Wright Thompson and Jesse Lehrich: Hopium and Hate
Summary
Tim Miller hosts Jesse Watters to analyze the 2026 midterm landscape, predicting a Democratic wave driven by economic discontent and weak Republican candidates. They debate key Senate races in states like Kansas, Nebraska, and South Carolina, and identify vulnerable House districts in Colorado and Florida. The episode also features a “2028 Game” segment where they evaluate prospective presidential candidates, with AOC and Pete Buttigieg emerging as top contenders for defining the Democratic brand on AI, war, and immigration.
Topics discussed
Sponsor: ChatGPT Work
Intro and guest Jesse Watters
Democratic brand issues and 2022 redux
Economic pain and cost of living
Senate race predictions and wave years
South Carolina and Lindsey Graham dynamics
Trans issues and Alaska strategy
Maine and Iowa Senate races
Dan Osborne and gun signaling
Kansas race and Roger Marshall
Dan Osborne's populist style
Adam Hamilton in Kansas
Abdul El-Sayed and Michigan
Abdul's interview and personality
Alyssa Slotkin and establishment politics
Michigan Senate race analysis
Sponsor: Home insurance
House races and gerrymandering
Trump +21 district and candidate quality
Latino voters and competitive districts
Colorado districts and Bobbert
Colorado sweep potential
Nebraska districts and Chris Backmeyer
Jefferson Davis and immigration
Elliot Rodriguez and endorsement
2028 prospects and AI/anti-ICE
Ro Khanna and Dario's letter
Chris Murphy and War Powers Act
2028 advisors and AOC/Ro Khanna
Pete Buttigieg and structural reform
John Ossoff and corruption
AOC as the only viable candidate
Gavin Newsom's performance
Newsom's urban revitalization
Sponsor: Epstein files and AG
Guest intro: Wright Thompson
Ole Miss stadium and MAGA culture
The Grove and radical hospitality
Mississippi politics and farmers
Facebook posting and nobility
White vote and structural issues
Mississippi ground game dismantled
Civil Rights Act and Roger Wicker
Segregation and civil war metaphors
Active resistance and GOP understanding
Sponsor: Rocket Money
Sponsor: Aura data protection
Ohio State vs Texas and diversity
Texas identity and history
Eric Erickson and the moment
Christianity and business in church
History, pride, and demagogues
Holding opposing thoughts
Sponsor: Sleep me mattress
Sponsor: Sleep me features
Sponsor: Sleep me offer
Sponsor: Rocket Money recap
Sponsor: Rocket Money spending
Billy Cannon and LSU button
NCAA lawsuit and student athlete
Phases of capitalism in sports
Billy Cannon's career and crisis
Parole board letter and release
Billy Cannon's comedic timing
Immigrant detention and walls
Memory and the LSU button
Feelings vs facts in memory
Democratic failure and arguments
Ole Miss stadium and booing
Casualness with precious traditions
Forgiving and True South tour
True South season and Beaufort
Poboy dreams and Ole Miss president
Credits and production team
Sponsor: TD Bank
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