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Party Lines with Kurt & Erin: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Party Lines with Kurt & Erin
Party Lines is what happens when two friends on opposite sides of politics sit down, argue it out, and still enjoy the conversation. Kurt Bardella and Erin Maguire are not afraid to have real debates, deliver sharp analysis, and dabble in their shared love of the Buffalo Bills because politics doesn’t have to be boring or toxic. They don’t always agree, but they always keep it smart, honest, and surprisingly fun.
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- 5 days ago15 min
33: MAGA’s Extinction-Level Event: Trump Will Blame Everyone But Himself
Erin Maguire is out this week, so Kurt Bardella goes solo.Kurt starts with Haley Stevens endorsing Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s Senate race. He asks whether it’s a political payoff or a personal grudge after her primary loss to Abdul El-Sayed. He looks at how she blindsided her own staff and argues the endorsement will have zero impact, because she has no juice left with voters.Then the big picture. Kurt explains why the midterms could be an extinction-level event for MAGA and why this is a blame election. He warns Democrats not to overreach, and especially not to impeach again. He also predicts Trump will blame everyone but himself: Paxton, Miller, Hegseth and Vance. He covers what the GOP has to choose after an electoral beatdown: go back to compassionate conservatism, or follow the California GOP into irrelevance. Finally, he considers what happens if he’s wrong, and what Trump’s unpopularity means for every Republican on the ballot.A full post-election roundup is coming next.
- 1 weeks ago42 min
32: Uncomfortable Truths: What Each Party Won't Admit Before the Midterms
Kurt Bardella and Erin Maguire welcome Yemisi Egbewole, former chief of staff to the White House press office under President Biden, now a senior fellow at Third Way and founder of Podium Strategies.Yemisi explains why it's so much harder than it looks to turn big bills into three sentences anyone can understand, what Democrats got wrong when they answered "it feels hard out there" with "look at Europe," and why comms teams finally have a seat at the table. Using the Georgia governor's race as an example, she says that when Republicans run the images, Democrats can't just rise above it: sometimes you have to get in the mud. Plus: what happens when everybody's a radical?Then it's the Uncomfortable Truths: Midterms Edition. Kurt warns Democrats about learning the wrong lesson from success, Yemisi says the margins in Michigan will matter for 2028, and Erin admits Republicans still haven't figured out how to turn out voters when Trump isn't on the ballot.And just in time for Halloween, the political graveyard: what should stay dead (opponents' family members in attack ads, candidates dancing to trending sounds, consultant-on-consultant violence) and what keeps coming back (Trump's political obituary, the "ignore the polls" discourse, and cable news). Plus costumes, the cereal test and the careers they'd have chosen instead.Rate, review and subscribe, and join us next week for election week. LINKS FROM THIS EPISODEYemisi Egbewole at Third Wayhttps://www.thirdway.org/about/staff/yemisi-egbewole Atlanta News First: New Jackson ad reignites fight over Bottoms' record as Atlanta mayorhttps://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/09/11/new-jackson-ad-reignites-bitter-fight-over-bottoms-record-atlanta-mayor/ Fake polling firm Wedgewood tricked media with fabricated surveyshttps://wset.com/news/nation-world/fake-polling-firm-tricked-media-claims-fabricated-surveys-were-for-social-experiment-democrats-republicans-abdul-el-sayed-mallory-mcmorrow-francesca-hong-james-talarico-ken-paxton-rrtThe 2026 midterms could be the most expensive cycle everhttps://political.org/2026/10/16/2026-midterms-could-become-the-most-expensive-election-cycle-ever-adimpact-data-show/
- 2 weeks ago27 min
31: Fake Polls Fooled the Media: Can You Trust a Single Number Before the Midterms?
