Behind The Ballot

Mikal Jenkins, Muhamed Alic
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

Engaged, Balanced, Informative. Finding Common Ground in a Polarized World. Our hosts Mikal Jenkins and Muhamed Alic dive into modern American politics and offer insights and views into the ever shifting political landscape.

  1. May 29

    5/27/26 - Trump’s Iran Showdown, Paxton’s Revenge Victory, Zelensky’s SOS & Ebola Emergency

    President Trump said progress on an Iran deal remains uncertain unless countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar join the Abraham Accords, while major disagreements persist over control of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s demands for frozen funds and sanctions relief. At the same time, Volodymyr Zelensky urged the U.S. to provide more Patriot missile interceptors as Russian attacks intensify. A worsening outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda has surpassed 900 suspected cases and 230 deaths. In U.S. politics, Trump-backed Ken Paxton defeated John Cornyn in Texas’ GOP Senate primary despite longstanding legal controversies, while Vice President JD Vance continued highlighting anti-fraud efforts targeting government benefit programs.

    35 min

  2. May 27

    05-26-2026 - Trump’s Triple Crisis: Iran Deal Chaos, White House Shooting, and the AI Bubble Burst

    Iran is resisting U.S. demands to fully dismantle its nuclear program and surrender enriched uranium, while seeking $24 billion in frozen funds as negotiations continue under a possible 60-day ceasefire extension. President Donald Trump says talks are progressing, though Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly oppose perceived concessions. Meanwhile, a recent White House shooting renewed debate over expanded security funding, and concerns are growing that AI spending by firms like Uber and Microsoft is outpacing real productivity gains as Congress remains divided over Iran, immigration, and Trump-backed policies ahead of the 2026 elections.

    1h 17m

  3. May 22

    5/20/26 - Massie Ousted, $1.8B Slush Fund Fight, and Trump’s Ballroom Defeat in Senate

    The Pentagon reportedly paused further strikes on Iran as Tehran improved its air defenses and aircraft tracking, making attacks riskier despite Iran retaining major missile capabilities. The war has raised oil prices, caused U.S. casualties, and stalled negotiations after Iran rejected a U.S. proposal tied to sanctions and nuclear restrictions. Domestically, Trump-backed Ed Gallrein defeated Thomas Massie in Kentucky’s GOP primary, while Trump’s endorsement of Ken Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn deepened Republican divisions. Congress is also battling over a controversial $1.8 billion government “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” reconciliation spending, and a Senate War Powers push tied to Iran, while other headlines included PFAS regulation rollbacks, New Jersey data-center fights, and unverified allegations involving Elon Musk and the 2024 election

    52 min

  4. May 19

    05-18-2026 - China Ag Deals vs. Reality, EV Fees Fight, and the $1.7B Jan. 6 Fund

    President Trump said he is delaying a planned U.S. strike on Iran after pressure from Gulf allies and ongoing nuclear negotiations, though both sides remain far apart amid a fragile ceasefire. Iran is also moving ahead with a new Strait of Hormuz control system that could charge transit fees and tighten oversight of one of the world’s key oil routes. Following Trump’s summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the White House announced major trade commitments including Chinese purchases of U.S. agriculture and Boeing aircraft.

    51 min

  5. May 19

    05/15/26 - Geopolitical Chess Moves: Trump-Xi Summit Fallout, Housing Bill Fight & Redistricting Wars

    President Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing for high-level talks on trade, Taiwan, AI, and especially the U.S.-Iran conflict, claiming China would not arm Iran and may help mediate tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, though reports suggest Beijing may still support some Iranian claims there. Trump also floated easing sanctions on Chinese buyers of Iranian oil and highlighted potential Chinese purchases of U.S. goods and Boeing jets. In Washington, Congress is battling over an ethanol bill, a weakened housing reform package, and other stalled proposals, while redistricting fights ahead of the 2026 midterms are escalating in both Republican- and Democratic-led states. Economically, April inflation rose to 3.8% as energy prices surged from Iran-related disruptions, and companies including ExxonMobil and Toyota warned of possible lubricant shortages.

    1h 5m

  6. May 12

    05/11/26 - Gas Tax Fight, Data Center Wildfires & the White House Ballroom Brawl

    The U.S.-Iran crisis is rapidly escalating as peace talks appear close to collapse, with President Trump reportedly weighing renewed military action in the Strait of Hormuz and additional strikes inside Iran after dismissing Tehran’s latest response. Israel is also pushing for expanded operations targeting Iran’s leadership and nuclear infrastructure, while Iran warns any foreign military deployment in the region would trigger a major response. The conflict is already disrupting global energy markets and fueling public skepticism at home, with most Americans believing the U.S. is losing the conflict. Domestically, the economic fallout is intensifying debates over gas-tax relief, tariffs, housing, surveillance, and crypto legislation, while Republicans and Democrats clash over election policy, voting rights, and government spending ahead of the 2026 midterms. At the same time, Americans are facing worsening affordability pressures, rising energy and food prices, a deepening housing crisis, and growing concerns over the rapid expansion of AI data centers straining water and power systems across the country.

    1h 17m

  7. May 10

    05-08-2026 - Strait of Chaos: Iran Strikes Back, UFO Files Drop, and America’s Economy Cracks

    Middle East tensions are escalating as the U.S. resumes Project Freedom after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait restored access to regional bases. Iran warned ships to avoid U.S. warships, claimed attacks on American destroyers, and faced new U.S. strikes on missile and naval targets, while a leaked CIA assessment suggests Iran remains more resilient than publicly stated. President Trump also announced a temporary Russia-Ukraine ceasefire, and U.S. officials are monitoring possible hantavirus exposure cases in New Jersey. At home, Virginia’s Supreme Court struck down the state’s voter-approved congressional map, triggering a new political fight over redistricting. Meanwhile, rising fuel costs, higher airfare, and collapsing consumer confidence are fueling growing fears of recession-level economic pressure.

    1 hr

  8. May 7

    05-06-2026 - From Project Freedom to Full Conflict: Iran’s Missiles, UAE Retaliation & America’s Breaking Economy

    A rapidly developing mix of global and domestic stories, led by reports of a possible US-Iran memorandum aimed at ending the war and reopening negotiations over nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz, though Iranian officials strongly dispute key details while questions swirl around suspicious oil-market trading activity tied to the announcement. We also examined a deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius that has spread across multiple countries just as the CDC’s cruise inspection team was eliminated, raising concerns about global health preparedness. Other major stories included the accelerating AI takeover of entry-level Wall Street jobs, growing backlash in rural America over massive new data-center projects consuming enormous amounts of power and water, and continuing Washington controversies over taxpayer funding tied to a proposed White House ballroom project and a House ethics investigation involving sexual harassment allegations against Rep. Chuck Edwards.

    1h 16m
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About

Engaged, Balanced, Informative. Finding Common Ground in a Polarized World. Our hosts Mikal Jenkins and Muhamed Alic dive into modern American politics and offer insights and views into the ever shifting political landscape.

Information

  • Creator
    Mikal Jenkins, Muhamed Alic
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    81
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Behind The Ballot