KCRW's Left, Right & Center

The last week has been dominated by dire warnings about the threat AI could pose to humanity. A growing number of voices in government are calling for action. Even leaders in the industry say things need to slow down. But some like President Trump say there’s great risk in regulating – we could fall behind and let countries like China lead the way. We’ll talk about if and how to regulate an industry growing at an unimaginable pace. We’ll also discuss the trust in our elections. The president is casting doubts, though his effort to restrict mail in voting was knocked down by the Supreme Court. But if his party loses and he questions the results, what’s next? Plus we take questions from our live audience at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene Guests: Mike Dubke , veteran GOP communications strategist and advisor. He was the White House Comms Director under Donald Trump in 2017 - @MikeDubke Mo Elleithee , executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee

This week’s Republican Party convention was a bit odd to have in a midterm election year. But President Trump spoke there for nearly two hours and said he wants voters to imagine that he is on the ballot. If that’s his strategy to help his party, will it work or backfire? Democratic Senator John Fetterman made a surprise video cameo at the convention, and it was his first big appearance since the Wall Street Journal reported that he’s not really interested in doing his job anymore. What does Fetterman’s presence at the GOP rally tell us about the relationship with his own party, and the Democrats’ outreach to working class voters? Also, is an AI president really something we should be contemplating? What if AI proves better at, say, preparing for natural disasters or keeping us out of wars? And we mark 25 years since the September 11th attacks. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene Guests: Mo Elleithee , executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee Sarah Isgur , senior editor at The Dispatch - @whignewtons

Americans are mad about data centers being built near them. President Trump, however, argues building more of them on home soil helps the country’s economy and is critical to our national security. How can lawmakers on both sides of the aisle balance those benefits alongside the anger of the public? Plus, ICE switched up its enforcement strategy to attract fewer headlines and increase arrests. But it hasn’t changed the public’s sentiment that the agency’s earlier crackdown was far too harsh. We talk about the state of immigration enforcement and how it could be an issue that tips the scales in the midterms. And we take your questions on how to fix the country’s massive deficit. Producer: Leo Duran Host: Susan Davis Guests: Mo Elleithee , executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee Sarah Isgur , senior editor at The Dispatch - @whignewtons

Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code KCRW at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/kcrw “Economic D-Day” – that’s how President Trump described his latest strategy in the Iran War. He’s promising to starve the country’s economy. A lot may rely on whether other countries play ball, especially China. Trump isn’t just going after Iran. He’s pushed us into a new tariff war with Canada, and our polite neighbor to the north is in no mood to cave. We’ll talk about the pros and cons of economic warfare, how to know if policies like this will help or hurt Americans, and whether this will sway voters’ choices this fall. Also, Flock cameras are a sleeper issue in these upcoming midterms. They’re AI-powered and used by police to tackle crime, but some communities hate their surveillance power. And we remember the late Dolly Parton, a talented musician with unique appeal to audiences all over the political spectrum. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene Guests: Oren Cass , founder and chief economist of American Compass - @oren_cass Mo Elleithee , executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee

Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code KCRW at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/kcrw The political lives of some Republicans literally depend on their carefully crafted messaging around an unpopular war and unpopular president. Many know they can’t abandon Trump, and getting on his bad side doesn’t generally end well for Republicans, either. We talk about dire conditions reported on the USS Abraham Lincoln where its extended Middle East deployment has pushed some sailors to the brink. It’s put a spotlight on the morale of our troops, as well as what our military strength looks like to other countries. Plus we take listener questions, including from one who thinks a progressive swing left is a losing strategy for Democrats who’ll need the South to win the next presidency. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene Guests: Mike Dubke , veteran GOP communications strategist and advisor. He was the White House Comms Director under Donald Trump in 2017 - @MikeDubke Mo Elleithee , executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee

Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code KCRW at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/kcrw Part of any midterm election year is trying to guess the larger trends to see how our politics are evolving in one direction or another. “Progressives are gaining momentum!” Except not in Wisconsin this past week. “President Trump can steer any primary vote his way!” Or not, given that his ally Mike Lindell didn’t advance in the Minnesota Governor’s race. We talk about the nuance and surprises from the latest primaries, and how the emerging message might be that voters just want new faces and new energy. Plus, President Trump faces the inescapable reality that he’s lost support for the war in Iran among voters and his own party. The Washington Post also breaks the story that Trump secretly flew out of Turkey last month because of a threat, leaving Air Force One – and reporters and key Trump officials on board – to be used as a decoy. And the WNBA has been getting its moment of glory, while also getting dragged into the culture wars. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene Guests: Mo Elleithee , executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee Jonah Goldberg , co-founder and editor-in-chief at The Dispatch - @JonahDispatch

Progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan’s Senate primary, but he’ll have to beat Republican Mike Rogers who wants to flip this seat for the GOP. Can El-Sayed and other progressive candidates win over independent voters this fall? Polls suggest they have a lot of work to do, with a lot at stake for Democrats. Also, how our legal system pushes back against a president who often acts like he’s above the law. And in Ohio, a Republican congressman clings to his re-election hopes even after his ex-wife accused him of domestic violence. That ex-wife also happens to be the daughter of a U.S. senator. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene Guests: Mo Elleithee , executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee Will Swaim , CEO of the California Policy Center - @WillSwaim

What does “affordability” mean, and who should we trust to deliver it? Democrats are pounding the affordability message hard, saying President Trump began a global tariff war and a war in Iran that have both pushed prices up for Americans. We’ll talk about what actual ideas Democrats are offering to bring relief. The boldest ideas so far have come from their more progressive members, which could be a potential challenge for the more moderate wing of the party. Republicans have their own challenge: GOP lawmakers seem willing to work on bipartisan solutions on affordability, but President Trump keeps undermining them. Mo and Sarah have their own policy debate to stump for proposals that can bring prices down, and also pick each other’s ideas apart. Plus, Dr. Anthony Fauci refused to answer questions about Covid in a congressional hearing, and we talk about whether he was justified. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene Guests: Mo Elleithee , executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee Sarah Isgur , senior editor at The Dispatch - @whignewtons

Progressive Democrats are surging in primary elections across the country, but the party establishment is worried they’ll lose this November. Republicans think those progressives will be easier to beat, too. So how will this intra-party fight among Democrats play out and determine control of Congress? And why is the GOP so sure they can beat progressive Dems when some polls show their party is underwater with voters on the economy? Plus, the president campaigned to secure elections using false claims. House Republicans advanced his elections bill – the SAVE America Act – just as two election deniers advanced in Arizona’s Republican primaries. And we talk about the Iran war. Republicans passed extra military spending to keep it going, so do those Republicans now own an unpopular war? Producer: Leo Duran Host: Susan Davis Guests: Mo Elleithee , executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee Sarah Isgur , senior editor at The Dispatch - @whignewtons

Senator Mitch McConnell was absent from Capitol Hill for weeks. Rumors and conspiracies swirled until he recently reappeared and said he was in medical care recovering from a fall. He’s not the only politician who’s hid their health from the public eye – Joe Biden, for instance, tried to keep concerns about his health quiet before the 2024 election – until it was too hard to ignore. We talk about what aging and ailing lawmakers owe to the public especially if it impairs their ability to serve. Plus, immigration enforcement is surging. ICE doubled the number of arrests compared to earlier this year, and has been doing it without the massive protests that rocked the country. But now, with two headline-grabbing shootings of motorists by ICE agents, what is the future of that strategy? We also talk about how congress came together on a massive affordable housing bill. Producer: Leo Duran Host: Mike Madrid Guests: Liz Bruenig , staff writer at The Atlantic - @EBruenig Sarah Isgur , senior editor at The Dispatch - @whignewtons

Democrats badly want to win control of the Senate this fall, but they just suffered a bad blow: Graham Platner, their candidate in Maine, dropped out of the race after facing rape allegations. Whose job was it to vet Platner? And what do Democrats do with this race now? Then, from cryptocurrency profits to calling the head of FIFA, what is President Trump’s relationship with corruption? He seems to embrace the image of being able to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. Is there a disciplined message Democrats can craft to combat the power of his persona? And David gives a tribute to Don Gonyea, who is stepping away from NPR after a legendary political reporting career. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene Guests: Mo Elleithee , executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee Sarah Isgur , senior editor at The Dispatch - @whignewtons

The Supreme Court finished its term with some pre-July 4th fireworks by issuing decisions that continue to shape the powers of the presidency. But how solid is this narrative out there that Trump benefits from a conservative-leaning court? The justices also loosened the leash for how much the parties can coordinate with and help fund congressional candidates. We look at what impact this could have for Republicans and Democrats, as well as the influence of big money in politics. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene Guests: Mo Elleithee , executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee Sarah Isgur , senior editor at The Dispatch - @whignewtons

Are socialists taking over the Democratic Party? New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a proud Democratic Socialist, won some stunning victories in Congressional primaries. His chosen candidates beat out more mainstream Democrats. Republicans have their own issues. President Trump met with several GOP senators and things got testy. His decision to target sitting Republicans in recent primaries may be backfiring because, well, those incumbents are still in office for now and have nothing to lose. Both parties face infighting and an identity crisis. What does this say about our politics? Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene Guests: Mo Elleithee , executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee Sarah Isgur , senior editor at The Dispatch - @whignewtons

Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code KCRW at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/KCRW President Trump is lauding his peace deal between the U.S. and Iran as a success – one far greater than the deal former President Obama brokered. But even members of his own party are skeptical that the new plan is any better. What goals did he achieve in this costly conflict? America turns 250 next month, but the White House has taken over some of the party planning and one event is being promoted as a “spectacular Trump rally.” How do Americans celebrate the country’s birthday without the political backdrop? And we answer one listener who asks if we should really be surprised that some Americans want a strong executive branch. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene Guests: Mo Elleithee , executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee Sarah Isgur , senior editor at The Dispatch - @whignewtons

Politics cast a big shadow over several big sporting events this week. The President’s immigration policies are affecting players’ and fans’ plans to travel to World Cup events in the U.S., the Administration hosts a UFC event on the White House lawn, and Trump caused disruption and was met with boos when he visited Madison Square Garden for an NBA Finals game. We dig into the all-important senate race in Maine where Democrat Graham Platner won his party’s nomination despite a series of damaging revelations about his past. Also, could counting votes a little faster in California and elsewhere help head off conspiracy theories about voter fraud in the future? Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene Guests: Mo Elleithee , executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee Sarah Isgur , senior editor at The Dispatch - @whignewtons

Iowa Republicans picked Zach Lahn over the Trump-backed Randy Feenstra in the gubernatorial primary. Lahn’s a farmer who spoke about the pain of high fertilizer prices and cancer caused by pesticides, earning him support from the MAHA. Was this some rebuke of Trump, or just voters looking for the right person to make their lives better? Critics say ICE detainees face horrific conditions. Trump won over a lot of voters arguing that tough immigration policies were needed to keep the country safe. Does what’s unfolding at these detention centers cross a line? Plus, the President’s short-lived Anti-Weaponization Fund seems to be dead, and one listener asks when AI political ads cross a line. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene Guests: Mo Elleithee , executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee Sarah Isgur , senior editor at The Dispatch - @whignewtons

We bring you an episode of "Intention to Treat: The Race Equation." It's a new series from the New England Journal of Medicine that investigates how race-specific diagnostic tools harm Black patients and contribute to growing health inequities.

Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code KCRW at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/KCRW Texas Republicans are pinning their hopes on Senate candidate Ken Paxton, the state attorney general who was impeached for abusing his office. Maine Democrats are pinning theirs on Graham Platner, who’s had to explain an old tattoo that looks like a Nazi symbol. Welcome to the 2026 installment of the race to control the U.S. Senate. Pope Leo used his platform to warn about the dangers of A.I. It’s a big topic here in the U.S., but neither the Trump White House nor Congress seem eager to do much. Plus, a listener incensed over taxpayer dollars being used for Trump’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund” asks what he should do with his anger. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene Guests: Mo Elleithee , executive director at Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service - @MoElleithee Sarah Isgur , senior editor at The Dispatch - @whignewtons

Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code KCRW at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/KCRW What is an anti-weaponization fund? Is it a legit use of taxpayer dollars to help people of all political stripes who were wronged by their government, or is it a corrupt slush fund to help President Trump and his political allies? One immediate question on the minds of Democrats is if people who attacked the Capitol on January 6 will be some of the early beneficiaries. Also, despite Trump’s sagging poll numbers, he continues to hold sway over his party with one primary vote after another against sitting Republicans. Is there a political cost for Trump and the GOP if a coalition of lame ducks starts growing with an eye towards their own counter-revenge? And we’ve got some great questions from you this week, including whether we really need politicians at all to run a government. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene Guests: Elizabeth Bruenig , staff writer, The Atlantic ( @ebruenig ) Mike Dubke , veteran GOP communications strategist and advisor. He was the White House Comms Director under Donald Trump in 2017 ( @MikeDubke )

Some voters are in the dark about which districts they live in and who their candidates are because officials in several states and the president are obsessed with redrawing congressional maps. The latest push on redistricting comes after the Supreme Court struck down parts of the Voting Rights Act. Also, public health officials are clear: hantavirus is different from COVID and highly unlikely to cause a global pandemic. But is our government ready for the next health crisis? And RFK Jr talks a lot about Making America Healthy Again. But so far, he’s getting politically beaten up by the junk food lobby. Producer: Leo Duran Host: David Greene Guests: Elizabeth Bruenig , staff writer, The Atlantic ( @ebruenig ) Sarah Isgur , senior editor at The Dispatch ( @whignewtons )