With less than two weeks until Election Day, Kurt Bardella and Erin Maguire skip the polls and follow the money and the early vote. The DGA puts $1 million behind David Jolly in Florida, JB Pritzker writes a seven-figure check for Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia, and Texas early voting is off to a strong start. Erin explains why Republicans aren't picking up the phone for pollsters and why, at this point, campaigns aren't convincing voters, they're driving them. Plus: is James Talarico closing strong in Texas, and how Abdul El-Sayed took on the attacks about his family in Michigan.Then, family ties: use them or lose them. Vivek Ramaswamy's ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother has crossed into group chats, and JD Vance is telling Republicans to stop whining about it. Kurt and Erin debate when a candidate's family is fair game.Last, the state of polling in 2026: a pollster that admits it made its numbers up, The New York Times pulling its surveys from the tracker, and what newsrooms should do before they report the next poll. And in Left Field Lunacy, the Jacksonville Jaguars will let fans spend eternity at the stadium.What do you think about the Acton ad, or public polling? Leave a comment and find us on social at Party Lines. LINKS FROM THIS EPISODEFlorida Phoenix: Democratic Governors Association investing $1 million to support David Jollyhttps://floridaphoenix.com/2026/10/20/democratic-governors-association-investing-1-million-to-support-david-jolly/ AJC: Billionaire Democrats rush to Keisha Lance Bottoms' aid in final stretchhttps://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/10/pritzker-bloomberg-donate-keisha-lance-bottoms-georgia-governor/ Michigan Public: Rogers-El-Sayed debate gets hostile in pivotal U.S. Senate racehttps://www.michiganpublic.org/politics-government/2026-10-09/rogers-el-sayed-debate-gets-hostile-as-candidates-clash-in-pivotal-us-senate-race CBS News: Ohio governor's race takes ugly turn with Ramaswamy ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged motherhttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/ohio-governor-amy-acton-mother-ramaswamy/ Springfield News-Sun: JD Vance tells Republicans to "stop whining" about the Ramaswamy adhttps://www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/jd-vance-tells-republicans-to-stop-whining-about-ramaswamy-ad-with-acton-s-estranged-mother/article_c66de25e-fc7f-5011-b27b-86e48a6f05d2.html Mediaite: National polling company admits it's totally fakehttps://www.mediaite.com/media/news/national-polling-company-admits-its-totally-fake-crows-it-was-far-too-easy-to-get-major-media-outlets-to-bite/ KATU: Polling firm closes after releasing fake election surveys for a "social experiment"https://katu.com/news/nation-world/polling-firm-closes-after-releasing-fake-election-surveys-for-social-experiment-los-angeles-mayoral-race-wisconsin-democratic-gubernatorial-primary-karen-bass-francesca-hong Mediaite: Francesca Hong concedes after razor-thin Wisconsin primaryhttps://www.mediaite.com/media/news/democratic-socialist-francesca-hong-concedes-after-falling-agonizingly-short-in-razor-thin-wisconsin-primary/ Action News Jax: Jaguars fans can reserve a permanent place in the new stadium, even after deathhttps://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/forever-teal-jags-fans-can-reserve-permanent-place-new-stadium-even-after-death/JEEYTCKEMBCEVLNO
- Sep 4, 202626 min
30: Is Maria Bartiromo Is Out at Fox?
Erin and Kurt break down Maria Bartiromo's shocking exit from Fox amid alleged White House leaks, debate whether Trump and Kamala should campaign for midterm candidates, argue over the best Democratic surrogates, and take on a bipartisan bill to strip pensions from ethics-violating members of Congress.00:00 — Cold open: Kurt needs a drink after "one of the dumbest conference calls" of his life, and Erin pays off her no-bike-helmet bet after Seth Moulton's primary loss01:21 — Big story: Maria Bartiromo is out at Fox News and Fox Business01:48 — Kurt's reaction: losing a "cornerstone" talent this way is shocking — pulled off air in August with no goodbye show02:57 — Erin draws the comparison to Fox abruptly firing the #1-rated Tucker Carlson03:35 — How it broke: a brief farewell statement, then reporting (Oliver Darcy) that Bartiromo was allegedly screenshotting internal memos and texts for the administration04:21 — Kurt on why this is a fireable, contract-breaking offense — and why you never trust "the leakiest people in the professional world" to keep a secret05:35 — Fox's pattern: nobody's untouchable (Beck, O'Reilly, Megyn Kelly, Tucker) — "Exhibit A: Jesse Waters"06:03 — Erin: CNN did the same with Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon07:33 — Jason Chaffetz steps in to fill Bartiromo's morning slot07:49 — Speculation kicks off: could Bartiromo be in line for White House Press Secretary?08:12 — Erin's take: unlikely — more probable she goes independent or launches her own venture09:24 — Kurt's counter-pitch: skip Press Secretary, make her Treasury Secretary09:39 — Pivoting to the