Scott Galloway and Sarah Longwell of The Bulwark break down Trump’s first visit to China since 2017, where discussions over trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan, and rare earth exports are expected to dominate the agenda. But looming over the entire trip is the increasingly fragile ceasefire with Iran, rising instability in the Persian Gulf, and growing economic pressure at home as gas prices surge nationwide.

They unpack what leverage each side actually has going into the summit, why major tech CEOs are joining Trump’s delegation, and whether the administration’s strategy is focused more on geopolitics, economics, or projecting strength ahead of the election cycle.

Plus: the early battle for the post-Trump future of the Republican Party is heating up, as JD Vance and Marco Rubio emerge as leading contenders for the MAGA mantle. Sarah shares insights from recent focus groups about who Republican voters are gravitating toward — and whether they want a new Trump, or something entirely different. 

And, they talk about the Democrats’ strategy heading into the midterm elections, and looking ahead toward possible candidates for president in 2028. Does the growing buzz around Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez mean the momentum will be with her, or another progressive upstart in the mold of Bernie Sanders? Or do the Dems need to rally behind a middle-of-the-road moderate in order to take back the White House?

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov break down Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and temporarily suspend uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief — even after it was deemed “unacceptable” by President Trump, and while Benjamin Netanyahu appeared on 60 Minutes to make it clear that Israel has little interest in a deal that leaves Iran’s nuclear infrastructure intact. With oil prices falling and markets rallying, one major question remains: is economic pressure finally forcing Tehran toward accepting a resolution — or is this simply a pause before further escalation?

Back in the U.S., the political chaos continues. After the Virginia Supreme Court invalidated the voter-approved Congressional map, the Democrats’ endeavor to match the Republican redistricting efforts got some new complications. Now, Republicans appear to be gaining ground in the nationwide gerrymandering wars ahead of the midterms. As legal options narrow and SCOTUS weakens the protections to majority-minority districts once offered by the Voting Rights Act, Democrats are left asking whether their “fight fire with fire” strategy backfired.

Plus: MAGA world erupts into conspiracy mode over a routine Obama photo-op, the Pentagon releases decades of declassified UFO files, and fears around a hantavirus outbreak reignite debate over whether America is politically prepared for the next major pandemic.

Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov 

Follow Prof G, @profgalloway 

Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod 

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov break down a week defined by confusion, escalation, and political loyalty tests. As mixed messages pour out of Washington and Tehran, Trump threatens further action against Iran even as officials insist tensions are cooling — leaving allies, markets, and the world searching for clarity.

Back at home, a judge has unsealed what a former cellmate has alleged is Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide note. Its release comes at a time when Secretary Howard Lutnick is giving closed-door testimony to the House Oversight Committee on his ties to Epstein. All this is enough to reignite Epstein scrutiny around Trump allies.

Meanwhile, in the ongoing redistricting wars, the Republican voters in Indiana sent a stark warning to anyone willing to cross Trump ahead of 2026. Scott and Jessica unpack the significance of last night’s election. The duo also speak on the FBI raid involving Virginia power broker and state senator Louise Lucas, Marco Rubio’s Vatican cleanup mission, and Barack Obama’s sharp appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where the former president warned Democrats to stop sounding like they’re in a “college seminar.”

Plus: remembering Ted Turner and the media legacy that changed American politics forever.

Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov 

Follow Prof G, @profgalloway 

Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod 

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov break down the latest developments in Iran, where confusion continues to swirl around a fragile ceasefire. With renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and mixed signals coming out of Washington, the situation remains volatile and increasingly difficult to read.

Then they discuss the efforts by the Republicans to get Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman to switch parties, raising questions about the precarious balance of power in the Senate. At the same time, fractures within MAGA world continue to bubble up, as former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene made some new public claims about Trump and the Epstein files.

Plus, the White House appears to be reconsidering its long-held resistance to regulating AI — does this signal a potential policy shift, or have tech industry players continued their capture of DC? And finally, the Met Gala’s record-breaking year reflects a broader cultural power shift — now fueled less by traditional fashion houses and more by Silicon Valley billionaires.

Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov 

Follow Prof G, @profgalloway 

Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod 

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Tehran threatening to target ships in the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. ramping up its response, is the Iran conflict entering a dangerous new phase — with no clear off-ramp?

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov break down the latest escalations, as oil prices surge and gas prices climb nearly 50% since the start of the war. With the Trump administration fast-tracking billions in arms sales, and launching “Project Freedom” to guide vessels through the region, one key question looms: is this deterrence — or the beginning of something much bigger?

They also unpack the political fallout at home, where new polling shows rising disapproval of Trump’s leadership, particularly on inflation and the cost of living. As support softens even among segments of his base, is the conflict abroad starting to erode his position domestically?

Plus: a major new legal battle over access to abortion medication could reshape care nationwide, as courts weigh restrictions on mifepristone. Scott and Jess react to the growing buzz around Tucker Carlson’s political future as the GOP fractures deepen, and Kash Patel gets the SNL treatment.

Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov 

Follow Prof G, @profgalloway 

Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod 

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jessica Tarlov and Aaron Parnas break down the battle to redraw congressional districts, as Republican-led states like Louisiana move quickly to implement new maps ahead of the midterms — while Democrats signal they’re ready to retaliate in states like Illinois, Colorado, and New York. With primaries just weeks away in some states, one key question looms: is this a strategic power play, or a logistical and legal mess waiting to unfold?

Plus: new concerns about federal involvement in election data, as the DOJ seeks access to ballots and voter rolls in key states. Jess and Aaron also unpack the end of the record-setting 75-day DHS shutdown, which exposed growing fractures within the Republican party. 

