as an organization or faction within the broader Democratic coalition, much like the Freedom Caucus and other groups operate within the Republican Party. The hosts note that progressives, independents and centrists have long caucused together under the Democratic banner. They question why some Democrats appear willing to amplify Republican attacks on the party’s internal differences before a critical election. The discussion leads into Jon Stewart’s interview with Sen. John Fetterman. Stewart asks whether Fetterman could agree with candidates on healthcare, labor, economic inequality and campaign finance but still reject them solely because they disagree with him about Israel. Fetterman responds that Democratic Socialists should run under their own political banner rather than operating inside the Democratic Party. The hosts criticize that reasoning and note that the United States effectively has a two-party system. They also discuss Fetterman’s shift from a politician widely viewed as progressive to one of Israel’s most uncompromising defenders in Congress. Rosenberg questions why Israel appears to supersede nearly every other issue for Fetterman, while Ebro and Laura point to lobbying, campaign contributions and the influence of the military-industrial complex. During The Rundown, Laura reports on a disturbing livestream involving Perez Hilton during an apparent mental health emergency. The hosts do not play the graphic footage and focus instead on his safety, his three young children and the support available from his family. They also discuss Hilton’s earlier health problems, including an extended hospitalization and recovery period, while making clear that they do not know what role those experiences may have played in his current condition. Laura then introduces Joe Budden’s new podcast, Crime in America, developed in collaboration with television producer Dick Wolf. The program is expected to cover crimes and investigations as they unfold rather than focusing exclusively on cases from decades ago. Ebro and Rosenberg believe Budden has the voice, curiosity and broadcasting experience to succeed in a more structured and scripted true-crime format. The entertainment news continues with Jaafar Jackson joining Will Smith and AnnaSophia Robb in Supermax. The action thriller follows two FBI agents investigating a murder inside a maximum-security prison. The hosts say Jackson’s performance in the Michael Jackson biopic created major expectations, but Supermax will help determine how effective he is when he is not portraying his famous uncle. That announcement launches a broader discussion about major motion pictures. The crew questions why films with enormous budgets frequently fail to deliver compelling stories, despite having access to top actors, directors, writers and editors. They then discuss the demand for 70 mm screenings of The Odyssey and the difficulty of finding tickets in the New York area. Ebro recalls seeing Ryan Coogler’s Sinners in 70 mm and says the large screen made the experience especially powerful. The hosts note how unusual it remains for Black films and filmmakers to receive that type of premium theatrical rollout. The discussion then turns to Spider-Man and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Rosenberg says the number of interconnected films and television series makes it difficult for casual viewers to know where to begin. Ebro reveals that he and Isa watched nearly the entire MCU film collection in chronological story order during the pandemic, including the Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Avengers, Black Panther and Guardians of the Galaxy movies. The episode closes with Ebro explaining that work prevented him from taking Isa to J. Cole’s concert at Madison Square Garden. He jokes that despite years of supporting J. Cole, Bas, JID and the Dreamville roster, he is apparently not enough of a Dreamville loyalist to receive advance notice or invitations. Chapters: (00:00:00) Ebro, Laura and Rosenberg open the show and preview Abdul El-Sayed, Jon Stewart, John Fetterman and a possible nationwide abortion ban. (00:01:07) Abdul El-Sayed calls for Democratic unity following his Michigan Senate primary victory. (00:03:15) The hosts examine the current Senate balance and why Michigan could matter in the midterm elections. (00:04:21) Ebro argues that congressional control will determine whether allegations involving Donald Trump can be investigated. (00:05:09) Producer Griff explains how many Senate seats are scheduled for election in 2026. (00:06:54) The crew reacts to media figures portraying El-Sayed’s policies and Muslim identity as dangerous. (00:08:18) The discussion turns to El-Sayed’s proposed military embargo on Israel and AIPAC’s reported spending in the race. (00:09:14) The hosts question whether centrist Democrats will unite behind El-Sayed against Republican Mike Rogers. (00:10:50) Rosenberg discusses the Democratic Socialists of America and ideological factions inside the two major parties. (00:12:49) Jon Stewart presses John Fetterman on making support for Israel a political red line. (00:15:02) The hosts discuss Fetterman’s political transformation and the concerns people close to him have raised about his health. (00:17:08) Rosenberg questions why Israel appears to outweigh nearly every other political issue for Fetterman. (00:18:23) The Rundown begins with a disturbing report concerning Perez Hilton’s apparent mental health crisis. (00:22:09) Laura introduces Joe Budden’s upcoming true-crime podcast, Crime in America. (00:24:42) Jaafar Jackson joins Will Smith and AnnaSophia Robb in the action thriller Supermax. (00:25:19) The crew debates why many expensive action films still disappoint despite their massive budgets. (00:26:16) The hosts discuss the difficulty of securing 70 mm tickets for The Odyssey. (00:27:15) Ebro recalls seeing Sinners in 70 mm and discusses the significance of its large-format rollout. (00:28:08) The conversation shifts to Spider-Man and whether the Marvel Cinematic Universe is overwhelming casual viewers. (00:29:06) Ebro reveals that he and Isa watched nearly all the Marvel movies in chronological order during the pandemic. (00:33:31) Ebro explains why he missed J. Cole’s Madison Square Garden concert and jokes about being neglected by Dreamville. (00:34:49) The hosts preview an upcoming appearance from boxer Edgar Berlanga. ----------------------------- Experience the Culture: Catch Ebro, Laura, Rosenberg, and the rest of the network 24/7 on the Amplified Voices TV app: amplifiedvoices.com/download Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.