Practically Political

Dave Spencer, Ashley Davis, Kurt Bardella

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. 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
  2. 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
out of 5
6 Ratings

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.

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