Did Jeffrey Epstein leave a suicide note, and has it been kept from the public? New reporting — and a lawsuit — seeks to uncover the truth. And, as the Iran war nears the 60-day mark, are there realistic prospects for a way out?

Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov 

Follow Prof G, @profgalloway 

Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod 

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov break down a rapidly escalating moment at home and abroad, as his war in the Middle East continues to seem like it will be going on for a while. Iran’s leadership has issued another direct threat as Donald Trump ramps up his rhetoric and pushes for a broader deal — even as the war hits its 60-day mark, raising serious legal questions under the War Powers Resolution.

Meanwhile, oil prices surged, and Wall Street doesn’t appear confident that a resolution will be reached anytime soon. Some investors are coining a new term: “NACHO” (“Not A Chance Hormuz Opens”). Scott and Jess unpack what that means for your wallet, global markets, and whether economic pressure could force a policy shift.

Back home, the Federal Reserve voted in a rare 8–4 split, signaling internal disagreement about the future direction of interest rates. Outgoing Fed chair Jerome Powell gave a press conference, warning about the threat posed by political interference in the activities of the central. What comes next with a new guy in charge — Kevin Warsh — and what might Trump try and do in response to rising gas prices?

Plus: Republicans push aggressive redistricting in Florida after a major Supreme Court decision weakened a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, and in Maine, a major shakeup to the landscape in the upcoming election for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME).

And finally, Trump’s latest move — putting an image of his face on U.S. passports — sparks a fiery response from AOC.

Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov 

Follow Prof G, @profgalloway 

Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod 

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After Trump imposed sweeping tariffs, tried to prevent the release of the Epstein files, and led the U.S. into another potential “forever” war, are the bonds that keep the MAGA coalition together starting to fall apart? 

Jessica Tarlov sits down with Vox’s Astead Herndon — political journalist and host of the new podcast “America, Actually” — to discuss these and other big-picture trends on both sides of the aisle. They also break down Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s testimony on Capitol Hill, as the 60-day clock on the Iran conflict winds down. Facing tough questions on strategy, civilian casualties, and rapidly depleting weapons stockpiles, one key question looms: is there any real clarity on how this ends?

They also talk about the major ruling delivered by the Supreme Court on Louisiana’s congressional map, which many say further narrows the Voting Rights Act, intensifying the fight over redistricting. With Florida Republicans pushing an aggressive new map, which party is really winning the map wars?

Plus: conspiracy theories explode online in the aftermath of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. But it’s not just Republicans who are holding conspiratorial beliefs. Jessica and Astead dig into the state of the electorate ahead of the midterms: which voters are being misunderstood, what storylines are overhyped, and what a post-Trump political landscape might actually look like.

Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov 

Follow Prof G, @profgalloway 

Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod 

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov sit down with Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) to unpack a volatile political moment in Washington.

In the wake of the attempted assassination at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Republicans and President Trump are blaming Democrats for fueling political violence — while critics argue the response is part of a familiar cycle of partisan escalation, and that President Trump has espoused even more egregious rhetoric throughout his presidency.

At the same time, Congress is debating a controversial proposal to fast-track Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom, exposing new divisions over spending, security, and priorities inside the GOP.

The conversation also turns to free speech and media backlash, as Jimmy Kimmel faces renewed pressure from the Trump camp following a controversial joke that aired just days before the attack.

Senator Paul weighs in on political responsibility, party loyalty, rising polarization, and what these flashpoints reveal about the state of the Republican Party heading into the midterms and 2028.

Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov 

Follow Prof G, @profgalloway 

Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod 

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov examine the incident that took place this weekend at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where an armed suspect was apprehended after breaching a security perimeter. The incident, described by authorities as a potential assassination attempt, has renewed questions about the safety of high-profile political figures and the persistence of political violence in the United States.

They discuss what is known about the suspect, how the breach occurred, and what the continued threats against Trump tell us about the state of the country. Is “violent rhetoric” to blame — or are we seeing a country roused to anger by cable news and social media? Would Trump’s ballroom have made those in the administration safer? And, how do the threats that Trump has faced compare to what past presidents have gone through?

Plus, Scott and Jessica check in on the latest developments in the Middle East, where Iran has floated a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a prolonged ceasefire. With global energy markets already under strain, Scott and Jess consider what the offer signals about Iran’s position — and whether a resolution is any closer.

Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov 

Follow Prof G, @profgalloway 

Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod 

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trump says the ceasefire is holding — but the bigger question is: what’s actually changed?

Jessica Tarlov and Aaron Parnas break down a Middle East conflict that feels stuck in place while the consequences keep escalating. Oil prices have surged past $100, the U.S. is burning through thousands of missiles, and tensions with Iran are still boiling beneath the surface as both sides escalate in the Strait of Hormuz.

At the same time, the ripple effects are hitting closer to home — from rising fuel costs to surprising supply chain impacts that could drive up everyday prices in ways most Americans didn’t see coming.

Back in the U.S., the political chaos isn’t slowing down. A major redistricting fight in Virginia heads to the courts, the high-stakes California governor race starts to take shape with big-money candidates, and Republicans float the possibility of a Ghislaine Maxwell pardon — raising serious questions about accountability.

And in a moment that feels almost too on-the-nose, Alex Jones melts down as The Onion takes over Infowars, with plans to convert it into a parody site — with proceeds going to Sandy Hook victims. Plus: Trump plans to attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Pre-order Jessica's new book I Disagree: Winning Arguments Without Losing Friends out in September! ⁠https://a.co/d/02RdR1Wa⁠

Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov 

Follow Prof G, @profgalloway 

Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod 

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices