Days before the midterms, Mark Hayes and Brock Ganeles break down President Obama's campaign push and why they think he's still the party's strongest voice. He is the greatest orator of our lifetime and remains the only Democrat who can galvanize a multi-racial, multi-cultural coalition while drawing in some of the complacent White Americans that sit in the middle. They consider themselves not to be racist but vote MAGA except when Obama is on the ballot. Here in the midterms and disillusioned with Trump, there is a chance they may listen to him again. If he moves the needle just a little. The result could be a landslide for the Left. Hopefully, Obama stays on the campaign for other 50/50 races. Brock wants to see him in Florida and South Carolina this weekend to boost turnout for Andrews and Nixon, who he thinks could be excellent Senators.

The hosts also cover the early vote, the Bolsonaro investigation, the latest GDP numbers and a viral Fox News rally moment.

In this episode
Obama's rallies in Ohio, Michigan and Georgia, and the message behind them
Why "hating Trump" isn't enough, and the case for a platform of ideas
The Senate races the hosts would send Obama to in the final days
The Bolsonaro investigation and the immigration double standard
GDP numbers and whether the media questions government data enough
The Fox News rally clip that went viral
A quick WNBA finals and MLB update

One week before the U.S. Midterm elections, Mark Hayes and Brock Ganeles give their honest take on where the country stands. As voters abroad push back on their leaders, they ask whether Americans are ready to look at themselves, and what could change after Election Day.

As Israeli's go to the poll with an opportunity to rebuke a deranged leader, America is one week away from it's chance to shift teh balance of power. But as Americans have focused on Israel's atrocities in Gaza, they have been accepting of atrocities form its own government: from bombing fishing boats in the Caribbean to the abandonment of Ukraine to our own concentration camps. Brock noted the trend of White people finally acknowledging that other White Americans vote to maintain a racist hierarchy as their primary self-interest. Slow to come around, but finally noticing the blatant racism they have tolerated. maybe America can now finally self-reflect as recognizing a problem is the first step to fixing it.

In this episode:
The midterms and the world stage
The hosts say the Trump administration offers no clear plan beyond enriching itself.
They react to a controversial ad in Maine.
They discuss the Israeli election as the latest in a run of leadership changes abroad, after Hungary, Serbia and Brazil.
They ask whether Americans are ready to give a strong rebuke at the polls, and talk about what a Democratic majority could do on oversight.
Looking in the mirror
Brock argues Americans criticize other countries while ignoring what the U.S. does, including boat strikes in the Caribbean, cuts to foreign aid, and its stance on Ukraine and Venezuela.
They discuss how immigrants are portrayed in the media and treated by immigration enforcement.
They argue the campaign has focused on affordability while skipping these deeper questions.
Race and American politics
They say racism strongly shapes how many white Americans vote, and that the country has avoided talking about it.
They discuss teaching American history more honestly, including the Electoral College and the Senate's structure.
Mark cites unemployment, incarceration and economic data to argue Black women face unusual discrimination.
They cite a Citibank study on the economic cost of racism.
Both hope for lasting change, though Mark is more skeptical.
Corruption, regulation and accountability
They discuss alleged corruption tied to the Trump and Kushner families, based on a forthcoming book.
They push back on the idea that regulation always hurts business.
They criticize Merrick Garland for not prosecuting Trump sooner.
Education and policy
They argue for better public schools in cities and rural areas, and against school vouchers.
They say war spending could go toward schools and rural connectivity.
Quick hits
Jay-Z as the Super Bowl halftime performer, and the hosts' views on the NFL.
The World Series between the Brewers and the Rays.

Mark Hayes and Brock Ganeles review the final stretch before the U.S. Midterms. They discuss Trump's rally tour, Obama and Clinton's return to the trail, and signs of energy among Democratic voters.
They also cover recent elections abroad in Brazil and Serbia, social media regulation, the social safety net, gun violence and race in America.

Midterm Campaign
The hosts say Trump's rally tour could help Democrats. Brock criticizes his messaging on gas prices and affordability, and his rally tangents.
They debate whether the rallies energize his base or mainly entertain.
Obama and Clinton's one-liners went viral, including Clinton's "Liberace's living room" and Obama's "Saddam's Cheesecake Factory" jabs. Brock says Obama's Ohio and Michigan speeches were the strongest. They hope Obama campaigns more in the final week, and say the media can't resist showing the contrast.
They wish former President George W. Bush would speak out more forcefully.
They point to early-voting turnout as a sign of an energized base, with a goal to "make it too big to rig."

Global Elections and Social Media Rules
They discuss recent results in Brazil, Serbia and Hungary, including the late surge in Brazilian turnout.
Brock argues for enforceable rules on how social media platforms handle political messaging.
They say they would put those rules in law and not leave them to norms and tradition.

Economy and Society
They criticize policies that hurt people experiencing homelessness, including a Louisiana law.
They argue for universal health care, affordable housing, a stronger safety net and changes to the tax code.
They compare U.
S. and Chinese car prices.

Lindsey Graham and Hypocrisy
They discuss the Lindsey Graham story, with a focus on hypocrisy among politicians who vote against groups they are privately connected to.
Brock calls for exposing hypocrisy as it happens, not after the fact.
They criticize the use of Christianity in politics.

Candidates and the Road Ahead
They highlight a diverse slate of Democratic candidates and talk up Pete Buttigieg's future.
Brock says high gas prices and the war are driving Democratic momentum, and that without them the midterms would be a toss-up. America is still not ready to discuss it's racial and cultural divide.

Gun Violence
They discuss the shooting at the Florida A&M homecoming, which injured twelve people, including an 11-year-old.
They argue for stricter gun laws, including limits on how many firearms one person can own and on weapon types.
Race in America
They react to a new book on rural voters and racism, saying its conclusion isn't new.
They say racism is learned and can be unlearned, and that the country avoids talking about it.
They bring up high school students in El Paso who wore Klan costumes for Halloween.

Sports
The hosts are frustrated that WNBA Finals Game 6 was moved to a late slot so the Hawks game could go first. They argue it should have been a marquee prime-time game.
Brock corrects himself on the length of the series (seven games, not five). He also walks back his claim that Michael Jordan was clearly the best defender of his era, and names Dennis Rodman as a strong alternative.

Quick Hits
A youth soccer game where police were called after a young black child scored ten goals.
Thieves are stealing data center equipment from trucks. Mark says about $13 million of server gear headed to Fayetteville, Georgia was taken, and that the FBI says organized crime rings are involved.
They sign off and note the Israeli election is the next day.