Politics War Room with James Carville & Al Hunt

Politicon

Master political strategist James Carville and revered journalist Al Hunt convenes a war room each week to discuss the battle for the soul of the nation!  Join them as they gather the sharpest minds from across the country to see who has the most compelling case for the American people on the issues that matter most.

  • 1 hour 2 minutes
    362: Teleport Us To The Waffle House With G. Elliot Morris

    James and Al skewer Trump’s approach to warfare and military strategy, draw historical parallels to the current conduct of the war, and game out ways to preempt possible election interference by Trump and the SCOTUS.  Then, they welcome polling wizard G. Elliot Morris to discuss the value of data-driven journalism and polling in informing the electorate and creating winning campaigns, before looking at the current numbers.  While analyzing them, they explore the disappearing Trump vote, growing dissatisfaction with his administration, and the role corruption will play in upcoming elections.

    Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from!

    More from James and Al:

    Get text updates from Politics War Room and Politicon.

    Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube.

    James Carville & Al Hunt have launched the Politics War Room Substack

    Get updates and some great behind-the-scenes content from the documentary CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID by following James on X @jamescarville and his new TikTok @realjamescarville

    Get More From This Week’s Guest: 

    G. Elliot Morris: Twitter | Website | Substack | Fifty Plus One | Author 

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    26 March 2026, 9:00 am
  • 1 hour 14 minutes
    361: Home & Away with Richard Haass & Mayor Paige Cognetti

    James and Al welcome Council on Foreign Relations President Emeritus Richard Haass to analyze the effects of the Iran war and Trump’s wider policy decisions, looking at the roles of Russia, the GCC, and China, the challenges of negotiating with Iran, and the consequences for our alliances, the global economy, and the region.  Then, they are joined by Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti to discuss her current House race, making government accountable to the people, rising energy costs, declining affordability, and the power of infrastructure improvements to create jobs and grow our cities.

    Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from!

    More from James and Al:

    Get text updates from Politics War Room and Politicon.

    Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube.

    James Carville & Al Hunt have launched the Politics War Room Substack

    Get updates and some great behind-the-scenes content from the documentary CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID by following James on X @jamescarville and his new TikTok @realjamescarville

    Get More From This Week’s Guests: 

    Richard Haass: Twitter | Council On Foreign Relations | Substack | Author 

    Mayor Paige Cognetti: Twitter | Campaign Website | City Of Scranton | Website | Instagram 

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    19 March 2026, 9:00 am
  • 1 hour 42 minutes
    360: Winning Hearts & Minds with Stephen A. Smith & Dr. Trita Parsi

    James and Al look at the Senate run-off in Texas, the blue shift in the Hispanic vote, the effects of redistricting in California, and MAGA’s attempt at voter suppression under the SAVE Act. Then, they welcome Dr. Trita Parsi for a deep dive into U.S.-Iran relations, exploring Iran’s historical significance, how war will change the region, their ability to repel an invasion, and game out the ways the conflict might end.  Then, James sits down with Stephen A. Smith to discuss how to win over young men, the power of authenticity, making predictions in sports and politics, and insights from his legendary career. 

    Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from!

    More from James and Al:

    Get text updates from Politics War Room and Politicon.

    Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube.

    James Carville & Al Hunt have launched the Politics War Room Substack

    Get updates and some great behind-the-scenes content from the documentary CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID by following James on X @jamescarville and his new TikTok @realjamescarville

    Get More From This Week’s Guests: 

    Dr. Trita Parsi: Twitter | Website | Quincy Institute For Responsible Statecraft | Author 

    Stephen A. Smith: Twitter | ESPN | The Stephen A. Smith Show | Instagram | YouTube | Author 

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    12 March 2026, 9:00 am
  • 1 hour 19 minutes
    359: WAR, What Is It Good For? with Max Boot

    James and Al celebrate Talarico’s win in Texas and share their excitement about the 2026 midterm elections, given the Democratic field's growing strength and Trump’s weakening support among Republicans.  Then, they welcome Senior Fellow for National Security Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, Max Boot, to discuss the war in Iran.  Together, they investigate the true reasons for the attack, the dangers posed by military intervention, the stability of the wider Middle East, and the effect on the MAGA movement and public opinion. 

    Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from!

    More from James and Al:

    Get text updates from Politics War Room and Politicon.

    Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube.

    James Carville & Al Hunt have launched the Politics War Room Substack

    Get updates and some great behind-the-scenes content from the documentary CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID by following James on X @jamescarville and his new TikTok @realjamescarville

    Get More From This Week’s Guest: 

    Max Boot: Twitter | Threads | Website | WaPo | CFR | Author 

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    5 March 2026, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    358: A Tale Of Three Andrews

    James and Al rip Trump’s State of the Union and analyze its impact and the effectiveness of the democratic response in the context of the approaching midterms.  Then, they welcome Oscar-nominated filmmaker Andrew Jarecki to explore his findings on corruption in the Alabama prison system and how to hold the government to account for its chronic mismanagement of our jails.  From there, they are joined by author Andrew Lownie to discuss Prince Andrew’s relationship with Epstein, its effect on the British Monarchy, and whether it will lead to increased transparency and reform to ensure its continued relevance going forward.

    Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from!

    More from James and Al:

    Get text updates from Politics War Room and Politicon.

    Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube.

    James Carville & Al Hunt have launched the Politics War Room Substack

    Get updates and some great behind-the-scenes content from the documentary CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID by following James on X @jamescarville and his new TikTok @realjamescarville

    Get More From This Week’s Guests: 

    Andrew Jarecki: IMDB | The Alabama Solution

    Andrew Lownie: Twitter | Substack | Author of “Entitled: The Rise & Fall Of The House Of York” & more

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    26 February 2026, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 33 minutes
    357: Pound The Table With Catherine Rampell & Dr. Annie Andrews

    James and Al expose the latest developments from the Epstein Files and game out their political ramifications before welcoming Catherine Rampell, The Bulwark’s economics editor, and MS NOW Anchor, to review the state of the economy,  looking at why the effects of tariffs have been muted, financial strategies the Republicans might pursue, the danger posed by the national debt, and the perils of AI.
    Then SC Senate candidate Dr. Annie Andrews joins to plan her victory over Lindsey Graham.  They discuss her career in medicine, why she’s running, her policy positions, how to fix our healthcare system, and possible attack lines against her opponent. 

    Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from! 

    More from James and Al:

    Get text updates from Politics War Room and Politicon.

    Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube.

    James Carville & Al Hunt have launched the Politics War Room Substack

    Get updates and some great behind-the-scenes content from the documentary CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID by following James on X @jamescarville and his new TikTok @realjamescarville

    Get More From This Week’s Guests: 

    Catherine Rampell: Twitter | The Bulwark | Substack | Website

    Dr. Annie Andrews: Twitter | Act Blue | Campaign Website

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    19 February 2026, 10:00 am
  • 15 minutes 45 seconds
    356: The Rising Star of Texas Politics: James Talarico

    James & Al are joined on the sofa by James Talarico as they discuss his campaign for the U.S. Senate from Texas, emphasizing the importance of grassroots support and addressing issues like healthcare and housing. He reflects on his political journey, the role of faith in his life, and the need for a Democratic Party that truly represents the people. Talarico also critiques the politicization of Christianity and advocates for a return to the core values of compassion and service.

    Chapters
    00:00 James Talarico: The Rising Star of Texas Politics
    00:10 Challenging the Status Quo in Texas
    03:30 The Role of Faith in Politics
    06:25 Legislative Achievements and Bipartisanship
    10:52 The Teachings of Jesus and Political Responsibility
    14:09 Looking Ahead: The Future of the Democratic Party

    13 February 2026, 10:00 am
  • 1 hour 19 minutes
    355: Stop The Steal with Michael Waldman

    In this election-focused episode, James and Al welcome the President of the Brennan Center For Justice, Michael Waldman, to discuss the administration's attempts at voter suppression and its historical parallels.  They expose the myth of widespread voter fraud, explain the laws and constitutional framework that set up and protect our elections, and dissect the problems with the SAVE Act.  Then they lay out a plan to stop the steal in 2026, focusing on the media's role, voter mobilization, public awareness, and increasing civic engagement, before taking your questions.

    Email your questions to James and Al at [email protected] or tweet them to @politicon.  Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from!

    More from James and Al:

    Get text updates from Politics War Room and Politicon.

    Watch Politics War Room & James Carville Explains on YouTube.

    James Carville & Al Hunt have launched the Politics War Room Substack

    Get updates and some great behind-the-scenes content from the documentary CARVILLE: WINNING IS EVERYTHING, STUPID by following James on X @jamescarville and his new TikTok @realjamescarville

    Get More From This Week’s Guest: 

    Michael Waldman: Twitter | Brennan Center For Justice | Author

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    12 February 2026, 10:00 am
  • 22 minutes 37 seconds
    354: How Trump Is Weaponizing The Law with Abbe Lowell

    James Carville & Al Hunt are joined by super-lawyer Abbe Lowell, they discuss the current political climate, the differences in the Justice Department under the current administration, and the implications of prosecutorial overreach. He highlights the importance of due process, the role of subpoenas, and the unique challenges faced by lawyers today. They also delves into specific cases, such as that of John Bolton, to illustrate the political motivations behind certain prosecutions. The conversation emphasizes the need for legal representation and the historical context of prosecutorial power in the United States.

    Chapters
    00:00 False Equivalency in Political Discourse
    02:19 The Unprecedented Nature of the Current Justice Department
    05:35 Subpoenas and Due Process: A Legal Perspective
    08:21 Prosecutorial Overreach: Historical Context and Examples
    11:10 The Case of John Bolton: Political Motivations in Prosecution
    14:33 The Role of Lawyers in Protecting Rights
    21:36 The Future of Legal Advocacy and Accountability

    10 February 2026, 10:00 pm
  • 11 minutes 57 seconds
    353: The Political Landscape Ahead of the Midterms With Rep. Jason Crow

    James Carville & Al Hunt are joined by Rep. Jason Crow to discuss the upcoming November Midterm elections, emphasizing the need for House Democrats to remain vigilant and proactive in their campaigns. They highlight the importance of recruiting candidates with diverse backgrounds, particularly veterans, who can bring real-world experience to politics. The conversation also touches on the critical role of accountability and oversight in Congress, especially in light of the current political climate.

    Chapters
    00:00 The Political Landscape Ahead of November
    02:53 Recruiting New Candidates for Change
    06:00 The Role of Veterans in Politics
    08:54 Accountability and Oversight in Congress

    10 February 2026, 2:12 am
  • 23 minutes 48 seconds
    352: Trump Is Sabotaging America with Ruth Ben-Ghiat

    James Carville and Al hunt are joined on the sofa by Ruth Ben-Ghiat discussing the current landscape of education and authoritarianism, the characteristics of strongmen leaders, and the implications of fascism in modern politics. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the rule of law, the reactionary nature of fascism, and the global authoritarian landscape. The discussion also touches on the future of democracy, leadership, and the challenges of restoring trust and diplomacy in America.

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction to Authoritarianism and Strong Men
    02:54 The Nature of Strong Men and the Rule of Law
    05:50 Fascism and Its Characteristics
    09:16 The Reactionary Nature of Fascism
    12:07 The Global Landscape of Authoritarianism
    15:00 The Future of Democracy and Leadership
    17:55 Restoring Trust in America and Its Institutions

    6 February 2026, 1:00 pm
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