midterms: with ~60 days left, should Trump and Kamala campaign for candidates?10:51 — Kurt's story from a 2006 special election: turning down a Bush campaign visit — and winning anyway13:16 — Erin: the calculus is different for Trump (boosts GOP turnout) vs. Kamala (playing forward to 2028)14:24 — Why telephone town halls are cheap, effective voter contact15:05 — Best surrogates right now: Kurt argues for executive-experience Democrats — Pritzker, Wes Moore, Andy Beshear — over legislators16:41 — Erin's pick for Abdul El-Sayed specifically: Shapiro or Buttigieg, to counter attacks branding him a socialist/anti-Semite18:16 — Kurt on local star power over national names: Colin Allred pairing with Mark Cuban in Texas19:39 — New bipartisan bill: strip pensions from members of Congress found guilty of ethics violations20:10 — Erin and Kurt agree: lose your floor privileges, healthcare, and pension if censured or expelled21:16 — The flip side: should former presidents get lifetime pay so they're not stuck hustling for cash post-office?22:56 — Means-testing the idea — wealthy ex-presidents like Trump or Romney wouldn't need it24:04 — Historical context: the presidency wasn't designed for a 40-year retirement24:34 — Erin on the Bidens' post-presidency cash-ins, with a pointed Hunter Biden aside
- Aug 24, 202627 min
29: Hakeem Jeffries' Political Malpractice: Meeting Jared Kushner Before Midterms Is Certifiably Stupid
Kurt and Erin break down why Hakeem Jeffries meeting with Jared Kushner just 75 days before the midterms is political malpractice — smart for Kushner, disastrous for Jeffries. Then they run through the South Carolina Senate runoff, a Massachusetts primary that exposes a Democratic identity crisis, whether Abdul El-Sayed going on Jesse Watters' Fox show is genius or suicide, a WNBA culture-war flashpoint, and a media-ethics debate sparked by tragedy in the Buffalo Bills family.Hakeem Jeffries catches heat for meeting Jared Kushner mid-election-cycle — "measuring the drapes" before he's even speakerKurt: smart for Kushner (zero downside, more power-broker cred), "idiotic, stupid... political malpractice" for JeffriesSouth Carolina Senate runoff: Graham vs. Norman, and whether a bad debate answer matters more than a Trump endorsementMassachusetts Senate primary: AOC and Bernie backing 80-year-old Ed Markey over younger Seth Moulton — a Democratic "identity crisis"Too smart or too stupid: Abdul El-Sayed goes on Jesse Waters' Fox primetime showKurt: respect the audacity, "if you can't hang, get off the stage"; Erin: high-wire act, one bad answer could implode his careerWNBA culture clash after a Sophie Cunningham celebration incident goes viral — good or bad for the league?Media ethics debate: should reporters have broken the news of Bills DT Ed Oliver's family tragedy?
- Aug 19, 202634 min
28: Primaries, Fake Polls, and the Data Center Revolt
It's another primary night, and Erin and Kurt break down the results out of Florida, Alaska, and Wyoming, plus the political story nobody was talking about three months ago: data centers becoming the defining kitchen-table issue of the 2026 midterms. In Florida, they dig into Corey Mills' vulnerable seat, the Moskowitz-Larkin DSA showdown, and a graveyard of comeback bids from politicians who've lost everywhere else. In Alaska, it's officially "Dan versus Dan," as Senator Dan Sullivan faces a primary challenger who shares his name and a very different voting history, while Mary Peltola tries to prove she's worth national Democratic investment. Then Erin and Kurt turn to the Karen Bass campaign's fake-poll scandal and what it says about a media ecosystem too eager to run numbers nobody bothered to vet. Finally, they dive deep on data centers and AI, arguing it may be the rare issue that unites voters across party lines in opposition, and lay out why campaigns on both sides are scrambling to write anti-data-center ads before Election Day.TopicsPrimary night results and previews: Florida, Alaska, and WyomingFlorida's most-watched congressional races: Corey Mills' vulnerable seat and Debbie Wasserman Schultz's new districtThe Moskowitz vs. Larkin race and what it means for the DSA's ceiling in FloridaFlorida's parade of political comeback bids, including Chris CollinsAlaska's "Dan versus Dan" Senate primary and Mary Peltola's path to NovemberWhether Alaska is a legitimate reach race for Democrats or a resource drainThe Kamala Harris fundraising email controversy and Peltola's campaign shake-upThe Karen Bass fake-poll scandal and what it reveals about unvetted campaign pollingWhy reporters keep running campaign polls without demanding full cross-tabsHow campaigns use internal polling strategically, and what they leave outData centers and AI emerging as a rare bipartisan "not in my backyard" issueWhy utility bills, water use, and lack of visible benefit are driving the backlashGovernor Abbott and Governor Shapiro's reversals on data center policyHow data centers could be a net positive with smart regulatory frameworksThe messaging failure of AI and data center companies compared to cryptoPredictions for how many 2026 statewide races will feature anti-data-center ads
