Bill Kristol: Keep Up the Pressure, Dems
Aug 31, 2026 · 49m
Summary
Hosts Tim Miller and Bill Crystal discuss escalating tensions in Iran, criticizing the administration’s misleading claims about the Strait of Hormuz and highlighting military warnings against prolonged conflict. They condemn a controversial US-Venezuela oil deal as a PR stunt and expose the Pentagon’s secret funding of conservative online propagandists. The episode also analyzes polling data suggesting Trump’s declining support in key midterm states and denounces Laura Loomer’s racist rhetoric as a threat to democratic norms.
Topics discussed
Sensodyne Clinical White toothpaste advertisement
Show intro, live tour tickets, and 1994/2006 retrospective tease
Escalating conflict in Iran and US military base vulnerabilities
US government stake in Venezuelan oil reserves and political motives
Critique of imperialism and lack of democratic progress in Venezuela
Starbucks fall flavors advertisement
Pentagon employees exposed as paid pro-Trump propagandists
Congressional continuing resolution and government shutdown risks
Midterm election strategy: Preventive defense vs. attacking Trump
Florida politics: Venezuelan deportations and local impacts
Trump's 'Let the Data Reign' stance on AI data centers
Laura Loomer's racist comments and rise of antisemitism
New Hampshire primary: Seth Moulton vs. Ed Markey
Sephora and Starbucks advertisements
Ranking worst cabinet members: Rubio, Hegseth, and others
Closing remarks and preview of next episode
Shell gas station advertisement
Questlove outro message
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