Haley Stevens STUNS Dems with Mike Rogers endorsement (Plus: Ted Cruz rips Talarico) | RISING
Nov 2, 2026 · 51m
Summary
The episode opens election week by analyzing Representative Haley Stevens' last-minute endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race, following a dispute with Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. The hosts debate whether Stevens' decision reflects legitimate ideological dissent or personal spite, contrasting it with the Democratic Party's harsh "traitor" rhetoric. The discussion also covers Senator Chris Murphy's recent stroke, highlighting the intense stress of modern politics and the importance of bipartisan concern for elected officials' health.
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Shopify
Sponsor: Experian
Halloween recap and kids' access to information
Haley Stevens drops El-Sayed, endorses Mike Rogers
Debate on party loyalty vs. independent voting
Criticism of Stevens' timing and personal motives
Democratic reaction and comparison to GOP dissent
El-Sayed's distancing from Piker and Uygur ad
Comparison to Trump's purging of dissenters
Senator Chris Murphy suffers stroke
Discussion on health of Congress members
Political polarization and access to information
Promo: The Hill election night coverage
Stevens' past criticisms of Mike Rogers
Timeline of Stevens' reversal and fiancé's role
Analysis of Stevens' lack of policy explanation
Accusations of using Black voters as pawns
Ideological comparison: El-Sayed vs. Rogers
Critique of Stevens' consistency and waning support
Defense of Stevens' right to switch candidates
Trump's defamation suit against WSJ dismissed
Legal analysis of actual malice standard
Criticism of Trump's litigation strategy
Epstein files release and DOJ handling
Promo: The Hill election night coverage
Texas race: Cruz attacks Tallarico as woke
Contextualizing Tallarico's comments on trans kids
Sign-off and sponsor: Shopify
Sponsor: Wayfair
Listen ad-free on Castria