- Aug 13, 202628 min
27: Split Decision: Inside This Week's Primaries
Erin Maguire and Kurt Bardella break down a split-decision primary week — Democrats dodging a bullet in Wisconsin, a razor-thin race in Michigan, and what it all means for the establishment-versus-socialist fight inside the party. Then they debut a new segment, "Half-Baked," digging into ideas that don't hold up: the WNBA's refusal to define who qualifies as a woman, and Mike Lindell's unsupported fraud claims after getting blown out in his Minnesota primary. They preview the next wave of primaries (Alaska, Florida, Wyoming and beyond), including the "Dan versus Dan" dirty trick in Alaska's Senate race. Plus: speculation on who replaces outgoing White House Press Secretary Caroline Levine, and a very silly debate about whether Abdul El-Sayed's one-on-one football challenge to Mike Rogers is even a real sport.Topics Covered Split primary results in Wisconsin and Michigan, and what they signal about the Democratic Party's direction Whether pollsters missed the real story of the primaries The "enthused socialist base" versus black voter turnout concerns, per Rahm Emanuel's warnings James Carville, Hasan Piker, and the Democrats' "big tent" contradictions AOC's attempt to walk back some of her "woke" positioning ahead of 2028 New segment debut: "Half-Baked," starting with the WNBA's refusal to define biological womanhood Caitlin Clark's on-court treatment and the WNBA's business decisions Mike Lindell's blowout primary loss in Minnesota and his fraud claims Wisconsin's Milwaukee USB drive controversy versus Lindell's unsupported allegations Why TV ad spending mattered more than ideology in deciding several primaries Preview of upcoming primaries: Alaska, Florida, Wyoming, then Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Delaware The "Dan versus Dan" spoiler tactic in Alaska's Senate primary Speculation on Caroline Levine's replacement as White House Press Secretary — Scott Jennings, Katie Miller, Trisha McLaughlin, Anna Kelly, and a wildcard Spencer Pratt pitch Why the next press secretary may need to handle a wave of congressional investigations Abdul El-Sayed's one-on-one football challenge to Mike Rogers, and whether that's even a real sport
- Aug 10, 202629 min
26: The Festivus Of Politics
Kurt and Erin dig into the money games reshaping this year's primaries — outside cash from the RGA propping up Francesca Hong's Wisconsin bid, clean-energy dollars boosting Andy Ogles' opponent, and the real numbers behind who's really funding who since Citizens United (hint: it's not who you think). They break down tomorrow's Wisconsin and Minnesota primaries — Francesca Hong's socialist run for governor, Mike Lindell's Senate bid, and Michelle Tavoya's general-election strength — before naming their "reach race" picks for November (Michelle Tavoya in Minnesota, James Talarico in Texas). Then it's a deep dive on whether Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Thomas Massey could actually stand up a real third party, or whether it's just Republicans "beefin' with Trump." They close with Joe Scarborough's on-air demand that Democrats disavow Hasan Piker — and Erin's blunt line for anyone who still wants to share a stage with him.Topics CoveredOutside money in primaries: the RGA's cash for Francesca Hong's opponent and the clean-energy dollars that hit Andy OglesThe real math since Citizens United — 70% of billionaire money has gone to Republicans, not DemocratsKurt's proposal to force disclaimers at the front of political ads, not the endWisconsin's governor primary: Francesca Hong's socialist run and Tom Tiffany's "steady hand" strategyMinnesota's proxy fights: the Lieutenant Governor's socialist-adjacent primary and Mike Lindell's Senate bidMichelle Tavoya's crossover appeal and Kurt & Erin's "reach race" picks for NovemberJames Talarico's grassroots campaign in Texas and why Kurt's been on the bandwagon since before it was coolThe plausibility (or not) of a real third party: Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Thomas MasseyWhy third parties historically collapse once their singular figurehead is gone — Perot, Nader, and the "rent is too damn high" partyNew York's fusion voting model and what it means for third-party viabilityJoe Scarborough's on-air demand that Democrats disavow Hasan PikerErin's "put up or shut up" challenge to Democrats who won't cut ties over Piker's 9/11 commentsPreview: the South Carolina primary for Lindsey Graham's seat
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About Party Lines with Kurt & Erin
Party Lines is what happens when two friends on opposite sides of politics sit down, argue it out, and still enjoy the conversation. Kurt Bardella and Erin Maguire are not afraid to have real debates, deliver sharp analysis, and dabble in their shared love of the Buffalo Bills because politics doesn’t have to be boring or toxic. They don’t always agree, but they always keep it smart, honest, and surprisingly fun.
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