Populism & Swing Elections with Ron Brownstein | Politics War Room Podcast (Full Episode)

James and Al welcome journalist Ron Brownstein to discuss the accusations against Graham Platner and the future of Susan Collins’ Senate seat in Maine, Democrats' changing relationship with Israel, the rise of populism on the Left, and the challenges they face in the general election.  Then, they are joined by US Navy veteran and congressional candidate for NJ-7, Rebecca Bennett, to dive into her military service, building a coalition to win in a swing district, her opponent's absence from the House, the importance of the American Dream, and why she deserves to win in November. Email your questions to James and Al at mailto:[email protected] or tweet them to  / @politicon.    Make sure to include your city– we love to hear where you’re from! Please Support Our Sponsors: Trust & Will: Get 20% off when you go to https://trustandwill.com Miracle Made: Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made! Go to https://TryMiracle.com/warroom and use the code WARROOM to claim your FREE 3-PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF. Quince: Upgrade your summer fashion and get 365-day returns and free shipping on high-quality, stylish, and affordable clothing you’ll wear for years to come when you go to https://www.quince.com Now available in Canada. Aqua Tru: Go to https://aquatruwater.com now for 20% off your purifier using promo code: WARROOM TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 — Introduction to Ron Brownstein and the Maine Senate race 00:54 — Why Maine Democrats have multiple plausible replacements 04:19 — Concern about Platner’s influence over the replacement process 04:56 — Susan Collins’ vulnerability in Maine 05:17 — Why Collins is still an anomaly in Senate politics 06:43 — What a Maine Democrat actually needs to do to win 07:38 — Michigan’s Senate race and why it matters too 08:18 — The bigger Senate map and the challenge in Trump states 09:13 — Why Maine and Michigan are weak recruiting bets 10:10 — The left-populist theory versus mainstream Democratic strategy 11:42 — James Carville joins the conversation 12:16 — The importance of vetting your own candidate 13:29 — Yellow lights for Democrats in the polls 14:25 — Why Democrats may be underperforming among Trump disapprovers 16:10 — The most important polling number: incumbent approval 17:01 — Why Trump’s low approval is ominous for Republicans 19:02 — The left’s gains in New York and Colorado 19:36 — Whether mainstream Democrats need to disown the far left 20:42 — What Democrats are actually nominating in swing districts 21:36 — Can Republicans tie moderates to far-left candidates? 22:31 — Why this fight is happening on Republican-leaning terrain 23:51 — Israel, Netanyahu, and why the issue matters less in a general election 24:26 — Why Netanyahu’s strategy has damaged Israel’s standing 25:47 — AIPAC and other pro-Israel groups’ political miscalculations 27:32 — Israel no longer trying to persuade broader audiences 28:52 — Do Democrats need to reposition more openly after 2024? 29:48 — Stan Greenberg’s case for fighting openly 30:52 — James Carville on uncertainty about the party’s direction 31:39 — Why Democratic voters are open to new ideas after Trump’s win 32:33 — The lesson for 2028: the center must fight harder 33:04 — Carville’s argument that Biden stayed in too long 34:15 — John Ossoff as a model for fighting Trump 34:49 — Trust and Will ad read 37:27 — Miracle Made ad read 40:05 — Rebecca Bennett joins: Navy pilot running for Congress in NJ-7 40:40 — Her opponent’s absence and accountability 41:38 — Roxbury detention center update 42:15 — Why NJ-7 is a true swing district 43:27 — Fighting the “Democratic Socialist” label 44:00 — Money in politics, Citizens United, and stock trading 45:16 — Pete Hegseth, the military, and inclusion 46:30 — Iran, war powers, and clear objectives 47:57 — Conditioning military aid to Israel 48:40 — Why veterans bring value to Congress 49:13 — Her personal motivation and why she’s running 50:23 — Closing with Rebecca Bennett 50:39 — Outrage of the week: University of Florida and DEI litmus tests 52:02 — James on the University of Florida controversy 52:17 — Mallory McMorrow’s decision not to stay in the Michigan race 53:39 — Quince ad read 56:15 — Q&A: Can America elect a female president? 57:07 — Why women can and have come close to winning 58:31 — Q&A: Why clean water matters 59:10 — AquaTru ad read 1:01:17 — Q&A: House Republicans delaying swearing-in of new members 1:02:47 — Q&A: Can Trump officials ignore House subpoenas? 1:03:58 — What happens if subpoenas are defied 1:04:41 — Closing thanks and sign-off