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.

Mark Hayes and Brock Ganeles discuss the potentially epic scandal related to the phone hack of Jared Kushner. No one except Trump himself has profited more from exploiting the United States government's power for personal gain. But the alleged hack of his iPhone by Dutch agents threatens to expose criminality all the way up to the level of treason. Many of us have suspected absurd levels of foul play by Kushner and now the phone could lead to his demise. Vanity Fair reporting already brings up serious allegations.

Early reports of electronic voting machine manipulation in Tennessee highlights the concerns of what may be ahead in the 11 days leading to the election Teh Trump MAGA Project 2025 team will not go down easily and quietly or fairly. Mark reminds Americans they will likely have to flood the streets in protest to ultimately get regime change.

The podcast ends with Brock expressing amazement at the exploits of Angel Reese as she close in on an NBA championship. The hosts, ex high scholl basketball teammates, delve into the difference between putting up big numbers and playing to win. Reese's master class will be complete with a win in Atlanta tomorrow.

Mark Hayes and Brock Ganeles roast the MAGA candidates delivering closing arguments of misogyny, Racism and xenophobia. None worse that Vivek Ramaswamy disgustingly using the estranged mother of his opponent who is a victim of child rape at the hands of her stepfather. A deplorable political stunt that hopefully backfires spectacularly. Mike Roges and Ken Paxton are also exposed for their absence of a policy message who are relying on the worst instincts of their voters. Brock notes he is fed up with every MAGA supporter at this point as they know exactly what they are choosing.

As the pod casts progresses, the hosts shift into a broader critique of policing, ICE, and the NFL’s treatment of players, arguing that the same systems of power show up across politics, labor, and sports.

Key topics

Mark Hayes and Brock Ganeles on the midterm landscape
They focus on battleground races in Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and Maine.
Their main argument is that Republican closing messages are increasingly centered on racism, fear, and personal smears rather than policy.
Michigan’s Senate race and race-baiting tactics
Brock says Mike Rogers is essentially trying to win by labeling his opponent, El-Sayed, as a terrorist because he is Muslim.
They argue that this strategy is aimed at both Black voters in Detroit and white voters in northern Michigan and the suburbs.
Ohio’s governor race and the Amy Acton attack ad
Brock criticizes Vivek Ramaswamy for running what he calls a disgraceful ad attacking Amy Acton over her relationship with her mother after surviving childhood rape.
Mark and Brock frame Acton as someone who should be praised for surviving trauma, not attacked for it.
Racism as a political strategy
They connect these campaigns to a broader MAGA pattern of using racism, misogyny, and fear to mobilize voters.
Mark says anyone still morally aligned with MAGA is a lost cause and needs help.
Georgia and early voting momentum
They cite strong early-voting numbers in Georgia, saying more than 11.5 million votes had already been cast.
Brock points to John Ossoff’s campaign as a model for how to run against an unpopular opponent.
Florida corruption and Angie Nixon’s campaign
Brock praises Angie Nixon for outperforming expectations and turning a supposedly unwinnable race into something competitive.
He also points to the scandal involving $10 million diverted from hungry children into Republican Party efforts.
Police violence and the Mississippi one-year-old shooting
The conversation turns to a shooting involving a one-year-old child in Mississippi and broader racial violence in policing.
Brock argues that police culture reflects a racist society and that qualified immunity must be repealed.
ICE, immigration, and authoritarian tactics
They criticize Democrats for not making abolition of ICE a central message.
Brock says ICE functions like a domestic Gestapo and should be abolished outright.
The NFL, Jalen Hurts, and player exploitation
Mark and Brock discuss reports that Jalen Hurts was pressured to play in London despite a blood clot.
They compare the NFL’s treatment of players to labor exploitation in Amazon warehouses and call the league an oligarchy.
Elon Musk and political power
Brock raises concerns about Elon Musk threatening Democrats over possible investigations.
Mark says Musk should be questioned under oath about campaign spending and his influence.
Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, and public politics
The episode closes with a lighter discussion of Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift, and Jason Kelce.
Brock argues that public figures with large platforms should speak more openly in the final stretch before the election.

Mark Hayes and Brock Ganeles break down the Russia-Ukraine situation, the growing influence of Elon Musk, and what they see as a broader slide toward oligarchy and Fascism. Brock argues to the absurdity of Trump announcing he will discuss an end to the Russia-Ukraine War with Russia and China. Ukraine was not even mentioned as a part of the negotiation. America breaking its promise to defend Ukraine will serve as a stain on U.S. stature and trust in the world for decades to come.

The conversation moves from geopolitics and election integrity to media power, propaganda, and the normalization of extreme behavior in politics.

In this episode, Mark and Brock argue that Ukraine is being sidelined in its own war, that private power is overriding democratic checks, and that public attention has been numbed by spectacle. They also discuss recent documentaries about Elon Musk and Elizabeth Holmes as examples of how deception, power, and media performance reward the worst actors.

Key topics:
Mark and Brock open with sharp criticism of reported Russia-Ukraine negotiations, arguing that Ukraine is being excluded while Russia and China are treated as key players.
They question China’s role in the talks and call the setup absurd, especially given Ukraine’s security promises from the United States after giving up nuclear weapons.
The conversation turns to election legitimacy, with both hosts voicing distrust in the political system and raising concerns about Elon Musk’s influence.
Brock argues that Musk can effectively toggle support for Ukraine through Starlink, which they see as unacceptable private control over wartime infrastructure.
They describe the current moment as oligarchic, pointing to Musk, Zuckerberg, and the Ellison family as examples of concentrated power shaping politics and media.
Mark and Brock discuss the possibility of a Trump third term, citing comments from Steve Bannon and framing it as another sign that norms and constitutional limits no longer matter.
They argue that Trump’s presidency is driven by self-enrichment and dealmaking rather than governance or public service.
A major theme is how media and tech systems reward manipulative figures, with Elizabeth Holmes used as a comparison for elite lying and charisma-driven fraud.
Brock says documentaries about Musk and Holmes may help wake people up to how much power has been ceded to sociopathic, telegenic liars.
The episode closes with quick hits on protests in Albania over Kushner-related land deals, Trump rally appearances by Black celebrities, and concern over repeated public support for figures who do not have Black interests at heart.

Mark Hayes and Brock Ganeles break down the political landscape heading into the midterms, focusing on Trump’s disastorus and falling approval numbers, the possibility of a Blue Wave, and how wealth and fear shape voter behavior. They also move into a broader conversation about race, assimilation, immigration, and how culture wars continue to drive American politics. Brock argues the fallacy of assimilation in a country that has overwhelmed the world by exporting its entertainment, music, democracy and capitalism. America has been built be new cultures melding uncomfortably into existing society. There has always been pushback, denigration and violence. However, it had been minimized for decades. Trump Invoking MAGA, has brought the country back to a more barbaric time in its history.

Brock and Mark end the discussion on voter turnout, organizing in light of the No Kings Rally, right-wing oligarchy suppressing the people's will as Zuckerberg deletes the feed. A new age of censorship engineered by business not government.

Key topics:

In this episode, Mark and Brock open with Trump’s historically low approval rating and argue that approval numbers alone do not always translate into electoral consequences when the stock market and housing prices are still holding up.
Brock says wealthy Americans often feel insulated from political damage because their portfolios are up, which makes them less likely to feel the consequences of Trump’s policies.
They debate the idea that the government is supposed to work for ordinary taxpayers, with Brock reflecting on how white middle-class expectations of government protection shape political assumptions.
Mark argues that Trump, Peter Thiel, and Project 2025 types see government as something meant to serve only the wealthy, while everyone else is left to fend for themselves.
The conversation shifts to whether the GOP is already conceding parts of the House battlefield by pulling money out of races they think they cannot win.
They focus on the Senate map too, including concern over candidates like Susan Collins and Lindsey Graham’s political orbit, and what that says about the durability of Trump-aligned leadership.
Brock criticizes Democratic leadership, especially Schumer, Jeffries, and Ken Martin, saying they have shown too little national presence during a moment that should favor them.
They discuss the No Kings turnout and the role of social media platforms in throttling political momentum when public pressure starts to build.
The middle of the episode turns to assimilation and culture wars, using a controversy around a University of Maryland tennis team incident and Al Saeed’s response to a planted MAGA question as examples of how racism and xenophobia stay central to politics.
Mark and Brock argue that American culture is often presented as a fraud, with white Anglo-Saxon norms treated as the default while other groups are pressured to erase their identities.
They compare different ethnic traditions, including St. Patrick’s Day, Taco Tuesday, and pizza culture, to show how the U.
S. both celebrates and appropriates immigrant cultures.
Brock argues that real change will require new leaders, new teaching, and a broader historical reset, while Mark pushes for both bottom-up and top-down pressure to change what gets normalized.
They stress that elections matter because without political wins, there is no path to a better conversation about immigration, race, and belonging.
The episode closes with optimism around turnout and organizing, including support for candidates like Al Saeed, Justin Pearson, Angie Nixon, and others who are seen as willing to fight back.
Brock also mentions a rumor about an OJ Simpson accomplice story, then the discussion ends with organizing for Angie Nixon and praise for North Carolina A T students who traveled to vote together.

A sharp, fast-moving conversation about political corruption, corporate influence, voter suppression, police accountability, and the state of American democracy. Mark Hayes, Herve Francois, and Brock Ganeles connect the dots between money, fear, racism, and institutional power.
The discussion examines whether corporations are paying for access and protection, especially through the White House Ballroom donations, how political pressure shapes their choices, and who benefits from ongoing international conflicts. All roads lead back to the Trump family bank accounts, who have even figure dout how to directly enrich themselves through America at war.

The hosts also debate voter turnout and attempts to mute registration, the Democratic Party’s messaging, alleged police misconduct in Charlotte, and the need for stronger accountability.

Key topics:

The White House ballroom donor list and conscerns about corporate pay-to-play.
Whether corporate donations reflect political support or an effort to avoid scrutiny and retaliation.
The tension between shareholder value and broader civic responsibility.
Foreign conflicts, including Iran, Ukraine, and Russia—and who may benefit from war.
The removal of 600,000 voters from Texas rolls and the risk of voter suppression.
How some affluent and highly educated voters justify support for Trump.
Democratic messaging, leadership, and the importance of midterm turnout.
Allegations of racist misconduct within the Charlotte Police Department.
Qualified immunity, police accountability, and the question of who polices the police.
A closing discussion of Katie Zachariah’s résumé claims and the hosts’ frustration with Knicks ownership.